French R&B solo artist, Hasna explores heart-break, self-consciousness and the concept of “beauty in the eye of the beholder” through new release, 'Lost Woods'. Inspired by underground R&B and hip-hop with a twist of soul and jazz, Hasna promises to be an artist to keep an eye on this year! Find out more about the artist and watch the brand new music video below.
Tell us a bit about your story: who are you and what has your journey looked like so far?
Finding music changed my life for the better. As a kid I’ve always been fascinated by singers and dancers. At the age of 13, I gathered my babysitting money to buy a cheap second-hand guitar and would quietly play in my room as much as I could. At the time, I didn’t have the confidence to sing so I would help other musicians, be around them and sing from time to time.
In the summer of 2020, a friend of mine helped me get a microphone and I decided to post an extract of a cover I recorded. People didn’t know how panicked I was doing this but the reception was incredible. It led me to meet other musicians, beat makers, creatives that I worked on original music with. Since then I’ve had the chance to perform between London & Paris, write with people I admire and truly it’s only the beginning.
Making music is a tough path sometimes, it feels lonely and brings up a lot of feelings of self-doubt. If you had told me I would be confident enough to perform my own songs live in front of an audience I wouldn’t have believed you. This entire journey has been incredibly transformative for me and I couldn’t be more grateful.
Who inspires you musically and creatively?
My inspiration primarily comes from my surroundings and lived experiences. How I navigate through the world, who I decide to share my time with, or who has the most impactful repercussions on my writing and sound. Artistically, I tend to be drawn to artists that are versatile, who have a vision above sound that transpires through their art.
What is the creative process behind Lost Woods?
‘Lost Woods’ was written in the winter of 2021. I’ve just recently moved to London and started writing my music around that time. Speaking honestly, this was a story I needed to tell and didn’t have a chance to outside of music. Originally this song was a direct message to this person I loved and it became my way of growing out of it, appreciating myself more and reclaiming my power back.
What’s the best advice you’ve received during your journey?
To always be intentional in what I do.
How do you nurture your creativity?
I dance and eat. A lot. For me those two activities bring me about as much happiness as music does. Discovering pole dance has been incredibly important in my art. It connected me to people I’d never have met otherwise. Just like sharing food - there’s something about it that just brings people closer instantly. Every move and every ingredient has a story I love discovering.
What do you hope this song will reveal to your listeners?
With this song I was as transparent as possible with how I felt, it is very intimate. I hope they can feel that, whether they understand the lyrics or not.
Are there any upcoming shows or projects we can look forward to?
The music video for ‘Lost Woods’ was an incredible step for me. Getting over shyness, anxiety and performing pole dance truly opened a world of possibilities. We are going to be seeing acoustic performances, dancing and another dimension of my world through two new songs and a project in the coming months. I’m incredibly excited to keep exploring my sound and art with you.
Is there any advice you want to give to new artists? I’ll quote my dear Adbu, who brilliantly says “don’t listen to any”.
Images by Arlo Murray Hopkins
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