UP: What’s up Hannah! First off, we’re excited to have you featured on our blog and to be doing this interview with you. Thanks for taking the time to do this quick interview. One of the main questions we ask here at UP is about the artist’s journey. Can you tell us how you got started in music and what led you to where you are now with your music career? Tell us more about you!
Hannah: I have always loved music, and started after I was 6 years old and diagnosed with a Mitochondrial Disorder. I was bullied very frequently, and it was very upsetting, so I would turn my emotion into music. Every day, running home from school, turned on my parent’s computer video camera, recording myself singing original songs.
It wasn’t until 2019 of September, when I got another diagnosis being rushed to the hospital, as a Type One Diabetic. It was scary because I was 17, and at 17 when you hear those words of a new diagnosis, you don’t know exactly what to think. I decided that life is so unexpected and I wanted to make something good out of everything, so I started doing Instagram Livestreams playing my music, and then I started to gain an audience which influenced the album’s recording!
UP: What were some of your goals with your latest self-titled album? Where were you trying to take your music?
Hannah: My goals with my latest self-titled album have been to help people with my music and reach an audience that can feel like they can connect with it. Each person is different, which makes music so personal. Some songs that connect with others, may not connect with me. I always hope my music can connect with somebody just like another artist’s music does for me!
UP: Let’s talk more in-depth about your single “When you are ready to let go”. Can you tell us what this song is about?
Hannah: This song is about letting go of somebody after a breakup. I know sometimes we stalk our exes online or think frequently about them. This is really about letting go, and moving forward, asking that question to them as well “Are You Ready to Let Go.”
UP: Where was your music recorded and who was involved in the entire process for your new album?
Hannah: My Music was recorded at ‘The Tonic Room Recording and Mastering Studios.’ It was such an awesome process, I finished writing the song, and asked my good friend Sam Henry if he would like to sing in it as well! I feel like the duet captured the emotions and we had a very fun time recording the songs as well, and of course, the music video! The music video was recorded in 17-degree Fahrenheit weather, so Sam and I would have to either run to the extremely heater-blasting car or do tons and tons of jumping jacks haha!
UP: How long did it take you to write all your songs and where did you pull all your inspiration?
Hannah: It took me about a few months to complete all of the songs, and my diagnosis was inspiring this. I was inspired by other circumstances as well, like living in California until I was 16, WW2 for my song ‘The Train.’ and being bullied which was shown in my song ‘Fool School.’
UP: Which song is your favorite on your new album and why?
Hannah: My favorite song on the album would have to be ‘Brown Eyes’ because it is very upbeat and happy! It also makes a pretty fun dancing song. The process of recording this song was really fun as we recorded it with a lot of different microphones to give it a bright sound!
UP: Where are the best places listeners and fans can check you out online?
Hannah: Besides social media, one could check me out on Spotify, Apple Music, Itunes, Youtube, or even CD! There are so many social media sites I love to be present on, but my main ones are Instagram, Twitter, & Tiktok!
Watch Hannah Strumners Music Video for her latest single “Are You Ready To Let Go” below: