Hannah White- What is Americana?
Americana music is difficult to define; almost impossible to pinpoint, but I know it as soon as I hear it. It’s a feeling and a vibe. It comes from the phrasing of the singer, from where the musicians play on the beat, it’s sometimes about the harmonies (but not always), and it’s a specific endeavour of sharing, full of emotion.
I have always been drawn to Americana music since before I knew what it was. As a child, I was absolutely transfixed by the stories being told and the harmonies I’d hear. I enjoy other genres of music but I always come back to Americana and when I sit down to write Americana is what usually comes out.
I never call myself a singer, I call myself an artist. I hope it doesn’t sound pretentious to others, I’m not trying to be, but I make the distinction because I’m simply not interested in singing for the sake of singing.
I sing songs that I write and I write because I feel a compulsion to. It’s like an itch that won’t go until I scratch it. And that compulsion happens because I have something to say; a connection I need to make. And that, for me is what Americana is truly about: a human connection that stays with you long after the song has finished playing.
I have always been drawn to Americana music since before I knew what it was. As a child, I was absolutely transfixed by the stories being told and the harmonies I’d hear. I enjoy other genres of music but I always come back to Americana and when I sit down to write Americana is what usually comes out.
I never call myself a singer, I call myself an artist. I hope it doesn’t sound pretentious to others, I’m not trying to be, but I make the distinction because I’m simply not interested in singing for the sake of singing.
I sing songs that I write and I write because I feel a compulsion to. It’s like an itch that won’t go until I scratch it. And that compulsion happens because I have something to say; a connection I need to make. And that, for me is what Americana is truly about: a human connection that stays with you long after the song has finished playing.
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Hannah White is a London born singer-songwriter. June, last year during lockdown, White released her 3rd album with her Anglo-Norwegian Americana band titled Hannah White and The Nordic Connections.
Establishing herself as one of the UK's freshest talents through solo albums that include 2016 Whose Side Are You On? and 2018 Elephant Eye. Find out more about about Hannah's work via the link below |
