Hannah Georgas: Seeking A Sense Of Calm On 'For Evelyn'
Thursday, 21 July 2016
Written by Milly McMahon
Hannah Georgas’ melancholy vocals evoke faded feelings of passion, reminiscent of poignant hurts. She combines the dark, poetic atmosphere of her work with a classic elegance; her music billowing like a shadow in the breeze.
The British Columbian singer-songwriter has honed an organic, raw sound as she has matured, discovering new loves and exploring past heartbreaks on record. Part of a broad church at Dine Alone Records - also home to bands as diverse as City and Colour and hardcore greats Grade - Georgas recently put out ‘For Evelyn’, a record inspired by her 98-year-old grandmother.
Empowered by the vulnerabilities laid bare through her lyrics, feather light tones illuminate Georgas’ voice. Having released her debut LP, ’This Is Good’, in 2010, she has since won a loyal and far-reaching fanbase.
Illuminated by a soft halo of amber waves, Georgas belts out gut-wrenching emotions, unleashed deep from her lungs and soul, but a similarity to Robyn is also tangible in her most recent work, which is underpinned by scattered electronic bassline twists. ‘For Evelyn’ is dedicated to and named after the wisest member of her family. It is an ode to a person who changed her perspective on life and love from the moment she was born.
Sentimental moments weave each track on the LP together with effortless finesse. Georgas creates a sequence of stirring feelings from song to song, while the compendium also remembers the breakdown of a relationship that hit her hard and helped shape her into the person she is today, with scars and strengths celebrated simultaneously. We caught up with Georgas following a date in Philadelphia and while en route to her next show, a festival in Ontario.
What themes run through the album?
The album focuses a lot on conquering my fears and insecurities. I deal with depression and anxiety and I express that in my music. I find it fascinating how I can feel so on top of things one day and feel completely out of my element the next. The album is very much about facing and overcoming those feelings.
You talk about struggling to find peace within yourself, did this album bring you any closer to establishing calm?
Yes, in many ways. I learned so much during this process. I’m finding ways to get to that place way easier. Recording this album taught me to have patience and faith in myself. It truly depends on on what mood I’m in. The spectrum can be really broad. It's always nice to find a track that gives you a sense of calm right before I perform. For a while, I liked hearing Desire Lines by Deerhunter.
What is your most powerful memory of Evelyn and how did she come to be such an inspiration to you?
My grandma always treated me a like a queen when I came to visit her. I would sleep over at her home on the weekends as a child. She always wanted to make me happy and take care of me. She’s an inspiration to me because of her never-ending patience and kindness. There’s a calm about her that I strive for in myself.
How did Evelyn respond to the album when she heard it? When you listen back to the LP in its entirety, what elements of the work stand out the most for you?
She’s heard tracks, but I’m not 100% sure if she has listened to the whole thing. Different elements poke out for me with different listens. I like listening to the album as a whole on a walk or a run. I can absorb it and get lost in the sequence.
How does the wisdom of old age soften a person romantically?
I think with time you discover more and more what you want in life. As I get older it’s easier for me to make decisions. I have a better understanding of what works for me and what doesn’t. I know what makes me feel good and strive hard to surround myself with people who are positive.
How did the process of recording the album in Toronto affect your music’s mood and atmosphere?
Toronto is an exciting and refreshing place to be right now. My mum lives really close to me so that’s nice. I’ve spent a lot of time with her over the past year. There’s a lot of people in Toronto that inspire me musically. I moved around a bit while recording, like returning to Vancouver to work on a couple of tracks. My producer lives in Toronto and we spent a lot of time together plugging away on things.
Why did you decide to work specifically with Andy Shauf and Nicolas Vernhes?
Andy is a friend and he listened to some of the music during the recording process. We tried some things out in the studio too. I’m a huge fan of Nicolas’ work. I got turned on to his mixing through Wye Oak’s 'Shriek'. I looked up more of his work and realised that he’s been involved in a bunch of albums I love. I met up with him at his studio in Brooklyn for a few days during the tail end of our mixing time together.
Lena Dunham is a prominent and powerful influence on our current generation of women and she has featured your music on Girls. Do you consider yourself a role model?
My main focus is to empower people through my music. I think we need to see more realness and honesty in things. I find that the internet can be such a warped place sometimes, as it relates to judgement and what society looks up to in terms of beauty and image. I think we need to appreciate the beauty in imperfection, vulnerability and authenticity.
'For Evelyn' is out now on Dine Alone.
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