Hanna - Boi (Official Video) + 10 Questions

South Africa-based artist Hanna has unveiled her new single ‘Boi’, out 29th October.

Pairing high-energy trap snares with Hanna’s slick flow, ‘Boi’ is an anthem for the powerful - an ode to haters or anyone who tries to put others down. Expertly capturing the vibe of the track, the cinematic official video is filmed on the sand dunes, with Hanna assuming the role of kidnapper with payback on her mind.

Her first single release of 2021, ‘Boi’ follows last year’s debut project The Girl In The Durag, an acclaimed release that led to online music platform Greedy South describing Hanna as “a young artist with a beautiful sound”.

“‘Boi’ is extremely multidimensional,” Hanna explains. “It draws a lot from the frustration I experienced in 2019 at the peak of the GBV uproar. It also draws from my most proud, cocky and powerful self. It represents taking the power back, asserting boundaries and reminding myself, my peers and the world that I am not only unstoppable despite the systems that work against me, but that the days of those systems are numbered.”

Hanna sat down with Wordplay Magazine to answer our infamous 10 Questions:

1. So tell me, how did it all begin? What sparked your love for music?

I didn’t grow up having a lot of music being played around the house so my introduction to music came much later than most. I first fell in love with instruments and music class, where I picked up the guitar and the piano. By the time I was introduced to J. Cole as a teenager, it was game over, I knew how to link my love for words with my ear for music.

2. Who are some artists that influence you and that you want to work with in the future?

Kehlani, Alessia Cara, Amine, Chika, Nasty C, Shekainah, The Big Hash to name a few. I’m usually very easily influenced. Anytime I hear something I like that’s different I’m like “That’s really cool. I want to try making something like that’”.

3. What are some of the problems you have faced making and releasing the music during the corona virus pandemic?

Restrictions have made planning very tough. Many of the people I work with are based in another city, and when travel was restricted, everything had to be done remotely or scrapped. so planning shoots, studio sessions or anything requiring people in one place was a nightmare. Our mixing engineer and I had to learn a system for having mixing sessions over Zoom which could take hours!

4. How would you describe your sound?

Right now, I’m having fun with experimenting and making all sorts of music so it’s very hard to describe where I’m at sonically. I’ve always thought what I made sounded like a hip-hop and pop music fusion – hip pop if you will.
 
5. What's your proudest moment to date so far as an artist?

My proudest moment would have to be winning the Red Bull and Tall Racks talent search competition, Lift As You Rise, but not for the reason you’d think. I never wanted to enter, partly because I didn’t think I could ever win and also because I had no idea what I would do if I did win. When you watch what to you is the impossible become reality, it completely shatters how you see limitations. I was now one of the people you hear about and think “that could never be me”. I learnt the importance of backing myself and that taking a leap of faith does pay off. And my life path is forever altered because of it.

6. Do you have any advice for our readers who may be trying to play the mad game of music?

Put yourself out there! Release your music, the right time is now! If you were waiting for a sign to take a leap of faith, this is it.

7. Are there any artists on your radar right now that we should check out?

Tom Saison, nalu, Obi Davids, Suhn, Msimisi.

8. What albums are on heavy rotation on your Spotify playlist currently?

Alessia Cara – In The Meantime

9. What do you like to do when you're not making music?

I’m very much a homebody, so home is the place to be for me! I love to cook and eat, watch series/movies, spend time with my people and most importantly, sleep. If there’s one thing I can do at any time, place and under any circumstances – its sleep.

10. Name Three things you can't live without when in the studio?

Water, my phone, a jacket (studios are always so cold).