Aldous Harding - All About Songwriting

We meet Hannah "Aldous" Harding during a promo day in Milan, which wrapped up with a showcase at Gattò. From her answers, it's clear how important the songwriting phase is to her, and how its outcome then shapes every choice that follows.

Is this your first musical project, or have you had previous experience with other bands or projects?

I sang backing vocals and played guitar for a few bands, and this is my first project of my own. I started writing songs before it began, or at least I was trying to. I was also really into poetry and things like that, but then I realized that wasn't what I wanted to do, so I started developing my own songs.

Has your songwriting process changed since you became a full-time songwriter, or has it stayed the same?

It changes every time. There's no set process. Sometimes it just happens, while other times I have pieces and I have to put them together. But looking back at my earliest songs, I now have more confidence, and my songwriting today represents the point I always wanted to reach.

I think that on this new album the sound is more complex and rich in detail compared to the first record, and there are also more instruments.

I simply wanted to make the kind of songs I actually ended up making and bring out the best in them. I felt free to try certain things, and I felt confident that what I was doing was right. All I had to do was let my own taste guide me, and working with John Parish was a great way to support that feeling.

In general, how important was the contribution of the musicians who worked with you?

We had a choir, which I directed myself, and as for the other musicians, I let them do what they felt was right — for instance, I remember the saxophonist came up with some really good ideas.

I think another difference from the first album is your voice — I find it more dynamic, you never stick to the same tone, but suddenly go up or down at certain points in the songs.

I simply used my voice the way I felt I should. I wrote the songs, and then that was how I decided to sing them, because, again, I felt that was the best way to bring out the best in them.

I think your lyrics are uncompromising, you're not afraid to tell hard, difficult stories, yet at the same time your language always stays gentle and measured.

I think a good song needs balance, though it's not easy for me to explain that. I write songs, and when I feel they're good, I have what I need. If I feel some emotion at the idea of putting a song on record and calling it mine, I don't need to think about anything else.

You'll be playing in Italy this summer, what can we expect from your shows?

I try to keep the performance fairly close to how the songs are on record, because that's how I think they come across best, so if people are hearing them for the first time, they immediately get the best version of them. I'll probably experiment with something, for instance there'll be a lot more sax, and I'll play some new songs.

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