It’s less than a year since Hannah Ellis made her UK debut at C2C: Country To Country – and what a year it’s been.
The Kentucky native – who’s written songs for Russell Dickerson and Cassadee Pope and toured with Gavin DeGraw and Devin Dawson – spent much of 2023 out on the road, before releasing her debut album ‘That Girl’ in January this year (on which she co-wrote every song). Now she’s heading back across the pond for another trip to the festival where it all began.
Before her C2C performances this weekend, I caught up with Hannah to talk about the new record, her memories from last year’s trip, what the rest of 2024 looks like for her and more.
Last time we spoke was just before you came over for C2C 2023 – what’s been happening for you since then?
Oh, gosh, so much. I mean, I put out my debut album this January, which was so exciting. Played tonnes of shows went out on tour with Carly Pearce and Billy Currington. Got to go hit some new spots like Colorado and Wyoming, meet new fans there. I mean, honestly, it was a wild year. And this one’s shaping up to be pretty similar.
You’re coming back for C2C this weekend – what can people who are coming to see you expect from these shows?
You know, what I’m so excited about is that the music is now available for so long. I played these shows, and then people would be like, “Oh, I love that song. Where can I find it?” And I’d be like, “I have a Dropbox folder…” [laughs] So now I’m just so excited to go out and say, “Hey, here’s these songs, now go listen to them. Because you’re able to do that. Find your favourites, pick your favourites and go stream it and check it out.”
Was there anything from when you were here at C2C last time that particularly stood out to you about the crowds, or songs they responded to in ways you weren’t expecting perhaps?
A few of my favourite things were so many people reached out and requested songs, which was so sweet. Because they’re requesting old songs, stuff that people I felt like in America don’t even ask me for. So I loved that they were real true fans. And then also they’re so engaged. They are there to hear the music, hear the stories and cheer you on. And, man, your cup is so full when you leave the stage.
Are there any songs you’re particularly looking forward to playing on this trip?
Yeah, I mean, there’s songs that weren’t even written last year when I went and so I’m so excited to debut those. And again, say, “Hey, you can go listen to that wherever you listen to music.” It just feels like my story is being told by the songs at this point and by that album, and so it’s just going to really set up the shows to be so much more fun for people that dive in in advance.
We’ve talked a little bit about the album – it’s been out for a few weeks now so tell us more about it…
Oh, my gosh, we have worked on that for five years, almost, at this point. Because it just takes such a long time to pick all the songs and figure out exactly how you want to roll it out and the concept, and it’s just something I’m so proud of. I keep describing it as an exhale. I think that it’s something that I’ve been breathing in creativity and thoughts and feelings and songs from Nashville for the 10 years that I’ve been here. And this is kind of my presentation of what comes from that, when it comes to me, oh, find this thing.
And how have you found that people’s reaction to the album has been? [Interviewer’s cat walks across the screen] Sorry, my cat’s interrupting us…
My cat has been doing it all morning. I was gonna die laughing if she came over and they were both catting. Just like, they don’t like it when the attention is not about them. It’s like, “I’m right here!” [laughs]
Yeah, so as I was saying, how has the response to the album been from listeners so far?
it has been absolutely incredible. I don’t think I could have asked for more as far as the love we got from the DSPs and the different outlets just promoting the record and loving it. I mean, we haven’t had a negative review yet. I think that everyone has their favourites, which is a good problem to have. It’s not like, “Oh, everybody only likes these three songs”. It’s all over the place what everybody’s favourites are, and I’m loving hearing people’s stories. I’ll post like a story about why I wrote the song and someone will be like, “Oh, well, my husband and I have been together for this long” or “Oh, that happened to me”. And I think that’s what makes country music so special is it’s a connector.
Were there any songs that you found particularly easy or particularly challenging in terms of the writing?
I would say probably one of the most difficult songs to write was ‘Too Much And Not Enough’. It was just one that it’s very vulnerable for me and so it kind of took a long time in that day because I was like, “If we’re gonna go there, I want to go there. I want to make it uncomfortable for me. I want to say things that I wouldn’t normally say. And I want to be as honest as I can be and say, ‘yeah, I don’t have it all together sometimes’.” And here we are. And I feel like so often, we like to kind of like wrap up the song and a little bow and kind of be like, “And then I figured it out”, or “And then it all turned out OK!”. And we didn’t do that with that song. Because that’s not reality. I don’t have it all figured out. Just because the three minute song is over doesn’t mean “And then I got the answer”. And I think that that song was really challenging for me in a good way. And I’m so glad to share that part of myself with everyone.
