Introducing #214 - hanna ögonsten
Let us introduce you to hanna ögonsten, who has just released her debut single ‘Band My Head’ - the first of three singles taken from her new EP.
It’s a homespun sheen of indie pop that leans into mainstream in an almost punky way. She comments on the themes in the single; ‘’I easily attach myself to characters, songs and stories that have a darker side to it. I like when the sight is kind of rough but the depth is fragile, I think that reflects life. I want to create sounds and songs based on that and the feelings I’ve carried on through life, they mainly contain love or memories.‘’
She took a moment to talk to us about her music.
Hey there hanna, how are you? So your track ‘bang my head’ is out now - can you tell us what it is about?
Hi WTHB! I’m good thanks, it’s finally spring here in Stockholm and my debut-single is out, two things I’ve been longing for.
It was written last summer at a songwriting-camp my friend hosted out at the countryside in Sweden. It's the most beautiful place with five goats and a big pool. Every morning we gave them hay and then we went back to the hayloft and put up a temporary studio where we wrote ‘Bang My Head’. It's about a heartbreak and how someone hurts you so bad you wished you never met them in the first place. Pretty dark haha, but I guess we all can relate.
Where are you from? What are your favorites things about living there? Where do you go for adventures?
I’m from a suburb outside of Stockholm called Åkersberga, but today I live in the city. My favourite thing about Stockholm is without any doubt all the water, I love to swim and to always be ten minutes away from a bathing place. During the summer I love going to the archipelago, I think that's a pretty good spot for adventures.
What are the key themes and inferences when it comes to your music?
I easily attach myself to darker stories and characters. Recently I’ve been thinking a lot of the couple in 'The End Of the F***ing World'. I love how they describe this odd love story in a really weird way, but still it's so beautiful. That way of telling influences me. I like when the surface is hard but the depth is fragile.
How would you describe your sound to someone who has never listened to your music before?
I write and sing alt-pop, I got a pretty soft singing-voice so I like to produce my songs the opposite way and mix it up with distorted instruments and heavy beats.
Now the debut track is out there - what next for you?
Next up is my second single from my debut-ep. It’s called ‘Rockstar’ and is out April 15th. After that there’s one more single in the pipeline before I release my debut-ep. I’ve been working so hard with it this and i’m really excited to get it out!
