INTRODUCING ‘HANNAH HARPER’, SINGER SONGWRITER FROM CAMBRIDGESHIRE,CONVINCING HER MUM TO GET HER SINGING LESSONS TO NOW RELEASING HER BRAND NEW SINGLE ‘APPETITE’!

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Give us a little bio about you.

I grew up in a small countryside village in Cambridgeshire where I first started my singing lessons at the age of 13. I had a three tier school system which was reception to year 4, year 5 to year 8 and then year 9 to sixth form. I was awful at school and think the teachers and I had a mutual understanding that I was only there because it was compulsory.

I’m not a very academic person, I’ve always been a ‘go out and get it’ person and knowing what I wanted to do at 13 didn’t make me very patient when ‘reading’ science books. So I moved away from home at 16 to pursue music and never looked back since.. Here I am in London getting ready to release my debut single.. about bloody time!

 

 

What made you go in to music?
Music was always something quite special to me and I constantly listened to it, one day I woke up and decided I wanted a singing lesson. My mum was hesitant, and it took me months of begging to convince her that this was something I was committed to. Unlike school…

Which led me to of course call and text my future singing teacher, bearing in mind this woman didn’t know me. After getting my mum on board to one lesson, my singing teacher then told me that the text I sent went to her landline so took 20 minutes to read out loud!!

From the first lesson, my teacher and I knew that this was something else, she looked at me and my mum in the eyes and asked me to come back and that was it. That was the day music began to be a part of who I am. I’m the only musician in the family, my passion kinda came out of nowhere but it’s so nice as we all have completely different lifestyles and so much to talk about with each other so conversation is never plain with my fam.

 

 

 

Are you signed?
Not at the moment, I’m currently working independently to make sure my sound and style is appreciated and recognized before signing anything.

 

 

 

Your set to release your single ‘Appetite’, tell us more about that.
So I wrote Appetite back at the very start of 2017. It was the first song I wrote that truly expressed what I wanted to say and how I wanted to say it. It’s very lyrically playful and I wanted to get across how going a bit crazy can make you think and feel. I wrote and recorded this single in London and co produced it with a really great producer and had the great Jon Astley master it. It’s been a long time coming and I’m excited to say that it’s being released on the 4th November!

 

 

 

What is your writing process like?
I write everyday, whether it be a word I thought of or a vocal melody or the whole song! With ‘Appetite’ I wrote the lyrics and melody within three days, staying up quite late into the nights as that’s often when I’m at my most creative. A lot of the time I wake up in the night with ideas and have to record them and get them down… so my voice memos are full of 4am slurred noises that I work with the next day. I never force anything to come to me but have to keep my phone close as often ideas come at the most awkward times.

 

 

 

What was the recording process like?
The recording process was amazing, my producer and I make sure we have fun and keep high energy between us. We often turn all the lights off and make it so we forget the outside world. I like to create an atmosphere to match my music and what I’m singing and writing about, so making it dark with some cool low lighting is always my favourite to record in. It’s so important to have a good relationship with your producer so I’m really lucky to have such a great guy to work with… I would say our biggest challenge is to try and not make each other laugh.

 

 

 

 

Do you have any gigs or tours coming up?
I do, I’ve just had a couple shows and I’ve got a performance at St Moritz on November 4th to celebrate the single release. I have some more in the pipe line which will soon be announced and hopefully a tour will come about soon!

 

 

 

 

Do you play any instruments?
Yes I play a guitar and keys but vocals and writing melodies are my main area.

 

 

 

Who are your influences?
I have so many contrasting influences but my main loves are Kate Bush, Gwen Stefani, Sia and Lorde. I grew up listening to The Carpenters and Fleetwood Mac with a load of other great artists so my palette is always quite mixed!

 

 

 

 

How do you get inspiration to write songs?
I get my inspiration from anything and everything, I can never really specifically pick something out. Everything I’m currently writing about is from my own experiences and wanting to share that.

 

 

 

Where do you see yourself in 5 Years?
I see myself touring and sharing my music around the world whilst helping and influencing people positively. Meet and greets are a big thing for me and I can’t wait to be able to speak to fans and make them feel like they can do anything if they work hard and stay true.

 

 

When you’re not doing music, what do you do?
… (tumbleweed)
Hard question, everything I do is to benefit my career.
Catching up on sleep and eating is always a plus and making sure I see the people I love.

 

 

 

What was the song you listened to most that influenced you to go more in to the music scene?
‘Jolene’ by Dolly Parton. It was a song that I really connected to and then I made my own version of it and that’s were it all began.

 

 

 

What’s the best advice you have ever been given?
My dad always said, “If it’s meant to be, it’s up to me.”

 

 

What advice would you give to aspiring musicians not about the industry, but about being an artist?
Always stay true to yourself and what you’re doing and why. Only ever do things that you truly want to do, and maintain good intentions. Remember why you started and no matter how hard it may be know that sharing music is a gift to others as well as yourself. Keep going, keep your wits about you and stay strong. You’re not gonna please everybody, not everybody’s is going to like you, but that’s okay.

 

 

 

What quote or saying do you always stick by?
Don’t judge a book by its cover.

 

Your straight off tour;
1/ where do you go? Home.
2/ who do you see? My mum.
3/what do you eat? A cup of tea and some vegan chocolate

 

 

 

When you are doing a gig, what are 5 things you cannot forget?
My drummer, my keys player, myself, clothes, and a bottle of a H2O.

 

 

 

 

If you had to give your younger self advice, what would it be?
To keep calm, look after and be kind to yourself.

 

 

 

Do you have social media accounts so your fans can follow you?
Instagram
Facebook
Twitter
Website

Comments (1):

  1. John rumold

    November 6, 2017 at 9:11 am

    ??????? wish you good luck!!!

    Reply

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