We’ve talked about this a little bit already but how did you find the process of picking the songs and structuring the record? I’ve seen elsewhere you’ve talked about wanting it to be a really well rounded project…
Speaker 2 5:56
Absolutely. You know, we knew that title would be ‘That Girl’, and that it would be all about the different sides of me, and that I’m not one singular thing. I’m not just the life of the party, I’m not just emotional, I’m not just petty when I want to be, I’m all of these things. And I think so many of us are. And that’s where I feel like we were very specific in the songs that we chose. And I was even very specific in the order of the songs. I had a show in Wyoming and one in Colorado. And so I spent six hours of that drive, playing the songs back to back and going “No, not there. That one doesn’t go there. That one goes here”, and really digging in and putting them in a very specific order of the story that I wanted to tell.
What do you feel you learned from making this album that you’re going to take into your future projects?
I think I learned that it takes a long time. So start now [laughs]. I think also, I feel like as humans, we’re constantly evolving. We’re constantly growing. And I think that that was another thing that was important to me with the order of the record. I feel like you kind of start in those little more surface level energy moments in those first couple songs. And then you kind of get deeper as you go down. And that will lead us into the next part of the project, or the next project is kind of going , “Okay, where do we go from here? What’s left of this story to tell?” And I think just learning myself, and the songs that I love, and the songs that I gravitate towards, will definitely have an impact on what we do next.
I particularly wanted to ask you about ‘Wine Country’…
Yes!
What do you think it is that people are connecting with about that song?
You know, what I will say about that song that I think makes it so special is, again it points to the overall theme of the record. And that is you don’t have to just be one thing. You don’t have to just pick one lane and live in that, “Oh, I’m only a country girl. I’m only like, love to go fishing with my dad and want to go hang out on my husband’s family farm.” Or, “Oh, I’m only this bougie girl that likes rooftop dinners and steak dinners and nice wine.” Like I am both, and I’m not just one sometimes and when the other time. Most of the time I’m both at the same time. That’s why I think “I want my wine in a Solo cup” is such a thing that people connect with. Because everybody has their version of that. They have their version of, “Well, this is how I was raised, and this is who I am now.” And those two things kind of meld together and they formulate this very unique person. And I think that that song kind of cheers that on but then also it’s just so much fun.
I saw on your Instagram that you’ve got lots of stuff about your baking and cocktails and stuff like that – so what’s your signature dish that you make and your signature drink?
Yes. Do I have one? Okay, let’s see. I was just talking to my husband about this the other day. One of my favourite dishes to make now – this is kind of newer – but my husband loves Thai food and so do I. And so I started making this pad kraw pow which is basically just thisbeef type of stir fry dish over rice. It’s very easy, but it’s like so delicious. I’d say that’s my go to lately as far as what I like to cook. And my favourite cocktail, again of the moment – don’t hold me to this, it will change – I love a negroni lately, which is just Campari, gin and vermouth. It’s three parts, it’s very simple, it’s got some bitter to it, but it’s a nice little nighttime drink. So I’d say that’s my number one right now.
You’ve also mentioned elsewhere about how when you go on tour you like going to different places to eat, so is there anywhere you’re excited to eat at whilst you’re here on this trip?
Okay, let’s talk about this. So, Dishoom – we’re gonna go there for my husband’s birthday which actually happens while we’re in the UK, and that’s like his favourite restaurant. So we’re doing that for dinner one night. Also, huge shout out to The Golden Chippy. It’s probably the best fish and chips I’ve ever had. It’s over in the Greenwich area. Yeah. You kind of got to know it’s there. But like, obsessed. So I wll be making my way back there as well. But hey, you tell the people, if they have places I need to go, lay it on me.
What does the rest of the year look like for you? Is touring and promoting the album going to be the main focus?
Absolutely. I think that is like, the number one priority. If we were to prioritise the year right now is get out there on the road, promote the record, make sure people are hearing it. And also, I just want the chance to perform it the way that I envisioned it and for people to get to hear it how I hear it.
Are you thinking about new music yet?
Absolutely. she gets it. She gets it. Are we having a meeting about new music today? Maybe. He’s not really happening. Is that on my schedule this afternoon? Maybe [laughs].
Can you tell us a bit about what that’s going to be like?
Mum’s the word! But yes, there’s definitely new music on the horizon. We have stuff I’m excited about songs. I’m really excited about to continue telling the story. Oh,
And have you got plans to come back to the UK after this trip?
We’ve had some offers. We’re trying to figure out what makes sense. We don’t have anything in stone right now. But obviously any chance I can get to come over and play for my incredible European fans, I’m going to try to make it happen.
Thanks so much Hannah, it’s been a pleasure to talk to you as always!
Okay. Tell your kitty I said hi!
Hannah Ellis’s debut album, ‘That Girl’, is out now on Curb Records.
See Hannah live at C2C: Country To Country 2024 at The O2 in London this weekend:
Friday 8th March – Icon Stage, 3 PM
Saturday 9th March – The Observatory, 12.30 PM
Saturday 9th March – The Wayside, 2.40 PM
