String Theory

Mike Pinnington chats to sometime Liverpool songstress, Hannah Peel, celebrating the best start to 2011 with rave reviews of her debut set of songs, Broken Wave.

For Hannah Peel, 2011 started off in the best possible way, with glowing four-star reviews for her Broken Wave debut CD. SevenStreets concurs wholeheartedly. The LIPA-trained and until recently Liverpool-settled songstress and violin player is a real breath of fresh, folky air, with her poetic, powerful songs, blending tradition and deft musicianship with just enough of a pop edge to keep the whimsy at bay. We caught up with her following her recent set at the Nordic Church.

Seven Streets: Hi Hannah, welcome back to Liverpool (Hannah graduated from LIPA in 2004), how long since you were last here?

Hannah Peel - I was still in Liverpool up until last year, when I made the move down to London [Shoreditch to be precise]. It was made easier by Tunng (Tunng’s Mike Lindsay produced Hannah’s debut record, Broken Wave) being there already.

SS – Broken Wave (Hannah’s debut album) has been really well received, has it surpassed expectations?

HP – The reaction did surpass expectations, but having said that, the recording process was really fun, and we’d find ourselves dancing round to the songs, getting excited. I think we knew the songs were good, so we expected other people to like them too.

SS – There are two traditional Irish songs on the record, did you draw specifically on your heritage for the creative process? What were you listening to around that time?

HP – It wasn’t just a case of my being born in Ireland, I was listening to a lot of different stuff during the writing and recording of the album, loads of 60’s and 70’s music, Judee Sill (American singer/songwriter), and as ever, Tom Waits.

SS – What else inspires you, who are you listening to at the moment?

HP – I’ve been listening to Age of Adz by Sufjan Stevens. I love the way he’s got away from acoustic folk and gone for a more electronic sound. It’s also quite heavy-sounding in terms of the orchestra – it’s the sound I want on the next record.

SS – You’ve previously worked with the likes of The Unthanks, Tunng and on this record, Nitin Sawhney. Who would you love to collaborate with in the future?

HP - Valgeir Sigurðsson (of the Bedroom Community) would be great. The dream would be Tom Waits!

SS – It’s looking like you have a busy year in store, what summer festivals are you playing?

HP – Yeah, we’re playing the Green Man Festival this year, which should be great – we’re actually on 2nd top of the bill on Saturday night in the walled garden, which is really nice!

SS – What’s next for Hannah Peel?

HP – We’re going to go back into the studio to record the new record in June, and I’m singing on Nitin’s new album. Also going to be touring the Human Planet (BBC TV show for which Sawhney composed the music) live shows.

SS – There’ve already been the inevitable comparisons to the likes of Joanna Newsome and Laura Marling on the back of the success of the album, what’s your take on these comparisons?

HP – I’m really happy with the comparisons, it’s nice to be thought of in that company, to be on a par with that. As long as people don’t just think of me in terms of ‘just another woman of folk’!

SS – Thanks for your time Hannah. Finally, for anyone up in Liverpool to see you this weekend, which of your old haunts would you point people in the direction of?

HP – The Quarter (on Hope Street) is lovely on a sunny afternoon.

SS – And for a pint?

HP – Ooh, there are so many. Probably the Everyman, downstairs, or the Fly in the loaf (on Hardman Street).

http://www.myspace.com/hanpeel