Artist
Hanna Grace
Hanna Grace (born Hanna Grace Ashcroft in February 1986, in Auckland, New Zealand) is an
exceptionally talented singer songwriter who has recently emerged on the New Zealand music
scene. Her style defies any obvious classification but she has been compared to Alicia Keys, Amy
Winehouse and Tracey Chapman.
Hanna describes her music as “raw pop with a rock‐n‐roll twist”. When listening to her perform it is
clear that that these aren’t cooked‐up, made‐for
market compositions. Hanna draws deeply on
personal life experiences, and in the spirit of jazz
and blues, she sings with an undiluted, expressive
force.
Much of Hanna’s early life was spent near the
beach in Paraparaumu, where she was a carefree child with a fascination for fantasy and the surreal.
Whether it was chasing fairies, painting or inventing
games with her dog Mindy, her time was always spent indulging in the creative.
She was exposed to music from influential figures such as Jimi Hendrix, the Beatles and Pink Floyd, and took inspiration from her father, Shaun Ashcroft, also a very talented musician. Hanna would sit with Shaun as he jammed on his guitar, playing 50s and 60s standards for hours on end.
The signs that Hanna would find her primary creative outlet as a musician were clear from a very young age. As an eight year old she was motivated to write an original piece of music for a teacher she admired, who was about to leave the school. She stood in front of the class, in full costume, and performed the piece free of any self‐conscious inhibitions that might be expected of a girl of her age. Many years later Hanna showed her true talents as a songwriter when she met respected musician and performer, Phil Stoodley. Phil, an early member of The Feelers, heard Hanna sing and immediately recognised her natural talent. She wrote and performed her first genuine original work for Phil, and from that moment a musical collaboration was formed.
Hanna has been working with Phil on her first album for the last 18 months. The creative process
usually starts with Hanna writing the lyrics and putting together the vocal melody. They then
develop the song together, with Phil composing the necessary instrumental tracks and producing the
studio recordings.
Hanna’s first single, Red Lips, was released in January 2010. Many of Hanna’s songs are
searching ballads that call on her deeper emotional side, but Red Lips is a little different. This song is
an unashamed celebration of the indulgence and hedonism of getting ready for a night on the town.
It evokes images of champagne, make‐up and the lush surroundings that might precede the perfect
girls' night out.
Far from being a song about the frivolous nature of night‐time adventure, Red Lips reflects the
importance of ritual in preparing for the plunge into the sometimes intimidating bar and club scene.
For Hanna, music is a deeply personal activity, with the final step of releasing the music to an
audience being one of her greatest challenges. She says, “I find it very daunting to bare my soul in
this way; to leave myself open to the analytical judgement of the crowd”.
Hanna’s first live gig was in early 2009. Since then she has played in several bars and clubs around
central Auckland. This series of intimate performances has been the perfect stepping stone to the release of her music to a wider audience.
As well as music, Hanna has several other creative outlets including painting, photography and
writing. She studied art and design, which led her into the world of advertising. At 22 she applied for
a Stylist role with a prominent Auckland agency, but was hired as an Art Director when a Senior
Creative felt she had the talents necessary for the job. This turned out to be an invaluable
opportunity and has helped Hanna develop creatively, having a very positive influence on her music.
Hanna plans to release her first album at the end of 2010.
Check out Hanna'sOfficial Site
Red Lips Play