GET TO KNOW: ANTIHANA
Interview by Tess Greenham
Photo Credit Lukas Markou
Hey Hana! Thanks for taking the time to talk with us! Where are you from? How did you get into music? Do you play any instruments?
I’m from Santa Barbara! I grew up with my dad and older brother playing guitar/bass/ukelele around the house, and I remember making up little songs in my room in grade school, and my dad would play guitar while I sang at little open mic things in high school, but it was never something I thought of pursuing for real until later. I didn’t learn how to actually play the guitar until my second year of college and am very much still learning. And then I started making actual songs and getting really into it in college.
Who are the top 3 artists that you’re listening to right now?
Caroline Polachek, Oklou, and as I’m typing this I’m listening to lots of Dionne Warwick. It’s always changing though.
What do you love about the music scene in LA?
It’s so interconnected, like, to a freaky degree sometimes. Maybe that’s every music scene? But I really feel it right now. A lot of the new friends I’ve made in the last year or so that I’ve been living here have been through some sort of music thing.
From music video for "More" shot and directed by Allison Nguyen
What’s your favorite live music venue in LA? Why?
I really gotta get better at going to more shows but probably Zebulon? Sweet spot of enough esteem that some of the acts I’m most excited about have rolled through but small enough that it’s still an intimate show. But I gotta say I played a show at Highland Park Bowl and was so pleasantly surprised by their whole thing they got goin’ on… the steampunk bowling alley situation with burlesque dancers taking over every 30 minutes? One of the best nights of my life.
What does your songwriting process look like? What do you do to get yourself in the creative zone?
It’s different with every song - sometimes I start with guitar, sometimes I start with making a beat on my computer, sometimes a random melody will pop into my head. If I feel like sitting down and trying to write a new song, I’ll usually google “guitar chords” (lmao) and try to string some together that sound nice and see if anything happens.
Photo Credit Caroline Fortuna
We’re all about giving credit where credit is due! Who are you working with on the production/engineering side of your upcoming record?
My next single is produced by AKA me (Stephanie D’Arcy)!!! I’m so excited about it. Random dancey track that came out of us properly hanging out for the first time. And then my baby that we have been growing for a loooong time now, my next EP that may be turning into a full album, is produced by sauna6. Dude… you don’t even knowwww. He is going to take the world by storm and I feel so fucking lucky I get to have him right now. While I still can!
Do you feel like creating music with women/gender-fluid individuals yields a different result than creating music with men?
I actually don’t really have much experience making music with women, which is something I’d obviously like to change. Working with Steph was amazing. Working with sauna and other male musicians in the past has been amazing too though. So far I’ve only worked with truly lovely people, who have all been so respectful, talented, and collaborative.
Photo Credit Lukas Markou
What challenges have come up while making this record that you didn’t expect?
Things take tiiiiime. And time flies. Something I’m really reckoning with. I think I feel a pressure to get this shit out into the world while it still feels cutting edge and exciting to me. And because being a girl in this world / trying to make pop music I feel like I’m pushing a hundred years old already… Just kidding but also this industry sure is obsessed with 20 year olds!!
Also, paying the bills and pursuing music with everything I have is pretty hard. It took me a really long time to find the strength to not just flop down on the couch and watch TV with my roommates after working 9am-6pm Mon-Fri. How do you find the time to work, eat well, exercise regularly, sleep enough, spend time with family and friends, spend time alone in your room to do creative stuff, get bored enough to get inspired and have ideas? It’s also expensive - equipment, rehearsal space, music videos… worth it though!!
And howwww do I market my new stuff so people hear it? Not a rhetorical question… if you got tips or plugs HMU.
What’s something non-musical that you’re really excited about right now?
One of my best friends, Emme Harris, wrote and is directing her first short film, and I’m co-producing it. It’s gonna be so good :’)
From music video for "More" shot and directed by Allison Nguyen
What’s next in the world of AntiHana?
I have a show at Permanent Records on April 23rd! This will be our first attempt at playing the hyperpoppy electronic-y stuff live. Wish us luck……