Montreal-based musician Hanorah returns with Closer Than Hell, a bold and transformative EP released via Ensoul Records.
Known for her powerful vocals and earlier leanings toward retro soul and pop, Hanorah takes a daring creative turn on this new project.
Blending alternative R&B with smoky, brooding soul, the EP delivers a moody, emotionally-charged soundscape that marks a significant evolution in her artistic identity.
About the EP by Hanorah:
“In my quest for musical belonging, I have been embraced by terms like soul, r&b, funk, and folk.
In these songs, I wanted to incorporate some darker and more naive sonic flavors to support my storytelling”, Hanorah shares on the EP’s inspiration.
“I made this record with producer and multi-instrumentalist Max Frazer from Nanaimo, BC, who has incredible shoegazey sensibilities with a taste for Russian classical music, and we found our middle ground in these songs.
We had references ranging from Alabama Shakes to Mazzy Star, Flaming Lips to Sufjan Stevens, Angel Olsen to Lauryn Hill.
Lyrically, I found poetry that satisfied me, and courage to share stories I hadn’t fully faced before (though I continue to be preoccupied by love). It was an experimental process and a bit of a departure from what I’ve put out in the past, but I hope listeners find the beauty in these songs that we found.”
“I affectionately call this one a ‘mushroom song’ because it sprouted from a collection of other half-finished ideas that weren’t quite working.
Max holds higher songwriting standards than I do, whereas I often embrace the initial draft.
He pushed for something more refined than what I initially brought.
We spent a considerable amount of time on this track, even having some lyrical disagreements.
The central challenge was capturing feelings of ambivalence and apprehension.
However, the final result resonates with me deeply, much like all my favorite music.
That quiet little bridge, featuring just guitar and vocals, encapsulates everything I aimed to express on this record.”
Closer Than Hell gets: 📷📷📷📷📷📷📷/10.
Hanorah – Closer Than Hell [Streaming]
