Hannah Rooth
Irvine, CA
Americana-soul songstress Hannah Rooth entered the scene with first release Wild Hum (September 2019), recorded at Plaid Dog Studio (Cambridge, MA) with friends Adrian Avalos (guitar) and April Faith-Slaker (cello). In a summer move to Southern California, her meeting of Anaheim producer Mitch Maanao spurred the creation of her second work, Strong and Tender, set for release in January 2020. Described as “strange, emotive,” “desolate and desperate,” both collections expose Rooth’s bold and relatable inner journey. Fresh and prolific, she brings much to the American music scene and shows no signs of slowing down.
Much of Rooth’s musical influence comes from her childhood in Pacific Northwest Washington, drawing tonal and thematic similarities to iconic regional bands like Death Cab for Cutie, Fleet Foxes, and The Postal Service. As a teen, she listened to Norah Jones and Amy Winehouse, and she references both as the women who “taught her to sing.” Their influence comes through strong in her own vocal style, thick with dynamism, passion, and sweetness. Jeff Buckley, Ray Lamontagne, and Adele are other key vocal influences.
Hannah’s released music is regularly compared to Lana Del Rey: breathy, soft, and melancholic with layered personal storytelling. Her songs and performances are often compared to Florence + the Machine: authentic and bold and melodic. But, lacking any formal training, her music is first and foremost her own ~ a genuine, raw, and surprisingly powerful expression of her life story. In sharing her journey of coming out as queer, leaving her childhood religion, and navigating emotional trauma and divorce, she hopes that listeners will be emboldened to “enter the darkness” and take ownership of their lives.
Rooth aspires to use music to build communal power through intimate connection. Her project “Wild Community,” which will showcase the creative work of listeners and visual artists, will launch alongside the Strong and Tender album, and she invites you to participate. You can learn more at wildhummusic.com and find Hannah weaving webs of musical inspiration and social change in Orange County, CA.
Hannah Rooth’s tracks
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