We were lucky to catch up with Hannah Hokit recently and have shared our conversation below.
Hannah, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today Can you tell us about a time that your work has been misunderstood? Why do you think it happened and did any interesting insights emerge from the experience?
I think the most frustrating hurdle I’ve faced comes simply from being a female in the industry. It’s an ever-present issue that often gets me lots of rolling eyes the second it’s mentioned; however, the mischaracterization and mistreatment that it has brought upon my career is something I can never forget. When I was just a teenager, I was a contestant in a songwriting competition that I was beyond excited about. To my surprise, I won the competition and beat out loads of other contestants of all ages, styles, and genres. To a young girl just starting out, this is a formative and encouraging experience, but unfortunately, mine was quickly stripped away. Soon, rumors flew that I had slept with the judge in order to win said competition and that was the sole reason for my accomplishment. I was then informed that a few fellow contestants were upset by their loss and spread this information to other contestants, which then made its way to social media, and then spread like wildfire from there. Not only did this take away my hard earned victory, but I was now labeled by this dangerous narrative that couldn’t have been further from the truth.
At a later event, I was cornered by another man in the industry, and someone I would have considered a mentor at the time. He waited until the second I stepped outside, alone, and made physical advances towards me, sandwiched with promises of bigger things. “I can get your song on the charts”, “I have an in with the booking agent here”, “You could get a headlining slot here”, “I can make the rumors disappear”, etc. Again, as just a teenager, I was absolutely terrified and had no clue what to do and how to escape this situation that never should have happened. Thankfully, my mom came looking for me and found me just in time. This man acted like nothing had happened and spoke to my mom as if he was the most sincere and caring guy on the planet.
These instances happening at such a young age were traumatizing and harmed my public image with harsh and negative accusations. However, the mistreatment of female musicians does not end there. Women are so quickly plagued as a “diva”, “bitch”, and “difficult” for simply sticking up for themselves in ways that men do every single day. So many instances flood my mind of times that I have had to suck-it-up and accept less than promised/deserved simply to avoid the labels and burned bridges that a man would never have to consider.
This isn’t even to mention the brazen behavior we have to endure at shows. Just last night during my performance, I had someone shout from the crowd, “play more songs by men”. If I had a nickel for every time I heard something along the lines of, “I don’t usually like female artists, but I like you” or “You’re pretty good for a girl”, I’d be a millionaire. These comments are not the compliment that people think they are. They are damaging and support a gross narrative that women in this industry do not deserve the same things our fellow male artists do. Thankfully as I’ve grown older and a little more experienced in the industry, I’ve gained confidence to stand up against this type of behavior in many ways. I’ve developed the courage to not allow certain treatment or comments, but that doesn’t mean it simply goes away.
Hannah, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?
I started writing songs at a mere 7 years old. I loved the connection I felt when listening to my favorite artists and assumed that everything they were singing came from their own lives and personal experiences; therefore, I wanted to do the same. Even after learning that is not always the case and artists don’t always write their own songs, I didn’t want to stop. It became a necessary escape for me and I couldn’t seem to turn the faucet off. I was writing every single day, during class, right when I got home, throughout the night, and using that as my personal outlet. As I got a little older, I realized that was all I wanted to do. I slowly started sharing my songs with people around me and performing for family and friends when I could. When I turned 18, I really wanted to take a step further. I began reaching out to local venues and started booking gigs whenever I could. At the same time, I was working towards a music degree as a full-time student. I finally decided that I wanted to record music and release it publicly, so in 2019, I released a self- titled EP with 5 songs to get things started.
Right when things seemed to start picking up for me and I felt as though I was carving a space for myself, COVID-19 hit. All of my shows were canceled and things felt very hopeless. I was still able to obtain my Commercial Music degree that following May, but still had a halt on all live shows. Things felt very stagnant and uncomfortable, so I began writing even more and developing a new sound. With these new songs, I released my second EP, “Heartbreak City”, in 2021 with 6 songs total. This explored a more mature narrative than my previous EP and uncovered an original sound that I hadn’t tried before.
Shows slowly started picking up again and I made it my mission to hit the ground running. I made the decision to dedicate all of my time to my music and am now a full-time musician. I’m blessed to play music, sing, and do what I love every single week. I’ve been writing even more songs than before and testing different sounds, concepts, and themes. Lots of exciting things are on the horizon and I can’t wait to share what’s coming.
In your view, what can society to do to best support artists, creatives and a thriving creative ecosystem?
Not many people know how to support artists/musicians in the best way possible because there is so much confusion and misinformation out there. There are so many outlets to support local musicians and help them continue doing what they love. Live shows are where artists make their money, so go to every show you can! The physical and visible support alone means more than you could ever know. Merch sales are one of the best ways to make money as an artist as well, so while you’re at the show, stop by and pick up a t-shirt if you can. If the artist has an online shop, you can also purchase merchandise there without even having to leave your home. Streaming services are a tricky thing. Smaller artists make very little money from services like Spotify and Apple Music. Unless they have crazy high streaming numbers, they see very little profit. However, this does not mean you have to stop listening to your favorite artists because, at the end of the day, every stream counts! If you’re looking for another way to support your cherished artist’s music along with streaming, most artists give the option to purchase their music digitally on iTunes, Amazon, CD Baby, BandCamp, etc. You can also often purchase a physical copy at live shows or on their online merchandise shop. Generally, artists make more profit from physical/digital sales as opposed to streaming. At the end of the day, even the smallest bit of support can make a huge difference in an artist’s life/career. So show up when you can, share about your favorite artists online, invest in their products that you love, and help them continue to live their dreams.
What’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative in your experience?
It’s hard to explain the power of personal connection. When I have someone at a show come to me, share their story, and explain how my song was healing for them, that solidifies why I do what I do. When a little girl tells me that she wants to be a singer just like me, I’m nearly in tears every time. Every comment on YouTube or Instagram of someone saying my performance moved them feels like a hug from a best friend. Each moment I can look into a crowd and lock eyes with someone and share that personal moment is fulfilling and heart-warming. This is the very reason I started writing songs in the first place, so to see my initial inspiration from others happen right before my eyes is everything I could have asked for.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.hannahhokit.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hannahhokit/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/hannahhokitmusic
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/HannahHokit
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCdhLTJ8174D0lrzc-how5EQ
- Other: Music – https://hannahhokit.hearnow.com/heartbreak-city
Image Credits
Trish Keck, Benji Neumann