Native artist Hannah Vig digs into native music scene with debut single
Ottawa singer-songwriter Hannah Vig just lately launched her debut single, “clear break” on Valentine’s Day.
Presently in her second 12 months learning English on the College of Ottawa, Vig has been acting at native venues as a solo act and alongside native bands reminiscent of Noise Lodge since February 2022.
The Charlatan sat down with Vig to be taught extra about her musical background and what it’s like to interrupt into the “unhappy lady pop” scene.
The Charlatan (TC): How lengthy have you ever been taking part in music?
Hannah Vig (HV): I briefly performed the piano after I was 9, after which I finished taking part in after we moved to Canada [from near Phoenix, AZ]. Then, I simply began taking part in the guitar in quarantine in 2021. After I moved to Ottawa for college, my dad gave me one in all his outdated guitars. I grew up singing with him. My dad is a little-known musician—he would at all times play the guitar and sing round the home.
TC: What was the manufacturing strategy of your new single like?
HV: My brother is a sound engineer, so we spent a while collectively within the studio. I paid him for it and all the pieces. It was two days straight, and I spent seven or eight hours within the studio every day, so it was form of exhausting. I’m nonetheless messing round, making an attempt to determine how to do this stuff alone with sound manufacturing packages, however I’m very grateful to have had some assist figuring it out. I’m actually pleased with the way it turned out.
TC: How would you describe your music?
HV: My pal describes it as Taylor Swift if she was homosexual and had piercings. It’s plenty of unhappy lady pop. I really like a very good upbeat tune, nevertheless it’s additionally very arduous to make one thing upbeat when it’s simply usually me doing acoustic. I wish to get extra into upbeat taking part in with a backing band someday, however proper now, my music is extra indie pop.
TC: How did you resolve to pursue music?
HV: It was truthfully a happenstance. I at all times favored singing as a child, however my first time performing ever was in April 2019 at a espresso home fundraiser for my native theatre in my neighbourhood. My pal and I did a canopy of “Like I’m Gonna Lose You” by John Legend and Meghan Trainor. I did the Meghan Trainor half, and it was horrible. I used to be so nervous. There’s a video that exists, however no person’s ever going to see that. I actually loved it. My first actual gig was in February for Queer Connections. Since then, individuals have principally been reaching out to me to play exhibits.
TC: Have you ever had any favorite gigs?
HV: I actually love each present that I’ve performed with Noise Lodge. We did a present in Avant-Garde in September. I joined them throughout their set for “Exhausting Instances” by Paramore, they usually joined me for “Perpetually and All the time” by Taylor Swift. I really like taking part in with a full band—it’s at all times a very good time.
TC: Do you continue to get nervous while you’re performing? What do you do?
HV: It will get a bit simpler after each present. I nonetheless get nervous, however even after I mess up now, I simply play by it. There are all these superstitions for singers. You’re purported to keep away from dairy and chilly water. I drink espresso or scorching tea with lemon and honey religiously on days I’m performing. I even keep away from my ADHD meds as a result of they mess with my urge for food, and I by no means put on something on my wrist or my neck which may trouble me whereas I’m taking part in.
TC: Do you have got any non-musical inventive inspirations?
HV: My older sister is a photographer and I look as much as her lots. By way of authors, my favorite guide is The Seven Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle by Stuart Turton, and I’m a diehard Percy Jackson [and the Olympians] fan.
TC: What would you be doing if not music?
HV: Music is extra of a aspect factor as a result of I’ve this horrible worry that if I monetize any of my artistic passions, I’ll resent them. My authentic plan was going to be instructing, however inside the final six months or so since I’ve been working on the Ottawa Public Library, I spotted I’m much more obsessed with that. I plan on going and doing my graduate college in info sciences to develop into a librarian.
Vig’s “clear break” is out now on all music platforms.
This interview was edited for size and readability.
Featured picture by Bianca Miron.
