Inspired #256 - Hannah Slavin
Scottish newcomer Hannah Slavin has just released her first single of 2021 - ‘I Don’t Have A Clue’. A huge anthem that blends together RnB, soul and modern-pop. She took a moment to talk to us about the inspirations behind her music.
Who are your top three musical inspirations and why?
OH, tricky! The first one, I would say is Paul Simon. I will never ever tire of listening to his music. I only have one CD in my car and it’s ‘Graceland’. Without a doubt every day I will be playing a song of his. A phenomenal songwriter. Feel good vibes. I just love it all.
Another inspiration is Remi Wolf. I recently discovered Remi’s music and oh my god, I pretty much have had it on non-stop. She is so cool in every single way. The harmonies, the lyrics, just the way she tells her stories and sings them so authentically. Unlike any other artist right now - I think she is so great. She also writes and produces all her own stuff which I think is wicked.
Third, would have to be Charlie Puth. It would be a great discredit to all the music I am currently making if I did not mention Charlie in this list, because honestly every single time I’m in the studio I am basically rinsing every single one of his songs in some way, shape or form. I’m obsessed with his old school synths and bass lines. They get me every single time. Just an all-round great musician.
Is there a certain film that inspires you and why?
OK. So, hear me out. I’m a bit of a child when it comes to movies, so I am a sucker for anything feel good and fun. I absolutely love the Dr. Suess movies and could happily watch them on repeat. They are all classics, but still completely current and relevant in today’s society. I love how simply he tells important messages and how they highlight some of the biggest social and political issues in the world. My favourite is probably ’The Lorax’ or 'Horton Hears a Who’. If you want to learn a lesson or two about life without getting bummed out, then these are for you!
What city do you find the most inspiring and why?
I think I’m very biased, but Glasgow is the city I always feel most inspired by. Mainly because of the people and community within the city, there is nowhere else like it. You can make friends in 5 minutes in Glasgow. People just really give a shit here, no matter who you are or where you’re from. I think it’s also a very progressive place - it is constantly challenging the norms of society and standing up for what’s right. It’s very much a stick up for the little guy environment. I just find the people inspire me to be better, to do better, to give a shit about things that are important, instead of living in my own bubble. It’s an incredible community to be a part of.
Who is the most inspiring person to you and why?
Definitely my Mum. She is an absolute badass in every single way. She takes absolutely no shit from anyone and always speaks up for what’s important and right. She spends a lot of her time putting other people before herself and is the most hardworking person I know. She is the glue that holds my world together and is everything I aspire to be.
What were your inspirations when writing your new track?
I wrote ‘I Don’t Have a Clue’ during lockdown with one of my closest friends. It was during a time when we were both struggling with life in quarantine and it was quite clearly affecting our mental health. 2020 was a rollercoaster year and it felt important to talk about how we were genuinely feeling, instead of trying to cover it up. I was definitely inspired by a lot of my friends who were very open and honest about their mental health over lockdown. It definitely made me want to share my own journey and write a song that reflected how I’ve been feeling. This song represents the majority of the past 12 months for me, and probably the emotions of the entire generation as well. I’m excited for people to listen to it and hopefully relate to it in some way.
How would you like to inspire people?
I want to inspire people to be absolutely unapologetically themselves and celebrate their own individuality and genuinely just feel like they can achieve anything. Especially in a world where we are constantly told how to look, how to be, what to wear, what to do, it’s important to remember that you can be anyone you want to be and don’t need to fit into any crowd. Despite what anyone has to say or what other people’s opinion are, live life authentically as you.