Artist Of The Week #279 - Hohnen Ford
This week’s Artist of the Week is rising North Londoner Hohnen Ford – who has just released her new EP ‘I Wish I Had A God’ via tastemaker label Young Poet.
I Wish I Had A God is a fresh blend of pop, jazz and folk, created by an artist re-imagining classic songwriting through a contemporary, thoughtful Gen-Z lens. It is the second EP from Hohnen Ford, who’s lyrical depth and emotional intelligence seem far beyond her years.
Ford’s music strikes a chord with a generation of fans who appreciate honesty and sincerity in their favourite artists. From studying Jazz Voice at The Royal Academy of Music, to commanding over a million viewers at a time on her live streams, Ford is distilling the essence of classic pop and the great American Songbook, refreshing the point of view and singing from an undeniably personal place. I Wish I Had A God sees Hohnen Ford join a growing cast of artists such as Laufey, Waxahatchee and Weyes Blood who capture the imagination of young audiences, creating modern classics with their timeless songwriting.
She took a moment to talk to us about how the EP came together.
Hey there Hohnen Ford, how are you? So your EP is out now – how does it feel to have it out there?
The time where you’ve made a record but haven’t released it is quite abstract!. So having the songs in people’s pockets makes it make a bit more sense. I’m super proud of this body of work. It feels like a relief to get to share it, and hearing that the songs are keeping people company in whatever way brings me a lot of joy.
It is called ‘I Wish I Had A God’ – what is the meaning behind that?
I wish i had a God is the title track of the EP. The EP is dedicated to Imogen Shelley-Moore, a dear friend who we lost last year. The whole EP is themed around love and grief and the life lessons Imogen taught me. Growing up and figuring the world out can feel very lonely and the sentiment of wishing for something to believe in, and the sense of a higher power is something I've craved in moments of grief and solitude. I felt it summed up this last chapter of my life.
Where was it recorded? Any behind the scenes stories you are willing to share with us?
It was recorded with Luca Caruso, my friend of 10 years between his studio in Deptford and my childhood home. I felt I could get my best, rawest vocal takes there. We took a lot of time and care carving out the sonic worlds for these songs. We recorded it through winter and developed an out of hand addiction for hot chocolates. So we have cacao to thank for fueling this project…
What are the key influences behind the EP?
Some ongoing musical heroes/ records of mine…
Pet sounds - Beach Boys
Fiona Apple
Randy Newman
Elliott Smith
Stevie Wonder
If the EP could be a soundtrack to any film – which one and why?
It would be a privilege for this ep to be the soundtrack to people’s lives and stories. In any film or in real life!
Do you have a favourite lyric on the EP? If so, which one and why?
Different lines pop out to me depending on what’s going on in my life. Songs have that effect I think, their power is in the eye of the beholder (ear or the belistener?)
Every line from this EP is quite painfully honest. So from that perspective I'm proud of the lyrics as a body of work. But some particular lines i like today;
‘Platonic as the moon’ - something that doesn’t quite make sense literally but the words seem to paint the feeling i mean!
‘There's a canyon between our twin beds - the honorary title for honest mistake’
‘They both appeared as if I'd known them all along. I love it when that happens.’
Now the EP is out there – what next for you?
I want to make sure this EP has time to breathe and reach the people who it speaks to. There is such an abundance of music available to us now, it’s important to me not to let this project vanish into the ether as I push onto new things!
I am super excited to tour the EP through Europe in september. I hope some people reading can meet me at one of those shows! Come and say hi if you do. I’ll attach the tour dates below 🤟
It is my goal to write forever songs. So I am always writing and asking questions so I understand people and music better. The seeds of the next project are being sewn!
