Hanna Andréa
Words by Glenn Sargeant
Feature Image Photo Credit: Supplied By Fifth Element PR
Rising Nordic pop artist Hanna Andréa is set to return on August 7th with her emotional pop ballad ‘Pinnacles’, unveiling the next atmospheric chapter of her highly anticipated forthcoming EP, ‘Braveheart’, due for release on August 21st.
What is your earliest musical memory?
My earliest musical memory is probably wandering around singing all of my thoughts out loud to random melodies I was inventing to fit my stream of consciousness. When I was little, like a toddler probably, I would do this everywhere I went. Just sing whatever was on my mind quietly under my breath. I guess both the singing and the songwriting have always been in me.
When did you begin songwriting?
When I was little songwriting was kind of a game for me. I would have little song ideas all the time and just sing them and not do anything about them, or I would improvise a song singing to myself and pretend I was writing an operetta. I didn’t start actually doing it in a structured way until middle school. That was the first time I really sat down at my piano and thought through a pop song structure and wrote everything down and finished a song.
You have your new EP ‘Braveheart’ being released on Friday 21st August 2026. How did you want to approach the making of the EP?
The making of Braveheart was a very new process for me. It was birthed out of a lot of song writing sessions I’ve done over the last year or so. Up until then all of my song writing had been done alone or occasionally alongside one other person, so stepping into a room of 4 or 5 people was a big change. I got to work with new producers and try out new approaches to writing songs. So I guess you could say I approached the making of this EP through a lens of exploration. I really wanted to meet new people, try new ways of doing things, and discover new strengths, and I did just that.
Where did you record the EP and who produced it?
The EP was recorded in L.A. and Stockholm, and I worked with the producers Michael Biancaniello (Braveheart, Float, Get Off Your Phone), Mike Shiver (Pinnacles, Corners), Annelie Åkerlund, Daniel McGraw, and Zachary Siddiqui (ICU).
Do you have any interesting, funny or memorable stories from the recording sessions?
One silly memory I have is after a songwriting session one day, my producer started playing the piano and we for some reason started improvising a very musical theater style song about a whale on Stevie Wonder’s old piano. I love hanging out with musicians.
Did you use any particular instruments, microphones, recording equipment to help you get a particular sound/tone for the record?
The songs were recorded at some incredible studios with really great gear. We recorded at Precision Sound in NYC which has just about everything you could ever want. In L.A. with Michael Biancaniello, we worked at a studio where a lot of work was done with Whitney Houston, Mariah Carey, Celine Dion, and Aretha Franklin. I actually sang through the very same microphone they used on many of those recordings, which was a really special experience. I love being a small part of that ongoing history of female singers.
Which of your new EP tracks hear you at your a) happiest, b) angriest and c) most reflective?
I would say Pinnacles is my most reflective song on the album, because it’s me facing sort of my whole world view of perfectionism and overachievement and debating whether or not it is actually good for me or not. It’s a very reflective album, though, so you will find many reflective songs. Float is probably my angriest song on the EP. I wouldn’t necessarily call it an angry song, but it is about reclaiming a situation that caused a lot of negative emotions, including anger, and finding your strength again. I would say Corners is a reflection of me at my happiest, but I think I feel the most happy when I listen to Float.
Who were the musicians who were on the album with you?
So many! James Conner who I often work with played on the tracks and he also mixed many of them. And my other producers, Micheal Biancaniello, Mike Shiver, Zachary Siddiqui, and Anneli Åkerlund also played on their tracks. We also had Alberto Roubert playing drums, Daniel McGraw playing synths and Andréa Soltani playing cello.
Does the EP’s title have a specific meaning/significance?
Yes, “Braveheart” to me means finding your strength within and learning to stand more independently.
Was it a difficult EP to write?
No. In comparison to my previous album which I wrote on my own, this was a lot easier and more efficient just because there were a lot more people involved in the writing process. There are of course other challenges with co-writing, like everyone won’t always agree on everything but overall I think it is an easier process because you’re all there to support each other.
Who designed the EP artwork?
James Conner designed the EP artwork using images from the various music videos for this EP, which were all directed by Logan Rine.
One of the tracks is the single ‘Pinnacles’. What was the story/inspiration behind the track?
I’m very much of a perfectionist, and I’m also very ambitious. There is always a better goal I want to achieve and I always expect more from myself. I wanted to write a song about how sometimes having such strong ambition is not always good for you.
Is the track accompanied by a visualiser?
Yes! Pinnacles has a music video! You should go check it out! There are also several other tracks on the EP with visuals. Braveheart and Get Off Your Phone have music videos out, and there will be some more visualizers coming out at a later date!
Where is your hometown and could you please describe it in five words?
I grew up mostly in Oklahoma but also a lot in Norway. To me my hometown in Oklahoma symbolizes art, drive, hard work, discovery, and nostalgia. My hometown in Norway symbolizes peace, history, freedom, time, and change.
Do you have any live dates planned in the UK/Europe in 2026/2027?
Not currently, but I would love to play more live so let me know if you want me to come sing for you!
What two things do you hope to have achieved once you have left the stage?
When I leave the stage I hope that I’ve made people feel happy and connected to something and I also hope that I’ve made them think more deeply about something. I feel like most people go to concerts (especially pop concerts) to be entertained, so I always hope I can give them the good time they were looking for, but I also believe that one of the most powerful traits of art is its ability to explain a perspective or take someone into someone else’s world and give them the tools to think about things differently, so I always hope that I can do that when I make art.
Do you have any favoured stage instruments, effects, pedals, microphones etc?
I recently had the very cool experience of getting to use a real physical plate reverb on one of my songs. This was so exciting for me, because they are hard to come by nowadays, most people just use plug-ins, and sometimes rackmounts. It was also such an unexpected experience for me, they just happened to have one at a studio I was recording in (Precision Sound) and the technician we were working with suggested it. Also, a microphone we keep coming back to, is the Neumann U48.
You are given the opportunity to write the score for a film adaptation of a novel that you enjoy. Which novel is it and why?
Klara and the Sun by Ishiguro. I love this book so much, it’s so beautiful and touches on so many important topics and I would love to help tell this story.
How do you look after your voice?
I focus a lot on technique. I would never call myself a classical singer, but I have studied classical voice for several years as a technical foundation paired with musical theater technique. In recent years I’ve also studied some pop and jazz voices. I always want to make sure I’m singing in a healthy way, because I don’t want to hurt my voice.
Who are some of your musical influences? Do you have any recommendations?
Musical influences are difficult because I don’t feel like what I write necessarily matches what I listen to. I think the way my brain thinks about music is heavily influenced by musical theater, because I’ve spent so much time singing it and being immersed in that world. Also around the time I started writing pop, I was listening to a lot of Ariana Grande, so I think she has a big influence on how I think about music. As far as recommendations go I really love listening to Camilla Cabello and Adela.
What makes Hanna Andréa happy and what makes you unhappy?
I love being with people, performing, being active in nature, and accomplishing things. This is really basic but like when things get really overwhelming and stressful that’s no fun.
