victoria canning photography
“All I Got Is This Beat Beat Inside.”
Words by Victoria J.
NESTLED far out west, across North Americas vast and varied 'scape, home to everything, from Mountains to Lakes and dusty prairie land, lies British Columbia and, deep at its heart, bustling Vancouver. Known for hockey greats, the Cannucks and home to many aspiring and influential musicians alike, Vancouver welcomes the young artist with open arms. At its centre, a few blocks from downtown, sits Mushroom Studios. From the outside, this treasure trove sits like any other building. Its steep driveway rears up from the busy street, pulling in under 8 bold letters that simply read, 'Mushroom'. Inside is its expanse of a live room, magic exuding from every corner, a wash of just pure good feeling that soaks you as soon as you step in. It's here that Hannah Georgas and I meet. We walk a few blocks to the nearest food shack, grab a late lunch for the others and ourselves, then back to the studio, sun setting across the creek now in front of us and down behind the silver scrapers.
“I write songs that get stuck in your head.” quips the singer songwriter from Ontario, far east of Vancouver. On debut record, EP, 'The Beat Stuff' she explains further, “Lyrically the songs have an edgy feel to them. The songs are generally uplifting, even if they aren't necessarily about something positive.”
A cold wind whips at my cheeks as we walk back along the roadside, I wonder if people know the person walking alongside me will one day grace their radios, accompanying them on long journeys across state, or short trips to the local convenient store. I feel privileged in a way, though the singers humble abilities put me at ease.
We settle back into the comfort of the studios ample sitting room and soon, all trace of food has vanished and everyone makes their way back to the control room, back to recording.
From the outside the room, I can hear Hannah's voice soar above pounding beats and drop into melodious riffs and piano keys.
Listening to the record months after, her lyrics play with that same sense of intimacy and folky harmony, performed for the listener like any a true troubadour. The composition of each song is strong and their production, careful and considered and finely detailed. Still there is the sense of freedom and new beginning in Hannah's singing, a fresh voice into the industry that is sure to shake up many a flagging musician. Her quirky sense of style and lyrical composition, blunt honesty and intertwined various accompaniments on this EP are sharp and mature.
From 'The National' a tale of heartbreak, cushioned gently by hopeful musicality to 'Let's Talk' with it's memorable hooks and light-hearted humour. 'Gabriella' puts the light strum of the guitar and heavy beats to one side and instead showcases the vocal depths of the young Canadian.
Into each song infuses inspiration from many female artists, from front woman of Australian alt group Frente! Angie Hart, to Sarah McLachlan and the enigma that is Bjork, accomplished with the same sense of vocal timing as american singer Regina Spektor. Despite the contemporary tone of her influences that one would expect of a young artist, Hannah cites the influences of her father, classics such as Spike Jones, Ray Charles, Pinetop Smith and Brook Benton to name but a few. “My dad was an amazing blues piano player. He introduced me to music before I could even talk and is responsible for me wanting to learn to play the piano.”
Following in the hype and success of the EPs release within West Canada and having been favoured to play legendary hot spots within the city, Hannah enthuses her plans to take the EP national, playing across the country by late January, “My focus right now is to get the music out in Canada and build my fan base nationally,” and by next spring intends to head back into the studio to record a full length album,“I have a lot of songs that I'm really excited about and can't wait to record!”
I ask whether a European tour should be anticipated and wisely so, she declines. Instead she replies, “A European tour is definitely something that will happen in the future. It's just a matter of figuring out when would be the right time and when it would make the most sense in my career to head out there.”
Watch this space.
'The Beat Stuff', a six track EP, full from start to finish, with bright lyrics and euphonious rhythms is now available from www.uppermusicstore.com.
www.hannahgeorgas.com
photo by zipporah wilson
www.zipporahwilson.com
NESTLED far out west, across North Americas vast and varied 'scape, home to everything, from Mountains to Lakes and dusty prairie land, lies British Columbia and, deep at its heart, bustling Vancouver. Known for hockey greats, the Cannucks and home to many aspiring and influential musicians alike, Vancouver welcomes the young artist with open arms. At its centre, a few blocks from downtown, sits Mushroom Studios. From the outside, this treasure trove sits like any other building. Its steep driveway rears up from the busy street, pulling in under 8 bold letters that simply read, 'Mushroom'. Inside is its expanse of a live room, magic exuding from every corner, a wash of just pure good feeling that soaks you as soon as you step in. It's here that Hannah Georgas and I meet. We walk a few blocks to the nearest food shack, grab a late lunch for the others and ourselves, then back to the studio, sun setting across the creek now in front of us and down behind the silver scrapers.
“I write songs that get stuck in your head.” quips the singer songwriter from Ontario, far east of Vancouver. On debut record, EP, 'The Beat Stuff' she explains further, “Lyrically the songs have an edgy feel to them. The songs are generally uplifting, even if they aren't necessarily about something positive.”
A cold wind whips at my cheeks as we walk back along the roadside, I wonder if people know the person walking alongside me will one day grace their radios, accompanying them on long journeys across state, or short trips to the local convenient store. I feel privileged in a way, though the singers humble abilities put me at ease.
We settle back into the comfort of the studios ample sitting room and soon, all trace of food has vanished and everyone makes their way back to the control room, back to recording.
From the outside the room, I can hear Hannah's voice soar above pounding beats and drop into melodious riffs and piano keys.
Listening to the record months after, her lyrics play with that same sense of intimacy and folky harmony, performed for the listener like any a true troubadour. The composition of each song is strong and their production, careful and considered and finely detailed. Still there is the sense of freedom and new beginning in Hannah's singing, a fresh voice into the industry that is sure to shake up many a flagging musician. Her quirky sense of style and lyrical composition, blunt honesty and intertwined various accompaniments on this EP are sharp and mature.
From 'The National' a tale of heartbreak, cushioned gently by hopeful musicality to 'Let's Talk' with it's memorable hooks and light-hearted humour. 'Gabriella' puts the light strum of the guitar and heavy beats to one side and instead showcases the vocal depths of the young Canadian.
Into each song infuses inspiration from many female artists, from front woman of Australian alt group Frente! Angie Hart, to Sarah McLachlan and the enigma that is Bjork, accomplished with the same sense of vocal timing as american singer Regina Spektor. Despite the contemporary tone of her influences that one would expect of a young artist, Hannah cites the influences of her father, classics such as Spike Jones, Ray Charles, Pinetop Smith and Brook Benton to name but a few. “My dad was an amazing blues piano player. He introduced me to music before I could even talk and is responsible for me wanting to learn to play the piano.”
Following in the hype and success of the EPs release within West Canada and having been favoured to play legendary hot spots within the city, Hannah enthuses her plans to take the EP national, playing across the country by late January, “My focus right now is to get the music out in Canada and build my fan base nationally,” and by next spring intends to head back into the studio to record a full length album,“I have a lot of songs that I'm really excited about and can't wait to record!”
I ask whether a European tour should be anticipated and wisely so, she declines. Instead she replies, “A European tour is definitely something that will happen in the future. It's just a matter of figuring out when would be the right time and when it would make the most sense in my career to head out there.”
Watch this space.
'The Beat Stuff', a six track EP, full from start to finish, with bright lyrics and euphonious rhythms is now available from www.uppermusicstore.com.
www.hannahgeorgas.com
photo by zipporah wilson
www.zipporahwilson.com
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