Although his name might not ring a bell right off the bat, you’ve heard Hanni El Khatib‘s sharp guitar work on recordings by The Black Keys’ Dan Auerbach, Wu Tang Clan’s GZA and solo act Freddie Gibbs. Under his own name, however, the L.A.-based songwriter’s released four solo albums, exploring a full spectrum of rock ‘n’ roll across punk, blues, indie, and soul. On top of steady critical acclaim, El Khatib’s solo rock has also been heard in major television commercials (including a Super Bowl ad) and series, as well as a movie and video game, but his success ultimately led to alcohol and tour exhaustion, and eventually depression and anxiety.
Having reunited with close friend and producer Leon Michels (Lana Del Rey, Travis Scott, Eminem, etc.), Hanni El Khatib’s not only tossed the bottle out the window but also any dedication to the garage rock sound that made him famous. Instead, FLIGHT finds El Khatib and Michels experimenting with psychedelia and sample-heavy hip-hop, evoking classic records like Paul’s Boutique, Odelay, Donuts, or Madvillainy while maintaining the singer’s robust vocals. The rejuvenating LP is out on Friday, and you can pump up your hump day energy with the reborn version of Hanni El Khatib on, “ALIVE”!
–Jack Anderson
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