We were lucky to catch up with Hannah Mack recently and have shared our conversation below.

Hannah, appreciate you joining us today. Did you always know you wanted to pursue a creative or artistic career? When did you first know?

From the time I was 11 years old until I was 17, I was in rock bands, touring the Atlanta area and the southeast playing clubs and festivals. I loved performing, but always felt like I needed a “real job”. When I graduated high school, I attended Georgia State University on a scholarship. I declared my major as Criminal Justice. By the end of my freshman year, it was abundantly clear to me that I did not want to pursue criminal justice as my career path. As I panicked about it, my dad, who is an outstanding musician and professor at the Atlanta Institute of Music and Media (AIMM), suggested auditing a performance class. I felt lost, so I decided to heed my dad’s advice, and I audited a vocal performance class, as well as an audio production class. Within the first few minutes of my performance class, I recognized that music has always had, and will always have, my heart. Going to and graduating from AIMM changed my life, and I could not be more appreciative to Nite Driscoll and Joshua Grau for giving me the opportunity, and my dad, Michael Milsap, for being my guiding light.
My life would be wildly different had I not made that change.

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.

I remember singing and writing songs with my neighborhood friends starting in 1st grade. My earliest favorite song was “Ain’t No Other Man” by Christina Aguilera, and my friends and I would sing it on the bus to and from school. In fourth grade, I joined choir, and got exposed to the beautiful experience of singing with a group of voices. With my dad being a professional musician, music was always so prevalent in my life. He and my mom exposed my sister and I to such a wide variety of genres and cultures. When I was 11 years old, I performed in a club for the first time in a rock band, performing songs like “Whole Lotta Love” by Led Zeppelin, and “My Hero” by Foo Fighters. The adrenaline rush I got on stage was unlike anything I had experienced. That was the beginning of chasing that feeling through performance. Since graduating from AIMM, I’ve worked in studios around Atlanta as an audio engineer, as well as a vocal producer. I’ve worked with several independent artists, guiding them through the recording process, giving them direction with their vocal delivery, and recording background parts to provide some vocal texture on their songs. I love getting to explore this creative side of the voice and helping others explore their creativity as well!
I’m also working with a small label doing songwriting for movie and TV sync licensing, as well as writing for artists. Songwriting has been a part of my life since the first grade, and I feel so blessed to be able to do it as a part of my career!
Another huge part of my life is performance. I’ve worked in many corporate bands and cover bands all over the US. Currently, I’m performing in the band my father & I have formed, called Mack & Michael. We have the pleasure of playing with some incredible musicians who happen to be great friends of ours as well. We have a live studio album & a documentary series along with it coming out in the coming months! Stay tuned!
I have a handful of private vocal students around Atlanta, giving them guidance and direction to improve their voice and enhance their vocal abilities. I deeply enjoy getting to teach students about something I’m so passionate about.
Alongside all of these branches of my career, I put so much love and passion into my own music. I am an independent artist, who just wants to share my music with the world. If even one person enjoys it, I feel successful. I love getting to put my love for storytelling on display, on my own terms. I’d love for you to check out my music under the name Hannah Mack on all platforms. I have 2 singles out right now, “Setup” & “Homebody”, with more on the way!
I am so proud to be able to say that I make my living through music. Five years ago, I would have never thought I’d be able to do that. I am grateful and blessed to have the privilege of doing what I love for a living!
I’m excited to continue working with talented people!

What’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative in your experience?

Growing up with a musician for a parent, we had periods of struggling as a family. My parents put as much of themselves as they could into loving my sister and I, and providing for us in the best way they knew how. We are a tight nit family, and we saw our parents struggle, and therefore causing us to struggle. This experience is what caused me to believe that I needed a “real job”, and turn away from pursuing music. Coming to the realization that making a living through music is completely possible with hard work and commitment, was such an enlightening experience. While to some, my work experience may seem unconventional, the work I have the pleasure of doing is so fulfilling. Getting to put my gifts to work, and also getting to feed myself through it, is a beautiful feeling. All of my streams of income are through music in some capacity, and I am so grateful for it. It makes each day worth working through.

Is there something you think non-creatives will struggle to understand about your journey as a creative? Maybe you can provide some insight – you never know who might benefit from the enlightenment.

While my streams of income can often be inconsistent, I continue to choose this life over a conventional job. It motivates me to work harder and pursue my dreams relentlessly. I believe every person is wired in different ways. While I’m capable of working a 9-5 or a traditional job, I know that my mental health is better off working in realms that my gifts more readily contribute to. I love music more than money, so getting to work everyday in something I love takes precedent over having a salary. It makes each day more joyful.

Contact Info:

• Website: mackandmichael.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hannahmackmusic/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61552142848802
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@MackandMichael/featured
• Other: @hannahmackm on TikTok!

Image Credits
Pictures from Kirsten Milsap, Tommy Chung, Atlanta Institute of Music and Media, and Phoenix Janae