Aldous Harding interview (2019)

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Hannah about poetry and songwriting, a purpose, falling into music, starting to write songs, pressure, the success of Party, creating art, the new album Designer, balance and resonance, the title track.

Video interview with New Zealand singer-songwriter Hannah Hadring, better known as Aldous Harding. FaceCulture spoke with Hannah about poetry and songwriting, the notion that you need a purpose, falling into music, starting to write songs, pressure, the success of Party, creating art, the new album Designer, balance and resonance, the title track, making the personal impersonal, and a lot more! (21/02/2019)

[humbulpi]

What an absolute treasure she is. Fascinating, authentic, raw, genuine, etc. She is the reason I continue to seek out new music. If I were a penguin, her music would be the pebble I’d gift to my mate.

[EverAppl]

What an incredibly humble, emotionally meticulous, fascinating, and utterly singular person.

[angelamedwid]

For me, her pauses are providing me with the information I didn't know I even needed. She listens carefully, answers her truths but the questions and answers are forever fleeting & she reminds us of this.

[phobosk]

At the very end she talks about not listening to her songs very closely again after having listened to them the first few times whole-heartedly and being happy with them. She says she doesn't because after a while she knows that it's her who has changed and obviously not the recorded track. I think that's really a profound insight for any artist in any genre. If you continue to come back to your 'finished' work and nit-pick it and chip away at it, you run the risk of diminishing something that was whole and good only because you have changed perspective over time. It's a difficult thing to just walk away from something you've worked so hard on and say, 'It's done', but it's something every artist must learn to do--to just have the experience and confidence to say it's complete because I say so like she mentions with Designer.

I'm a huge fan of her artistry! So glad I stumbled on her work!

[AenLu]

The reason individuals like her are a blessing is because they make "being just me, authentically" seem so very obviously right. And possible. And not scary but just deeply beautiful. She's so blessed, she's an automatic blessing to everyone who surrenders to that rawness. Gosh.

[hilmir]

Love that she is unaplogetically herself. Not a peppy star or trying to be likeable, she takes her time to answer these questions.

[wdamian]

I feel so happy and blessed that I got to share my time on Earth with this queen.

[venusallure]

God, she is so wise and beautiful. I loved hearing her rules she has for herself at the end. I appreciated her sincerity whole-heartedly.

[WelfareChrist]

I appreciate the great care she shows in picking her words

[vinterceptor]

Saw her play over the weekend in Sydney.
She never pandered to the expectations of the audience, but still able to connect on a deep level without the usual stagecraft.
I felt an air of bewilderment and enjoyed very much the emotionality, presence and stillness evoked by her music.
She does what feels right for her and I applaud her bravery, humbleness and sincerity.
Incredible voice every passage full of wonder and joy.
Inspiration manifest pure and simple.
Long may this kookie crumble❤

[CongoSystems]

Excellent! I dig the way Aldous wears her emotions and thought processes directly and transparently on her face.

[chordz]

Shes not from this century..has a very Victorian air about her. I love how she carefully selects every word that she says. Very deep, intense, guarded and yet pleasantly open & candid at the same time...does that make sense?

[colliedogjoy]

I lost my ambition during lock-down. The old crow flew from my shoulder and gave up on me. SO liberating. Suddenly I love my work, no longer frustrated by wanting more.
I hope Aldous is happy doing what she does without needing to be a vet or a cook, or teach English in Japan.
Imagine a world full of people this considerate, humble and articulate. I feel lucky to witness this.
'I don't have to be sad to be serious'
The tortured artist.. I hope she can chill out and shut it off when she needs to, that alcohol isn't smashing her. Can't wait for the tour next spring. I've seen people this honest in secure units and raves - and art college... Hardcore.

[carlkellner]

Yesss! I'm so glad she's really as peculiar and unique a person as her music suggests. One of the most interesting new artists I have been lucky enough to find in a long, long time. Hope she has a long and wonderful life.

[shutterfruit]

So blissfully unaffected by the trappings of the music industry and modern media. Just doin' her own thing and crushing it!

[aurorahaze]

I'm listening to this interview and it's making me cry because I never thought I could be good at music and I never thought someone like Aldous felt the same way at one point. It just really goes to show how the assumptions and beliefs we hold on to can shape our lives. Thank you Hannah for being so candid.

[istvanok]

What an amazing human being. She deserves so much respect to be so thoughtful, honest and gentle.

[oopsgirl]

Aldous giving an interview? What a time to be alive!

[tiinamaijaart]

I've never seen an interview with her before. She speaks so eloquently and beautifully about the creative process and her voice and her presence are just captivating. I think she's quickly becoming one of my favourites. She's brilliant.

[damonbeddingfield]

She is interviewing us unwillingly through the interviewer. She provokes thought immeasurable. Which after many many years I have realized is what I like about music, and is what inspires me. She is amazing and regardless of the outcome, she has made a mark even though her intentions and her care in this thing called life has nothing to do with us or me.