By Kiley Shuffett I get so excited for "Girl On The Move" each month at Girl-ish, because this series is so fun and enlightening. Each month, we highlight someone who stands out to us as being an especially ambitious and inspiring female, 'on the move' in the world. This month, I chose Hannah Ellis, my childhood friend and fellow UK alum (Go Cats!), because of her talents, yes, but mostly because she kicks ass. Photo by Heather LeRoy Meet Hannah: Age: 24 Hometown: Campbellsville, KY College: University of Kentucky Major: Integrated Strategic Communications Current Location: Nashville, TN Kiley: I know you have been singing your entire life….was there ever a time when you didn’t want to pursue a music career? Hannah: I think there was a time in high school where I really felt the pressure to choose a “real” career, but by the end of my senior year I was more sure than ever that I wanted to make music for the rest of my life. K: Well, what was it that first sparked your interest in music? Does the music gene run om your family or did your parents notice you had a natural ability at a young age? H: Singing is definitely something that runs in my family. My parents were both wedding singers when I was younger and they had my older sister and I on tape singing before I could even really talk! I can’t even remember a time when music wasn’t a huge part of my life. K: You’ve auditioned for competitive reality shows like American Idol, and recently, you made it to the television auditions of The Voice (click here to see Hannah's audition)! What were those experiences like? How did it feel to sing live for those big names in music? H: Wow, honestly, it was a crazy experience. Walking onto that stage and knowing that behind those four chairs were four superstars that I not only hear on the radio everyday, but some of which have personally inspired me, brought out a nervousness and excitement in me I had yet to experience. I felt personally honored to have been given the opportunity out of so many to even make it to that top 100 out of the over 50,000 people that tried out for Season 8. K: Shortly after your Voice appearance aired on live TV, you heard from a Facebook fan that Martina McBride mentioned you in a Sirius XM Radio Interview. You sang “This One’s For The Girls,” by Martina, and I think that is the PERFECT message for Girl-ish and our readers. What inspired you to audition with that song choice? H: I still can’t believe Martina McBride said my name! The song, though, was chosen after the producers had met me and gotten to know what I stood for and who I really was. It was one song that really sent the message that I feel I bring to each and every performance I give. I want young girls and women to know that they are strong and capable of anything; that age, weight or shoe size have no bearing on whether or not you can achieve a goal you set for yourself. K: Speaking of being capable, you work several side jobs to support yourself in Nashville while balancing your music career and your personal life...how do you prioritize and stay focused through the daily grind? H: I am a LIST MAKER. I am one of those people who if, suddenly, I lost my calendar or the notes section on my phone, my life would be in a downward spiral (lol). Before the beginning of each month I figure out exactly how much I need to work to pay my bills and sustain life here in Nashville and then every moment outside of that time is spent perfecting my craft, growing my fan base, or building relationships in town. I keep a very full schedule, but I like life in the fast lane. K: Since you thrive on a non-stop, organized lifestyle, do you have a “to-do” list for becoming successful---in music or in life? H: Yes, very much so. I have a 3-month, 1-year and 5-year plan that I reference to make sure I am remaining on task and setting myself up to achieve some of the more long term goals by setting attainable goals for the near future. Those plans are all music-oriented but I also have a list of daily things (that I attempt to accomplish) that will keep my mind, body and spirit in check and help avoid getting too lost in the so-called “rat race”. K: From following your career, I know you’re part of “Song Suffragettes." Tell me about this group, how you became a part of it, and what the overall experience has been like. H: Song Suffragettes is a group of young unsigned females in Nashville. The two people that started this group did so in order to bring awareness to the low number of females that are succeeding in the country market, and to give exposure to those that they feel are worthy of that future success. I was asked to come in and audition when a friend of mine that played the show referred me. It is a great experience that has allowed me to make new connections not only with other writers, but with music business professionals as well. K: I’ve definitely dabbled in some poetry or song-writing in my day, but I want to know what your song-writing process is. Where do you begin? How do you get your ideas to flow? What is the subject you write about most? H: It varies from one write to the next. Some days you come into a write with a lot on your mind, either good or bad, and the writing becomes a bit therapeutic. Then, of course, there are days when you start with a music track or guitar lick and you write towards a feeling or a mood. I feel like the best way to get ideas flowing is to write about things that are real to you in some way; things you feel connected to or are relatable. Then it becomes more of a conversation than “oh, we need to put words and music together.” 'Love' is the major topic a lot of songwriting revolves around because it is the one thing that all humans have in common; our desire to love and be loved. I also like to write a lot about friendships, good and bad, and just enjoying being a girl. K: Is it true what they say about heartbreak and pain inspiring the greatest work? H: I think it inspires the most vulnerable work, and people are naturally drawn to that realness. When you are broken or hurting, songwriting gives you an outlet to say all the things you maybe couldn’t say to a person in regular conversation. Songs give you a place to put all those emotions that otherwise can become overwhelming to carry around. No one wants to be broken up with or experience loss, but those things are what make you human and being a human is what makes good music. K: Who is your female role-model? What one piece of advice or inspiration has stuck with you the most? H: My female role model would have to be Taylor Swift. She has had amazing success as an artist and yet maintained a great level of integrity. She has grown and progressed as an artist, but remained very down to earth and managed to retain the same fan base although completely switching genres. She is also a marketing genius. And I think she makes every young musician feel like her dreams are attainable. As far as the best advice that has stuck with me, I once had a label executive tell me to go and write 100 songs, and then I might discover the artist I really am, and that would be something to show somebody. She was reminding me that this is not an easy task to succeed in this business, but if you are willing to stick it out, and you discover and stay true to who you are, then you could maybe stumble on greatness. Photo by Heather LeRoy K: Like any career in entertainment, there’s a chance you won’t get your big break. Does that scare you? How do you deal with the uncertainty? Do you have a ‘back-up’ plan? H: It is kind of an unspoken rule in Nashville; no back plan, means no option but to succeed. Of course the idea of not becoming a “superstar” can be very scary, especially when you have traded in the certainty of a normal job that you know will bring a steady income. But the music industry really brings to life the old adage of “Shoot for the moon and you will land among the stars.” Many of the biggest songwriters in country music moved here to be artists themselves. Living here has taught me that succeeding in the music industry is a lot more than having your name in lights. If you put the work in, the success will come, it just may not look how you thought it would when you first stepped off the bus. And now, for your viewing pleasure, this is my personal favorite from Hannah's time with Song Suffragettes. When she chose this particular video to be featured in the interview, I got realllll excited because, truly, this one hits all the feels on all the levels. Don't miss out on any new music! Follow Hannah here: Read more 'Girl On The Move' Interviews: December: Amanda Paschal January: Acacia Courtney February: Jen Silver March: Mercy Phiri
1 Comment
Jessica
4/27/2015 11:24:57 am
I just love this song. REPEAT
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