Tempo Talks: A Conversation with Hana Piranha
THE RELEASE
Hana Piranha, a musician, with a background expresses her prophetic roots through powerful and unsettling songwriting. From Wellington, New Zealand she moved to England at the age of twelve with aspirations of becoming a violinist. Dissatisfied with the constraints of music she fearlessly broke boundaries in both her expression and personal life blurring the distinction between the two. Hana Piranha views existence as a canvas for her endeavors evident, in the honest and revealing nature of her musical diary. Her journey has been filled with twists and turns, hinting at the possibilities that lie ahead.
Delve into the depths of Hana Piranhas album, "Wingspan," a fearless exploration of the worn out landscapes found in contemporary alternative rock. Going against the fixation of followers and views, this album takes us back to a time when skill, determination and authenticity reigned supreme. Originally conceived as a solo endeavor Hana Piranha, along with bandmates Jim (Guitar) Andy (Drums) and Mishkin (Bass) has meticulously crafted a odyssey over the course of three years. Drawing inspiration from a range of artists including Nine Inch Nails and Lana Del Rey, My Chemical Romance and Kyuss "Wingspan" defies categorization while capturing the very essence of alternative rock. From the strings and raw vocals of "Azure" to the intensity of the title track, this album traverses both the luminous and shadowy realms that define Hana Piranhas existence. The title itself symbolizes a shift towards growth—a resounding call to arms rooted in rock musics timeless legacy. In an age where truth, passion and talent reclaim center stage "Wingspan" emerges as a cornerstone, for alternative music enthusiasts.
THE INTERVIEW
If you had to create a Mount Rushmore of inspiration, what four individuals molded the artist you are today?
The first individual I would mention is my mum, but please, before you write that off as a boring answer, I want to add that she literally learned violin just so that she could practice with me - she’s an extraordinary force of nature and directed so much energy into my education and made me feel like I could do anything.
My first relationship when I was nineteen gave me the confidence to start a band and start singing and they pushed me, even though I really sucked at first. It was also a really abusive relationship that had me writing to process all the trauma, so I have them to thank for many songs 🤣.
A few years later I got into a relationship with a someone who also fronted a band and was really into self-development, sobriety and self-care. Retrospectively, I wasn’t even remotely ready for this relationship, but it did open my eyes to the fact that you could have your shit together, like in a big way, and still deal with the touring lifestyle, something I hadn’t really previously experienced.
The fourth person I would mention is Mishkin Fitzgerald, who I am now in three bands with. I joined her band Birdeatsbaby in 2014 and we very quickly formed a close bond that is something close to sisters. She had so much wisdom and experience to share with me and the support and friendship from another woman with the same drive and desires has been invaluable.
Throughout the production of your new album, were there specific challenges or breakthrough moments that had a profound influence on the overall direction and cohesion of the project?
We started the album before Covid hit and it was quite difficult to get the momentum going after Lockdown. We had all gotten so used to working remotely that it felt weird to be together again in the studio. I would say that due to this the album progressed more slowly than it might have done otherwise. I think getting sober was a really breakthrough element as we wrote this album - it felt like the sun was literally shining down on these songs in a way that I had never previously experienced. For me they feel very strong as a result.
Can you offer insights into the collaborative dynamics that shaped your latest album, shedding light on the contributions from producers, co-writers, engineers, or featured artists and how their involvement impacted the final body of work?
Wingspan was written equally by my entire band - Mishkin Fitzgerald (bass/keys/vocals), Jim Beck (guitar/vocals), Andrew Lane (drums) and me (violin/cello/harp/keys/vocals). It’s the first time we collaborated as a band and the joint effort really carried the album. I also wanted to mention my brother Aaron, who was a member of Hana Piranha at the time I wrote Cold Comfort and the two of us have written many songs together. Hurt the Ones You Love was written by Aaron and he also contributed to the title track Wingspan. We recorded the album with Neil Hayes at Parlour Studios in Kettering and in these days where it’s so easy to work remotely, it was great to actually take the time to all be in the studio together making this record. We sent it off to producer Evan Rodaniche. Although he is based in LA and the back-and-forth of the mixing process takes a little more time, we love his polished style and all the elements he adds to the tracks, which has made him such an essential long-term collaborator with several of the projects I am involved with. I met him through my friend Jason Achilles - also a producer in LA - and Jason is my sounding-board for every track we make! Finally, we sent it to Gethin John at Hafod Mastering. It’s great to find people you can trust professionally and after years of working with a lot of people who weren’t quite the right fit for the band, I feel very lucky to have had these particular people involved with Wingspan and hope to work with each and every one again for future projects.
Considering the entirety of your album/EP, what lasting impact or impression do you hope the collection of songs will leave on listeners, both individually and as a cohesive musical journey?
Wingspan reaches out to all the misfits, introverts and dreamers of the world. It’s an album about being larger than you seem and having limitless potential. Each song is quite different to the next, both musically and thematically, but the overarching concept is one of real positivity. As an artist I’ve always been fond of dark lyrics and minor chords and that darkness definitely still resides in our music but I really wanted this album to represent the strength that I’ve been developing, both with the band and in my own personal growth. The album cover is a reflection of this - it’s a nod to our first album Cold Comfort that we released almost 10 years ago. The cover for Cold Comfort is an interpretation of the painting The Nightmare by Henry Fuseli, depicting a woman draped on a bed with an incubus sitting on top of her and a horse in the background - presenting me as a victim of all the darkness within me. Wingspan visually is an update of this concept. Now, instead of being overpowered by the incubus, I am holding a sword and defending my younger self.
As you look forward, how does the release of this album set the stage for your future projects, and are there any subtle hints or clues you can share about the evolving musical direction you plan to explore in the coming months?
Wingspan was a breakthrough album in the sense that it was the first album that had full-band collaboration. Guitarist Jim Beck and I wrote our last album Waiting to Burn together but Wingspan was the first album that had real input from our drummer Andrew Lane and bassist Mishkin Fitzgerald. Everyone had a very equal part in the songwriting and it was really cool to see the different influences from each member of the band come into play. As someone who started out very much as the single driving force of my band, it’s a beautiful thing to see the project take a shape that’s larger than any one member. This collaborative direction is growing as we’re all working both individually and together on songs for the next album. I’m very open to all of their influences and excited to see where this will lead sonically for the next album. Over the course of this album I’ve also worked hard on my personal growth and the overall concept of spreading your wings has stemmed from a lot of positivity. I started my musical journey in a very dark place and I’m looking forward to the message of growth and strength continuing through into our future releases. The fact that we’ve signed to the UK’s only recovery label Not Saints feels like a real commitment to my sobriety and has given me a feeling of responsibility to promote a lifestyle free from addiction. I still embrace and even celebrate all the darkness inside of me, but I feel like this new step in my personal journey will inspire subtle changes of tone within our themes.
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