Q&A with cinematic singer-songwriter Hannah Schneider

Copenhagen based singer and musician Hannah Schneider creates melancholic and playful alternative pop. Skillfully crafted, her work embodies a fascination with electronic sounds and ambient landscapes.

She has just released a new track ‘We Will Be The Only Sound In The World’ inspired by Danish poet Siri Ranva Hjelm Jacobsen. The beautiful track is lifted from her upcoming album Ocean Letters, due in September 2022.

We chatted to her for some insight into the release, and what to expect moving forward:

How does ‘We Will Be The Only Sound In The World’ set the mood for your upcoming album Ocean Letters which will be released in September 2022?”

It is one of the most acoustic and quiet songs from the album- it felt right to me to start out with a song that signalled “ now for something completely different!” It also strikes the note of a certain calm that runs through the album. Musically I think the song reflects the calm movements of the sea.

Tell us more about how Ocean Letters was conceptualised?

I stumbled across a book in a bookstore a couple of years ago that caught my eye – something about the title and the small wood-carved illustrations – and it’s stayed with me since. It’s called “Havbrevene” ( The Sea Letters ) by Siri Ranva Hjelm Jacobsen, and it inspired me very much. The book is a letter correspondence between the two “sister-oceans” The Mediterranean Sea and the Atlantic Ocean, where they talk about life on earth from the oceans’ perspective. This book, combined with the pandemic stillness has been a huge inspiration for my music.

You mention that this single is inspired by Danish poet Siri Ranva Hjelm Jacobsen. In what other ways have you incorporated storytelling into your work?

I have tried to write from many different perspectives throughout this album- Thematically, the album talks about the world from the Oceans’ perspectives- in this song, I tried to imagine myself being a conch shell, containing all the sounds of times gone by, eventually ending up like the only sound left in the world.

Sum up your year so far in two words.

It’s been a year of extreme contrasts! It started with a winter of lockdown here in Denmark where everything was so quiet, and I actually found some release in that. It also lead to writing this song- the lack of airplanes in the sky, and the eternal background noise. Snap to now, where everything’s opened up again, and I as a musician is out and about all the time.. I like contrasts, and I think it’s a big artistic drive for me- in order to release the beauty in the calm, I had to dive into my hectic life again!

Describe a typical day in your studio space.

I try to come into my studio as often as possible since writing is my main thing- this is where I feel most at ease, and most connected to myself. I often read to begin with, trying to find textural ideas and concepts. Sometimes it’s a new piece of musical equipment that triggers my imagination – or simply just playing the piano. This coming album is written and produced with my long time collaborator Nicolai Kornerup from my band AyOwA, and we have a certain way of creating music together – It involves old tape machines, many modular synths, lots of snacks and red wine..

What are the most important pieces of equipment for you?

My piano! And I’m quite an equipment geek, so I have quite a huge collection of effect pedals- My brand new Microcosm granular pedal just makes everything sound amazing!

Describe what an ideal day would be for you?

An ideal day for me would be an entire day without emails and phone calls, where I could just be in my studio with my musical friends, creating and producing music, with endless amounts of luxurious takeaway and natural wine in an abundance 😉

Do you have a favourite memory of your career so far that you will take with you forever?

I think my first show as a solo artist at the Danish festival Spot ( SXSW of Denmark) will always stay with me. It was in a super-packed concert hall, and the audience was with me in such a heartwarming way that I will never forget it! It was the totally “clean slate”-feeling of standing there on my own with great expectations and no scepticism. Now I’m more realistic about touring and all its ups and downs, but I still love the feeling of connecting with an audience. This is where the songs come alive!

Who is your musical guilty pleasure?

I had to scroll down my Spotify to answer this, but I must admit I have a love for R’n’b stuff from the 00’s and 10’s – think D’angelo + Jill Scott + India Arie!

What can we expect from you in the near future?

I will be releasing a video for We Will Be the Only Sound in the World by fantastic cinematographer Tine Reingaard, who recently directed a video for New Order. It captures the essence of the track very beautifully, and I can’t wait to share it!