Otto Hashmi brings recorder magic to new comedy-drama starring Olivia Colman
Recorder player and solo artist Otto Hashmi features heavily on the fantasy comedy-drama Wicker, released 30 October in cinemas nationwide. It was written and directed by Alex Huston Fischer and Eleanor Wilson with music by Anna Meredith MBE, a composer renowned for her genre-crossing acoustic and electronic work.
Starring Olivia Colman as an ostracised fisherwoman who commissions a husband from the local basketmaker (Peter Dinklage), Wicker is a comedic fable about sex, marriage and the absurdities of social convention, based on Ursula Wills's short story The Wicker Husband. The woven groom, played by Alexander Skarsgård, turns out to be far more remarkable than anyone expected. His charm and skill stir up jealousy, fascination and turmoil that threaten the whole village. The cast also includes Elizabeth Debicki and Richard E. Grant.
▶Official trailer for Wicker, starring Olivia Colman and Alexander Skarsgård
The partnership between Hashmi and Meredith goes back to his final recital at the Guildhall School of Music & Drama. Hashmi said: 'I was really excited to be approached by Anna, after having played her Origami Songs in my public final exam at Guildhall, to bring some recorder magic to this brilliant soundtrack. For all of my love of Early Music, it's refreshing to have voices like hers embrace the modern potential of the instrument without falling into clichés, instead really giving space in the music for something special and different to happen. My voice flutes in 440 and 415 by Jack Darach were the core instruments used on this score, as well as contrabass in 440. A really proud career landmark for me to be able to work with Anna on this!'
'Escape on Cart', the first single from the soundtrack to Wicker, composed by Anna Meredith and featuring Otto Hashmi on recorders
Hashmi is a London-based soloist whose music explores modern cultural contexts with frequent use of the recorder. His work carves a link between the Western classical tradition and popular music on an instrument often maligned in both worlds. He graduated from Guildhall's MMus programme with Distinction in 2024 and performs with Follia 4 and serpentine.iii. His screen credits include the BBC's Wolf Hall: The Mirror and the Light, and he also plays live with the band These New Puritans.
Wicker is out now in cinemas across the UK and Ireland – listen to the full soundtrack on Spotify. Read more about Otto Hashmi and hear excerpts from his latest release eight ricercate after giovanni bassano here.
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