A Chat with Hannah Scott (21.03.23)
From her engaging live performances to her enchanting singles and soul-stirring albums, singer-songwriter Hannah Scott intoxicates audiences with her elegant charm. We speak with Scott about her EP Ancient Lights, her greatest achievement, future plans and more!
OSR: What drew you to music?
Scott: My parents recognised an early love of music in me and encouraged me with piano lessons as soon as I was old enough. Sad, beautiful music has always moved me so I guess it was only natural I would start trying to write my own when I was old enough.
OSR: What does music mean to you?
Scott: I actually don’t think it’s possible to answer this question! Cliché, but it’s as important as my heartbeat!
OSR: What do you hope people take from your music?
Scott: I hope people are moved by my music, I hope it stirs emotion and provokes thought. I hope in turn it inspires others to create.
OSR: What can you tell us about your EP Ancient Lights?
Scott: Ancient Lights takes its name from the house I grew up in, a Tudor building in Suffolk, named by my father because of its leaded light windows. These take centre stage in the EP artwork created by my mother. I had the idea to name a record after the family home in my early twenties but knew I’d have to wait until I was older in order to have some old songs to record so the title would make sense! Two close family bereavements in the space of a year as well as the period of quiet that the pandemic and lockdowns brought set me on a path of reflection as I rediscovered some of my oldest material. I decided that these songs deserved to be dusted down and played to an audience once more.
OSR: If you could change one thing about Ancient Lights, what would it be and why?
Scott: Honestly, despite the fact that it is far from perfect, nothing. If you asked me the same question about any of my previous releases, I would have something to say. But I love the rawness of this, the little noises here and there, the imperfections. It makes it feel real. I wouldn’t change the arrangements or the songs I chose to record. I’m totally happy with it!
OSR: What is your creative process?
Scott: It really depends who I’m writing with, or if alone. When I’m alone, I often play ideas over and over again to get them embedded (and to decide if I actually like them) – driving everyone around me mad in the meantime! I usually write music and lyrics side by side.
When writing with Stefano Della Casa (my long-standing collaborator), we usually write the melody first (or at least a good chunk of it) and I take it away and work on the lyrics. Sometimes he will start working on production ideas while I work on lyrics too.
When writing with others, I usually suggest we both bring a few ideas to the table and then decide on the one we both like best. Often music and lyrics come together in this scenario too.
OSR: The music industry is one of the most difficult to take on, what is your advice to emerging artists?
Scott: My dad always used to tell me you have to be able to bounce like a ball. All musicians face setbacks, rejections and disappointments. It’s how you deal with these and use them to make you stronger and more resilient which will define how you move forwards.
OSR: Female artists continue to face challenges like discriminatory language, lack of respect, industry inequality, stereotypes, and much more. How do you feel these issues are being tackled and what is it like being a female in the music industry?
Scott: I am forever referred to as a “female” singer-songwriter whereas my male counterparts are just “singer-songwriters”, as if my gender makes a difference to how good I am at what I do. Those festival posters with the names of all the male acts removed are so powerful and show just how much work there is still to be done. Thank goodness for people like Vick Bain and the f.list standing up and talking about how imbalanced the industry is! I think change will happen but very slowly.
OSR: What is your greatest achievement and it doesn’t have to be a musical achievement?
Scott: Honestly, it’s probably my degree! I work very hard as an independent musician but I have never worked as hard as I did in the run-up to my finals, and I doubt I ever will again. I was a long way from being the smartest student on my course but the hard work paid off – I gained a first-class degree in Modern Languages with Distinction in spoken French and Italian.
Musically it’s probably the small moments which remain in my mind and therefore become “great” to me. The person who comes up to me after a show to tell me I’ve moved them to tears. Another to tell me they’re also a step-parent and wants to talk about how lucky we are. And another who also lost their father recently and wants to talk about him… It’s all about connection.
OSR: Do you have future plans as a musician?
Scott: Once the work for the EP finishes I will be getting my head down to finish writing for my next album.
OSR: Do you have a message for our readers?
Scott: If you’ve enjoyed reading this, please go and listen to my music. I hope you will enjoy that too!
Many thanks to Hannah Scott for speaking with us. For more from Hannah Scott, check out her official website, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Spotify.
This artist was discovered via Musosoup #sustainablecurator
