Hannah O’Reilly

Tuesday, December 04, 2007 A wee update… 

So, what’s happening in hannah-land?Well, I figured, rather than just posting the usual review or snippet, I’d actually tell y’all what I’ve been doing musically lately.

I’ve slowly been getting back into the Edinburgh music scene… however I’m concentrating now on writing more material so that I have something fresh and new to deliver. Even though my old stuff still seems to go down well.

I’m using other tunings and trying to take a more methodical approach to writing - using my imagination instead of relying on the not-so-reliable emotions! It’s a different way to write for me, but I’m learning a thing or two!

Let’s hope the results are still as good!

I’m not currently working - not through choice I may add - but just can’t seem to find a job! Apparently I’m too overqualified for the regular temp work… and getting a fulltime job requires time and patience… of which I’m running out of! Not to mention the fact I’m running out of money!

So, I’ve got to admit that the whole trying to find a job thing has kinda distracted me from writing. But hopefully soon that will be remedied!

xHann 

posted by Hann at Tuesday, December 04, 2007 

Thursday, November 22, 2007 Another review… 

Here’s a review from Scott Renton at Out of the Bedroom, Edinburgh.15th October -

“To complete a first period of true originals, Hannah O’Reilly was next to the stage. She’s back in Edinburgh for the foreseeable, and has been writing new songs to boot. Nothing I’d heard before in her set: Foolish, Faith and Dimes.

Foolish- which reminded me a lot of the angsty ambience of one of her older favourites, Strange Friend- was about being a fool for someone, but not letting them break your heart, and left me wondering ifthis was about the city she can’t give up.

Faith, written and delivered with the flu, fell into Hannah’s other camp, the laid back side; loved the wee play on words, “Faith- I’ve never been there/ Faith- the final frontier”.

Hannah closed with Dimes, a song she says she loves performing because she gets to say the word ‘m*therf*cker’ in it- what’s with all the profanity tonight??! A nice rebuff to anyone that tries to buy her affection, she doesn’t want your “business, nickels, dimes”. Not one to take busking on the streets of New York then! She’s still churning out the hits though, which is great to see.” 

posted by Hann at Thursday, November 22, 2007 

Monday, October 22, 2007  Out of the Bedroom Review… 

Here’s a review of a recent gig at ‘Out of the Bedroom’ open mic night in Edinburgh…“Hannah is back from London (everybody cheer!). Hannah owns the spotlight. She is really natural at the mic, makes loads of eye contact, and takes time to talk to the audience. It’s as if she really believes that we have come to see her play. And because she believes it, we are drawn in. Something about it just screams professional. I loved ‘Gabriel’ which she apparently loves performing – beautiful song – and a beautiful sweet voice. ‘The Elemental Angel’ apparently has been recorded as a dance mix, but it’s acoustic tonight despite the audience trying to rave to it. She tells me she’s into Evanescence which comes as no surprise as there is more than a touch of Goth here. Personally I find Amy Lee’s voice attractive but the songs are all too samey (albeit that pigeon-holing tends to be good for the charts). Hannah on the other hand has a voice with more range and colour, and similarly her songs have a far wider stylistic and technical variety.”

- Daniel Davis (reviewer/ Windmill Sound) 

posted by Hann at Monday, October 22, 2007  Monday, October 29, 2007 Thanks for a fabulous gig 

A big thank you to the Listening Room crew for a fab gig last night (Oct 28th, Blue Blazer pub, Edinburgh). I had a great time and really enjoyed the evening. The audience were really warm and lovely and it was like a neat lounge gig where you feel really comfortable and laid back.

Thanks to Nelson who compered the night, and to Peter Michael Rowan for his impromptu slide guitaring!

Love, Hann x 

posted by Hann at Monday, October 29, 2007  Monday, July 30, 2007 Leaving London 

Well, after nearly a year in this heaving beast of a city, I am heading back north to the land of music appreciation and good vibes. Edinburgh! Call me a hippy, but really, Edinburgh is music heaven compared to London.

I do have rose-tinted glasses on though, as Edinburgh is my home (almost as much as NZ is)…

I have learned to like London, for what it is. I have learned to appreciate the good points – the nightlife, the history, the diversity. And have learned to cope with the bad points – the ethos of the live music culture; Londoners’ apparent lack of awareness of ‘personal space’; the traffic.

