Gabbie Hanna – Bad Karma

By starrymag | January 14, 2021

By: Ashlee Dell’Arciprete

 

 

Q) How would you describe your sound?

 

A) A very eclectic mix of dark pop, alternative, punk, theatre…I love a lot of sounds, so I create a lot of sounds. I write my melody and lyrics first, and then build a track around that skeleton, so I never know exactly how it’s going to sound until it’s finished.

 

Q) Tell us about your newly-released single “Shut Me Up,” which was released on October 30th of this year. What was the motivation behind the song?

 

A) I was just so tired of feeling like I wasn’t being heard. In dating, at work, as a woman in entertainment (or in general), sometimes it feels like I literally need to scream to be heard. This song was my way of releasing all the energy that I had been holding back from so many situations.

 

Q) Your music video to accompany “Shut Me Up” is quite interesting. Talk about the inspiration behind the music video.

 

A) I usually listen to my demos while on a run and just let the imagery come to me. The original image for this video was actually for me to sew my own mouth shut because that’s how I felt. But then I decided, f–k that…There’s enough people in my real life who want to shut me up, I’m not going to do it to myself. So, I turned it on the person who was trying to silence me and sewed their mouth shut instead. It just made me feel powerful and dangerous.

 

Q) You released the track as part of a second single from your debut album, This Time Next Year, which was unfortunately delayed due to the pandemic. Are you able to tease when your next track will be released?

 

A) Well, I have one more big announcement coming soon before I get to announce that…So, stay tuned! [winks]

 

Q) You recently released your EP Bad Karma, which grew to number one on the iTunes chart – huge congrats! Do you plan on releasing a full-length album in the near future, and is there anything you can share about it?

 

A) Thank you and absolutely! I’ve been working on my album This Time Next Year for, ironically, about two years. It tells the story of the worst year of my life that was originally 2018, but actually makes more sense about 2020. 2020 was a really rough year for a lot of people, so this album is coming right when it’s supposed to.

 

Q) Who are your greatest comedic and artistic influences?

 

A) Absolutely Bo Burnham, Brendon Urie and Freddie Mercury right at the top, but there are so many men and women I look to for different reasons. Miley [Cyrus] is extremely inspirational to me. She feels like a kindred spirit. P!nk, Demi [Lovato] and Sia inspire me vocally. Ugh, there are just so many artists to list.

 

Q) When did you first develop a love for writing and poetry, and how did that come about? 

 

A) It’s always been a huge part of my life. As a kid, I filled notebooks with songs and poems. I used to draw pictures of myself as the frontman of a rock band. My dad and grandma were always writers and poets. My mom had a love for theatre and music. I was just always surrounded by instruments, art, bizarre indie music, journals and showtunes. I always said growing up that I wanted to be an artist– I just forgot for a little while, I guess. But I found my way back and here we are!

 

Q) What is your music writing process? Does it start with lyrics or melody first or a combination of both?

 

A) Usually it starts with one line. Sometimes it’s spoken, sometimes it’s part of a poem, sometimes it’s just a vague concept. Then, it’s a lot of awkward humming in the car or shower until it becomes a melody. I actually show a lot of my songwriting process on my new YouTube channel, Gabbie Hanna Music! If you’re interested in seeing my process, I’d definitely love for you to check that out.

 

Q) Would you say your hometown of Pittsburgh, PA has influenced a lot of your music? 

 

A) I think growing up in New Castle, PA (right outside of Pittsburgh) had an impact on me in the way that our childhoods have an impact on all of us. We did local theatre, so I love big, theatrical vocals. I was in concert band, so give me a trumpet and a trombone on a track and I’m ecstatic. Pittsburgh (and New Castle) have a really cool local music scene; one of my favorite things to do as a teenager was go to shows and see all the cute emo boys play garage band punk music. My parents played 80s and 90s grungy (Garbage, No Doubt, The Offspring) in our car trips. There’s a little bit of everything in my music and my taste and style was definitely shaped by a lifetime of exposure to cool stuff.

 

Q) You’ve become an author, an artist, an influencer and an actress. What’s next for you?

 

A) Right now, the focus is almost entirely music…But I rarely stay in one lane for long. As I work on my new Gabbie Hanna Music channel, I’m finding lost pieces of myself in a really interesting, emotional and raw way. It’s inspiring me to get more into filmmaking and editing again. I’m also starting my new podcast, “Burnout,” which is going to breed a lot of really dope conversations unlike anything you’ve heard. In the near future, I’m also hoping to get some really cool new products and designs out into the world!

 

Q) How do you handle all of the drama in the YouTube world and how do you stay sane?

 

A) Well the thing is, I am not always (if I ever was) sane. I’ve had a lot of breakdowns and a very warped sense of reality for long stretches of time. At this current moment, I’m (I think) finally in a really healthy, happy place and the answer to that was to stay off social media. I created a new channel to just be myself without worrying about views. I stay off TikTok, Twitter and Instagram as much as I possibly can manage and I spend a lot of time doing stuff that actually makes me happy…Even if it’s not necessarily making me money. Balance, I think, is probably the word I’m looking for.

 

Q) During the pandemic, what has kept you motivated to continue to focus on your artistry?

 

A) Firstly, when talking about COVID-19, I always feel compelled to recognize that my experience is one of privilege. The changes to my life, in comparison to others, are inconveniences and mild discomforts at worst. That being said, it’s honestly been a huge driving force in my creativity. I have a problem where I need to feel like I’m being productive at all times. Being stuck in the house with nothing but time and tools, I find that I’m creating more freely and frequently than ever before. I guess, to me, it seemed like a terrible waste to throw away this opportunity to do all the stuff I’ve always wanted to do but never had the time.

 

Q) Finally, what would you say to all of your fans who have supported you through your long career, from Vine to YouTube and beyond?

 

A) There’s so much to say, but most importantly, just thank you so, so much for everything – for standing by me, defending me, supporting me, believing in me, loving me, trusting me and seeing the best in me when I couldn’t see it in myself. Yes, tears did well in my eyes as I typed that answer because I’d be nothing without you. Truly. I would have given up a long, long time ago. But here we are so…Thank you.