Interview with Hannah Robinson

So tell me a little bit about yourself, what have you been up to the past 12

months?

I’m Hannah, a dreamgaze artist based in Newcastle! The past 12 months have been

an absolute whirlwind - kicked off 2024 with my own IVW headliner, played our first Y

Not Festival, shared stages with some incredible artists (including my fave girl

grunge band, Venus Grrrls), spent countless hours in the studio, released my

favourite songs yet and ended the year by selling out our next headliner within hours.

Behind the scenes, most of my time was spent at my desk, writing demos, pushing

my limits with songwriting, and exploring new, exciting directions to prepare for 2025.

Saying I’m grateful feels like an understatement, life’s been feeling pretty magical

lately!

What influenced the sound of your single 'Blissfully Miles Away'?

The song is all about being at one with yourself, embracing new beginnings and

trusting the universe to lead you in the right direction. With that in mind, I wanted the

sound to capture the feeling of being transcended into a different dimension;

something spacey, infinite and otherworldly. Huge choruses, mesmerising vocals and

euphoric guitar riffs all came together to create this surreal, dreamlike soundscape.

Would you say your sound has evolved over the years and if so, how?

As cliché as it sounds, at the beginning of my journey I played it quite safe, I wrote

pop songs and didn’t really think too much about experimentation. It wasn’t until

‘When I Was High’ that I really started to establish my sound. Messing around with

pedals in the studio, using eery chords, adding whispers as backing vocals, and

slathering everything with reverb (which I tend to argue over with my producer!!). I

think 2024 was the year I finally discovered my niche, which I tend to call ‘dreamy

shoegazey rock’.

Is there a particular song on your setlist that you enjoy playing the most?

I always get an instant buzz when I see ‘Rosie’ next on the list. It might not be my

most popular track, but the live version just hits differently. Jack’s groovy bass lines

and Neil’s psychedelic riffs build this awesome vibe that gets the whole room

moving, plus I get to sing about the beauty of being a woman and that makes me

feel pretty powerful. It’s the kind of song that really locks us in as a band, and we

have looove playing it. We do however have a fresh setlist ahead of 2025 including 3

unreleased tracks, and I have a feeling the next release ‘Who I Am’ is going to take

the lead. It sounds huuuge.

If you could collaborate with any band or artist, dead or alive, to have them

feature on one of your songs, who would you choose and why?

There’s a band I’ve grown really fond of over the past few years called Chappaqua

Wrestling, who we actually hung out with after their gig in York on their IVW tour last

year. They’re the perfect blend of grunge, shoegaze, and Britpop, with a sound that’s

just so euphoric. I’ve always been curious about their studio and production process,

to be honest, I can see myself spending most of the time staring at their

pedalboards, asking a million questions about how they create certain sounds,

especially live. Getting the chance to work with them would be incredible, and I know

I’d take a tonne of inspiration from the experience!

If 'Blissfully Miles Away' could be the soundtrack any film or TV series

which one would it fit the best?

This is such an interesting question because it could be seen from so many angles. I

remember someone messaging me a while back saying it reminded them of

Stranger Things, which I can totally see, especially how otherworldly that series is.

But if I had to choose, I’d love to hear it in Interstellar, specifically during the scene

where they’re entering the wormhole. That moment is so intense, like they’re leaving

our universe, and in a way, their past behind. It’s chaotic and turbulent, but there’s

this undeniable beauty in it too. The opening lyric ‘all those fingerprints above’ is me

calling out to the stars, so the space theme would be perfect.

If any celebrity could feature in a music video for 'Blissfully Miles Away'

who would you choose?

I’d love to have someone like Ella Purnell in the Blissfully music video. Her eyes are

mesmerising and have this curious, thoughtful quality that perfectly fits the song’s

meaning; seeing the world differently and not being afraid to stand on their own. I

feel like she’d nail that dreamy, stargazing vibe too!

What's the funniest thing that has happened while performing (is there any

funny moments in particular during band life that stick out the most)?

If I had a penny for every time something funny happened, I’d be filthy rich - there’s

never a dull moment with the lads! One gig that stands out was at this tiny pub in

Gateshead called The Three Tuns. Honestly, everything that could go wrong did. I

was switching between two mics, and of course, every time I’d go to one, it’d cut out,

then the other would magically start working, back and forth like that the whole time.

The drum kit didn’t have a rug underneath, so Jack on bass had to keep his foot on

the kick drum to stop it sliding, which somehow resulted in him snapping his knee. To

top it off, there were about 3 people in the room, so after the fourth song, I just

walked off stage and went straight to the bar as I’d had enough.

Despite the chaos, we look back on it now and absolutely crease. It was a disaster at

the time, but you’ve got to go through the turbulence to reach better destinations,

and this gig was definitely one of those bumpy rides.

If you had a biopic, who would play you and why?

I feel like Florence Pugh would be incredible at portraying me. Her acting range is

just insane, and I only recently found out she was musical in her youth, which makes

it feel even more fitting. I’d describe my life as propelling, growing up I hid behind my

guitar, too scared to let anyone know I was a singer. It wasn’t until I hit my twenties

that I’d had enough of hiding and decided to dive straight into the deep end. I think

Pugh would capture that journey beautifully. She’s got this raw, emotional depth that

would really bring out my vulnerable side, showing the anxieties and emotions I often

keep tucked away behind closed doors.

Do you have any plans for more upcoming music/ what can your listeners

expect?

I’m about to announce the release of my first single of 2025, ‘Who I Am’ which is all

about the classic narcissist and their inability to recognise their own demons. It’s

been in the pipeline for months as we started recording it back in July 2024, my

producer Adam Forster has been hard at graft getting it right, and I can safely say it’s

our best work yet. As I dive into darker, heavier territories, expect more pedals and

gothic melodies with the singles that are coming out next. I’m no longer afraid to

scream my heart out, I’m going outside my comfort zone to sing about things I’ve

been hiding within myself, and I’m certainly being a lot bolder with the overall vibe!

What's next for you for the rest of the year?

We’ve been in hibernation since November, locking in our set, working on demos,

and lining up photoshoots and music video prep for our first release of 2025. I want

everything to be just right, and I want to return with full force. We’ve already got

some killer gigs lined up, including our sold-out show at Little Buildings, supporting

Better Joy at Zerox, our first Glasgow gig, and Munro Festival this summer. My goal

this year? Play bigger venues, share stages with bands that I’m influenced by, and

drop music that no one would’ve guessed came from my ridiculous little brain. I’ve

got a feeling 2025 is gonna be our most transformative yet, and I couldn’t be more

excited to see where it takes us.

Words - Katie Graham

Photo- Storm Walker