A chat with Hannah Everingham
Words by Liam Stretch. Images Provided.
Liam Stretch speaks to Hannah Everingham, a Ōtautahi-based artist who has just released her first single So Long Underground, with an EP, Between Bodies, to come.
Give us some context on you: Who are you, where are you from?
Hello! I ask myself the same question. I am Hannah Everingham, and I am currently abiding on the Port Hills in Christchurch, New Zealand.
How did music become a part of your life, and what has shaped you as a musician?
I think music arrived in my life kind of just like me at parties… it just sort of arrived and never left. Has been hanging around ever since, makes great company. I’m fortunate to have had piano and guitar lessons growing up, which were primarily fun and educational in the sense that I learnt who Green Day and Miley Cyrus were (unfortunate child that I was, the kid at school without Disney+). I think the one thing that all of it gave me was the discovery that life and music can and should be fun, should bring you joy, should bring you a spark because you’re alive, and that’s called living.
What’s your style of music?
Fun and sad, yin and yang - they come together. I enjoy playing guitar – in terms of style, that means nothing, but generally, if you see me out and about, you can expect to see me with one.
Do you write your own music? If so, how do you get into that creative process?
Yep, I do write my own music! For me, it feels a bit like swimming or walking or breathing. Life outside is busy, consuming, sometimes emotionally stunting. I like writing music because it is one way to remind yourself that you’re a human being… There’s no magic trick to it. I think you just sit down and start getting it out. Or stand up, or lie down, whatever floats your boat.
You come from a very musical family; how have they inspired you? Do you all just burst into song?
Yeah, basically. I remember the moment I brought a friend home, and they asked, does your family normally do that? And I had to say, what? And he said, just start randomly singing? And that was funny to me because I hadn’t realised we had been singing at all. A family of extroverts, what can you do? 100% of my family inspires me, how so I’m not sure, but I love crazy people, and my family is certainly full of them. They’re also great at telling stories, spinning yarns, things that seep naturally into good songwriting.
You’ve got some music coming out! Describe the album to me.
Between Bodies is a collection of songs written over the last summer and recorded with Thomas Isbister earlier this year. For me, it feels really sweet, the first real collection of songs to transform itself into an album. Instrumentally I play a bunch of stuff, and Thomas features on most of the songs, with Mark Menzies appearing to provide strings, and friends Josh Wright on double bass across a few tracks and Sam White on some electric guitar features (and a lone blow-tom…). I don’t know what people will call it, whether or not it will fit into some kind of genre that makes sense, but I’m just glad I made it. Which doesn’t answer the question at all… but So Long Underground is the first single, and if you listen to it, all of this might make more sense.
What has the last year held for you musically?
It has been fun! Full of adventures and discoveries and nice beer (sometimes not nice beer). I’ve been recording a bit, writing lots, trying to make sense of things, figuring life out etc. Schemes and dreams and all these things that come out in the songs.
What do you hope to convey to a listener when they consume your music?
Joy, freedom, connection!
Many artists I’ve interviewed often have a location that has served as a musical muse. Do you have one?
The supermarket? Food is so good, I spent some time this year working at a bakery, and the doughnuts there were my muse; I was so inspired. Was it the crazy blood sugar levels? The caffeination? The thrill of a disappointed customer? Except they rarely existed because the doughnuts were great. Na though… in all actuality, I speak Spanish and recently have been writing mas en español. Así qué, supongo a veces tengo el sueño estar en la playa en Mexico, cantando, bailando, viviendo una vida alternativa a la vida que tengo en inglés.
What’s been a struggle within your creative process, and how do you overcome this/these?
A struggle I find in life is just time. Time is a real thing. Who would’ve thought? My discovery was that what brings me joy is writing music, and that is the thing without which nothing else would flow, so basically, making time for this thing that brings me joy is all I really have any control over. Don’t have control over much else, except this thing that helps me understand the world and myself some more. It’s a struggle, sure, but if you just keep doing the thing, it works out in the end. I just have to make sure I carve out time for other important life duties like doing the washing, the dishes, getting enough vitamin C, drinking beer and eating doughnuts….priorities right.
What can we expect from you in the future?
Firstly a single-release show for So Long Underground is happening on the 30th! You should all come. Tickets are at UTR. Then some more singles and the album shall be flying through the atmosphere to you.
I have some fun show announcements to go….and other secretive series of events to be revealed in time.
Anything else you would like to leave Yo, Vocal readers with?
I wish I had an exciting quip and some fun catchphrase to make this article pop, but I don’t, unfortunately, and the sun is setting, so I am going to go enjoy that while it lasts. Can we have our cake and eat it? I don’t know, who does? I just know it tastes great.
Keep an eye out for Hannah’s liv gig at Christchurch’s Space Academy on 30 Septmeber and watch this space for the release of her EP Between Bodies.