Musician Interview with a songstress with a lot of heart, Kristy Hanson
Back by an all-star cast, including Aaron Sterling (studio drummer for Sara Bareilles, Kelly Clarkson and Brandi Carlile), Ryan Freeland (engineer Aimee Mann, LeAnn Rimes and Natasha Bedingfield), producer Timothy Young and her husband Mike Chiaburu, Kristy Hanson is releasing her newest album Into The Quiet at the end of this month. Her release was funded largely by her fans and marked a transition in Kristy’s artistry from singer/songwriter to collaborator. She also put her input into the production, making the album truly her own. So without further ado, I give to you the very charming Kristy Hanson…
What has been the best part of making the new album?
I think the best or at least most exciting part of making an album, for me, is the recording itself. Getting Mike, Tim, and drummer Aaron Sterling in the studio with Ryan Freeland, our engineer, was fantastic. We had such a great energy and camaraderie, and I just LOVE recording. I love studios, generally Gavin Lurssen’s studio (our mastering engineer) is awesome, too. I could, I would spend all day, every day, in a studio, particularly with those guys!
But it was also wonderful to collaborate with Tim Young and Mike on those early demos over at Tim’s house, too. The collaborative process was sort of new to me, and I learned and grew so much as a result of it. So it’s kind of tie between that early collaboration and the recording itself!
How does this one differ from your last release Already Gone?
The fact that I co-wrote some songs with Mike and Tim and invested more time in the production makes it feel different for me, and maybe more sophisticated. Sound-wise, Into the Quiet is a little bit heavier than Already Gone, in that there are layers of electric guitars and more of a rock sound on a lot of songs. There’s also definitely more pop and country flavor in there. I’m also extra-proud of my vocals on this album, because I really poured my whole heart into them. I hope people respond to that!
You did something very interesting to raise money for this recording, can you explain that?
Inspired by a number of artists who have turned to their fans for support, including the hilarious and wonderful Jill Sobule, I decided to launch a fundraising campaign before the recording of Into the Quiet. My fans donated $5,000, which was vitally important to the making of this album. I actually gave all donors the chance to vote on my album’s title, and I’ll be having a special listening party for my donors to thank them. I hope that my donors feel as proud of the album as I do, and that they feel good to have played a role!
You’ve played shows all over the US, what is your most memorable tour moment?
Oh boy…probably my most memorable BAD moment on tour was when we got stuck in a snowstorm in Wyoming (in the middle of APRIL) and had to stop in Laramie rather than continuing on I-80. It added an extra day of travel, but we made it just in time for the first gig in Chicago.
But it’s so hard to pick, Cleveland was memorable because I was born there and had dear friends in the audience (which was also a great audience), and I also really loved Rockwood Music Hall in NYC. I love touring generally…even (or perhaps especially) the mishaps because they become part of the stories you can tell later.
If you could collaborate with anyone, who would it be?
Hmm, I’d say Joni Mitchell, although Lord knows I might be too intimidated to actually collaborate! I would love to work with Grant-Lee Phillips, an amazing songwriter and singer based in LA. And Aimee Mann. And I also find myself singing Michael Penn’s harmonies a lot…I would settle for merely being his back-up singer for sure. I dreamed about collaborating with drummer Jay Bellerose, and then it happened, so you never know!
What song on Into the Quiet is the most personal? And why?
My songs always come from a very personal place, although most of them on this album are not directly autobiographical. I think that the song “Into the Quiet” itself feels most personal to me. Which seems a little odd, because the lyrics are probably also the most abstract. But a lot of it has to do with what I’ve been through over the last several years, and what Mike and I have been through together and how at the end of the day all I want is to be in a peaceful place, and sharing that peaceful place with him. So I guess, yes, that’s pretty personal. 
Keep a lookout for Kristy’s newest release Into The Quiet. The official release date is March 31st and if you’re in Los Angeles, swing by Molly Malones for the album release show. Also, be sure to check her out on MySpace and Facebook.
-Sheena
