Rising singing star Hana has been making noise over the past couple of years with the release of her infectious and tantalising singles and over impressive projects so far. The Neo soul, Jazz and Garage super mix of a sound is found in her latest single LYING, which tells the story of love from a view of disappointment and thought provoking storytelling. The upbeat grooving number is a must listen. Produced by Kieran Guy and co produced by Hana herself this melodic soundtrack shares emotional depth and a mighty danceable groove.
The UK star has come a long way from her early days from her wonderful debut EP Until it Isn't back in 2021 featuring tracks like Lowkey love, Really something and Last Carriage just to name of few to her streak of emotive and lyrically genius jams including Your Time (2023) and When I'm Low and I Met a Guy (2024) . Hana's run has been a joy to listen and witness and we can't wait to see what the future has for her.
The Neo-Soul Jazz singer and songwriter shares more behind the making of her song Lying, her creative process, what she hopes fans will take from the record and also details about her Egyptian upbringing and favourite artists /groups growing up. Hana also shares more on her upcoming live show and her new EP in the works as well as an exciting documentary that she has produced and due to release along side her new EP later this year.
Welcome Hana. We truly love and adore the new single Lying. How did the song first come about?
HANA: I tend to make music in a spur of the moment sort of way. I’ll suddenly get a feeling or rather I’ll process a feeling I’ve had for a while and when that clarity dawns upon me I need to write it down, sing it out etc. etc. For this song, I was on my way home on the underground and bored, so I opened garage band on my phone and started making this upbeat jazzy type tune, then the words just clicked in place that’s what was on my heart and that’s what came out!
Essentially, “Lying” is about a very specific type of situation where you’ve met someone, hung out, had an amazing time, but they’ve said a couple of things at points which seemed too forward given the small amount of time you’ve spent with each other but everything feels so enthralling that you kind of are in la la land about it but deep down you know something isn’t adding up – aka lovebombing. So, “Lying” is about coming out of the other side of that situation when it has inevitably gone to **** and realising that you’re sad because someone irresponsibly and selfishly sold you a dream for their own short-term enjoyment. But also, it’s not cry cry I’m so sad energy, it’s more like **** you, silly man child, that’s not okay! But also, I’m extra riled up about it because I know I should've known better!
2) What was it like recording in the studio, do you have any favourite memories from how the track was made?
HANA: So, I sent the garage band demo to Kieran Guy (producer) to see if he vibed to it and he did! So, we got to the studio, and he produced some more on it and added some more jazzy key chops and some bass and drums and I said, “what if we make it garage!” And for context, I have one other garage tune called “Cold” which we had worked on making together as well so we were both pretty excited to do it again! I think for me, there’s something really fun about making garage tunes because the upbeat, dance energy of garage with my really deep emotional turmoil style lyrics is so contradictory but it works and that to me is so fun and playful but also REAL! (because I figure that’s life; a carousel of chaos, and it’s up to you whether you wallow or dance – I know my choice…)
One thing which was so funny about that studio session was when I was recording my vocals, I wanted to really embody the emotions I felt when I was writing the lyrics/going through the situation with the guy so I actually opened up his picture on my phone and held it in front of me as I sung the lyrics into the microphone and I think that added an element of realness to the song because when I recorded those vocals in my head I really was saying it to him.
3) What do you hope listeners gain from listening to your new record and to you as an artist?
HANA: From listening to the record – I hope they gain self-confidence in the sense of just because someone has done you dirty does not mean there is anything wrong with you (the pitfall I think a lot of people go through, myself included at points in life). I would like to think this song offers an alternative way to process a lovebombing/heartbreak situation, one where you say hey “I see your behaviour, I may have missed it at the time, but I realise now that I didn’t deserve that and now, I will keep FAR away from people like you because I love myself too much to put up with this ****”
From listening to me as an artist – I hope they gain confidence in their own voices and emotions/gut feelings. I am such an advocate of feeling and feeling deeply! All of my songs are really just emotional overspill which societally people could be phased by because I feel like people often don’t speak honestly about their emotions because they may feel they’ll be judged, or that it’s silly and they should “just get over it alone” etc. etc. but I hope that my music shows them that people can and should talk about their feelings and that having the feelings in the first place even if they are negative at times, is actually a really beautiful gift!
4) You made some impressive tracks and music overall. who were some of your influences growing up in music, did you go to them for inspiration for your new single?
HANA: This is easy to answer for me as there are 6 artists whose pictures have been on my wall in my room since I was 18! And while my tastes and musical preferences are ever changing I can tell you that I started making music because of people like Amy Winehouse whose candidness evoked something in me I now in turn hope to evoke in others, because of Frank Ocean who’s musical innovation was like nothing my ears had heard before and because of Jorja Smith for being a soulful UK-based woman of colour so graciously sharing her musical talent with the world (representation is so important!).
5) What advice would you give new creatives around the world or those who want to pursue a career in music ?
HANA: Firstly, if you don’t see or know someone who looks like you or comes from a similar background to you and is doing what you want to do – that’s even more reason to go be that person! Be who your younger self would’ve looked up to and leave your mark!
Secondly, know that if you are talented and hardworking it will always work for you. You make opportunities happen for yourself and while people may not always recognise the greatness in you that is in no way an indication of your lack of it. It just means that it is not for them, and we live on a planet called Earth in a literal galaxy in space! So, let’s just put that into perspective!
Thirdly, people love hopping on board once it feels safe enough i.e., the earliest points in your career can often be the hardest because a lot of people don’t want to back someone “unknown” but take note of the people that do because they are very special!
Finally, keep grinding, keep being true to you and stay hardworking – it will happen for you and you have to believe that because if you don’t then why would anybody else?
6) Finally, What’s coming up next from you. Could we look forward to more music videos, covers and any live shows coming up ?
HANA: I will be releasing an EP in late 2025 which will be all about my identity and questions I’ve had around my identity as a 2nd generation Egyptian in London!
To accompany this inner exploration, I filmed a documentary in my hometown in Alexandria, Egypt in Summer 2024 where I asked people from my community there about what Egyptian identity means to them – this will be released as pre-cursor to the EP.
Finally, you can except more live shows to be announced throughout the year on my Instagram: @hanayazz
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