I will have some fond memories of the beast… Drunken Hampstead Heath picnics; Epping Forest jaunts; Barbeques and Bowling at Finsbury Park; Tapas lunches on Fridays; Berni’s sandwiches; Sangria in Camden…

And of course, fond memories of the people who have made my time here bearable –

Will – music appreciator and mad creator - Merci pour votre temps et vos oreilles!

Phil Honey-Jones – Gorgeous music and great great company. You made those laughable open mic nights bearable!

We will be back in Edinburgh from the end of September. Bring on the house-parties!

Look out for final London gig dates…

X
Hann 

posted by Hann at Monday, July 30, 2007 Sunday, May 13, 2007 

Oxfam… Ok, so on Saturday I played at the re-opening of the newly refurbished Oxfam charity shop in Palmers Green. There I was in the window… like a little charity display (yes, some days I might be a charity case, but no jokes, please!). It was fun… and once again I got to meet some lovely musicians. I’m glad I’m finally coming across some nice ones here in London as I was losing hope at the beginning there! 

posted by Hann at Sunday, May 13, 2007  Saturday, March 31, 2007 Pressure… 

Perhaps I’m not as committed to music as I used to be… no wait, I admit it, I’m not. And I wonder constantly whether my initial commitment to it was in fact just a small part of a phase in my life? It was just what I needed at the time… I love singing… it makes me happy. Songwriting was just a bi-product of that and sometimes comes easily but mostly doesn’t these days. I also love performing - methinks I like attention just a little bit (youngest child syndrome perhaps?)… but the hard-sell of gigs, the pressure of doing it to make money, the pressure to bring out something new, the requirement of bringing X number of friends to gigs in order to get paid… well it all just takes the joy out of it.

Some musicians look at me as if I’m crazy when I tell them I’ve passed up recording contracts in 2 countries… or that I don’t need to do it professionally when they tell me I’m good enough to. It is something about not being or not wanting what people think I should.

Yes, I have a good voice… I can write a fair song (well I used to be able to anyway)… and I can perform. But I can also do a load of other shit… it doesn’t mean that it has to be my priority. I am long past needing to do this stuff in a hurry - I’m 27 now, I was never gonna be a pop-princess!

I find that the pressure people put on me to deliver (simply because I can be good), makes me want to run away, it makes me want to stop playing… Comments like “Why aren’t you famous?” make me despair! I don’t know, why don’t you ask a A&R guy yeah!!??!!

I might be famous one day, but I have a feeling it’s going to be for something incidental… for making the worlds largest wedding dress maybe!?!
x
H 

posted by Hann at Saturday, March 31, 2007 Monday, March 05, 2007 

Recording… I’m recording on Wednesday… woo! Am going in totally blind though - am attracted to the zen style of things… don’t wanna stress myself over planning too much.Am excited to get back into a studio though eh!

x 

posted by Hann at Monday, March 05, 2007  Wednesday, February 14, 2007 Big ups to eAR at Monkey Chews 

Had an awesome time at Monkey Chews tonight - great sound by eAR and a lovely crowd! Not to mention the high standard of music being played!

Brilliant night

Peace & rock on darlings.

x
H 

posted by Hann at Wednesday, February 14, 2007  Wednesday, January 31, 2007 The whirlwind week… 

Wow I had a busy week on the London scene last week! Sunday I played an open mic at The Embassy in Islington… 2 songs… very good reception - sold 4 CDs. And made friends with a portugese woman called Sandra.

Monday I played a showcase slot at The Old Dairy in Stroud Green… 7 songs… good reception and got a lead to more gigs.

Tuesday I played at the Princess Alexandra in Crouch End… 3 songs, accompanied by my friend Paul on the Cajon. They called for an encore. Made friends with some mexicans. Sweet.

Thursday I played at Tommy Flynns on Holloway Road… 4 songs, had people dancing… made friends with ethereal wee nurse lady.

Friday I played at The Duke of York in Oxford Circus… 6 songs, good crowd (it was australia day and I told them that the organisers must have though NZ was ‘close enough’!)… sold a CD, got bought a drink… and have been asked back.

Now I’ve got the flu! So am having a week off… doh!

Back with avengence next week.
x 

posted by Hann at Wednesday, January 31, 2007