Hania – Self Care

By starrymag | June 8, 2020

By: Jamie Steinberg

 

 

Q) How would you describe your sound?

A) dreamy, retro, mellow

Q) Who are some of your musical influences?

A) Alina Baraz, Sabrina Claudio, Dua Lipa, Olivia O’Brien

Q) Talk about the story behind your new song “Self Care.”

A) I wrote the song in a time when I just started to reinvent what being a woman means to me. I realized that it’s my duty to prioritize myself and feed my soul what it needs. I’ve started learning about what my mind craves. I understood that I’m constantly evolving. I need to let myself change and love that growth. Letting myself lose control was so freeing. I always felt like I have to be in control of my emotions and decisions. I would always calculate every single step and overthink it. The woman that I am today doesn’t do that. She takes good care of her soul and body and treats it with love. She looks to the future and enjoys the current. She knows they’ll be days she feels like the world is at her feet and days she feels very small. She knows she doesn’t need to be perfect and feel happy all the time and lets herself feel. She accepts that she’ll never stop changing and growing.

Q) What do you think it is about the song that fans connect to?

A) I think we never stop learning about ourselves. Giving yourself the freedom to understand what you’re feeling and embracing it was an important part of the learning process to me. I think listeners can connect to the ability to let go, letting themselves feel and self care.

Q) Why is this such an important concept, now more than ever, for listeners to keep in mind?

A) It seems like we tend to get lost in the craziness of our “to-dos” and aspirations. We’re all looking for ways to become more productive and more effective. Being able to make peace with your body and mind can be life-changing and give you so much confidence. The song celebrates a ritual that helps me remain sane. I urge the listeners to find one as well and cherish it.

Q) What is your songwriting process? Do you need music before you can create lyrics? 

A) The process tends to change from song to song. Nowadays I usually create together with a producer. We get into a room and get the creativity flow and see where it takes us. “Self Care” was different. I wrote it in a small room with a piano. I started handwriting a bunch of words in my free write journal. Right now, it sounds to me old fashioned. [laughs] This song was in fact written in the Fall of 2018.

Q) How much of a hand do you have in the production of your music? 

A) My music requires a lot of production. It’s a stylistic choice. I sit in a studio with a producer and we both exchange ideas back and forth. I have a rule of not saying no to ideas until I hear them in context. I was very lucky to work with Rolf Bendik Johnsen on this track. He is full of ideas and enthusiasm. When we first met, we chatted for a while about music, our inspirations and influences. He then played me “Urban Flora” by Alina Baraz and Galimatias. It became my favorite all-time album and the reason I knew Bendik and I really connected sonically.

Q) What can fans expect from a live Hania performance?

A) I love performing live. It allows me to take the listeners on a journey through my songs and experiences. There are moments in which I like to get intimate and strip down emotionally as well as songs that are easy to dance to and just feel good. My band makes sure that the life set is musically rich and reflects well on my style and sound.

Q) Will there be a full album or EP coming in the near future?

A) I have a lot of exciting releases happening this year. I’m very excited about all of them. I’m currently not planning on releasing an album or EP, but who knows what the next months will bring.

Q) Who would you most like to collaborate with on a song in the future?

A) Tame Impala. No doubt.

Q) What album/band are you currently listening to and why do you dig them? 

A) Dua Lipa has just released an album Future Nostalgia. She’s been a huge influence of mine and this release has been very original yet so trendy. I’m really into the whole retro vibe.

Q) You are a part of social media. Why is that such an important way for you to connect with your fans?

A) Social media lets me connect with my listeners and be able to get an immediate response, ask them questions and hear out what they want.

Q) What would you like to say to everyone who is a fan and supporter of you and your work?

A) Thank you for supporting what I do. You have connected with me on an artistic level. Thank you for letting me in and being a part of your world. Please take good care of it.