Hannah Howes
Hailing from Dunedin and now based in Wellington, Hannah Howes has been a highlight at major NZ festivals, has toured NZ multiple times, and more recently Japan, to celebrate three independently released albums and now shares the stage with some of Aotearoa's most sought after musicians. Her 'compelling' voice finds solace in a variety of styles; echos of jazz, dub, folk and soul meld to 'intelligent' and socially conscious lyrics in a 'pure and under-stated' fashion. Her newest album, 'Candy', received rave reviews, with Radio NZ National's Manu Taylor stating “Brilliant, great voice, great interpretation, very good songwriting...She's genius”.
Song-writing Music Wearable Art Textile Art Sculpture Management
1998-2002 Bachelor of Fine Arts (Sculpture), Otago Polytechnic School of Fine Arts, Dunedin, New Zealand 1993-1997 Queens High School, Dunedin, New Zealand
Bachelor of Fine Arts (Sculpture Major) Otago Polytechnic School of Fine Art, Dunedin, New Zealand
2007-2009 Assistant Fashion Technician, College of Creative Arts, Massey University, Wellington 2003-2009 Musician, songwriter, manager 2006-2007 Textiles Technician, College of Creative Arts, Massey University, Wellington 2003-2005 Co-owner/ Manager Gloria Boutique, Dunedin
MUSIC Independent Album Releases: Candy 2009 (Rhythmethod), Live at Bodega 2005 (Rhythmethod), Patchwork Quilt 2004 (Rhythmethod) Touring: Japan Tour (2009), NZ Album Release Tours (2004, 2005, 2009), Cornerstone Roots Winter Tour (2007), Parihaka International Peace Festival (2006, 2007), Soundsplash (2005,2006), Rippon (2005), Toots and Grooves Festival (2007), Kaikoura Roots Festival (2004,2005) WEARABLE ART Montana World of Wearable Art Award Runner-Up Avante Garde Section 2006, World of Wearable Art Finalist Avante Garde Section 2002 EXHIBITIONS Selected group shows: The Graduation Gloria (Dunedin) 2006, Stitched Objectspace (Auckland) 2004, The Graduate Show The Blue Oyster (Dunedin) 2003
Brilliant, lovely, great voice, great interpretation, she writes very good songs and the track 'Candy' had that wonderful effect of dragging almost everybody in my office space into my office asking who it was and that is a rare thing... she's genius. - Manu Taylor- Radio NZ National May 2009
This third album from Dunedin’s Hannah Howes is anything but a piece of disposable, sugary, pop – rather an intelligent, smooth, mellow offering that keeps getting better with each listen. The album is a fusion of folk, country, jazz and reggae. The opening tracks are cool and jazzy. By the third song Fallen Star an upbeat dub vibe is added to the mix and No Surprises shifts further in the direction of reggae. Oohaakii opens with a beautiful Maori karanga, building into a skilful mix of marching drums, strings and harmonies. Howes’s voice is pure, understated and very easy to listen to, sounding entirely relaxed and at home in a variety of styles. She is backed by a number of talented musicians including Maz Hermon, Peter Hill,and Myele Manzanza and together they’ve created an album that is calm and powerful at the same time. Recorded and mixed by the masterful Lee Prebble at The Surgery, ‘Candy’ is a pleasure. - Kara Segedin- NZ Musician June/July 2009
Compelling vocals and sumptuous soul, pitch perfect delivery and multi-layered, to the beat, back up – Patrick McCarry, Groove Guide
It's a perfect mix- (Live at Bodega) is a fascinating live document of a compelling singer and storyteller – Simon Sweetman, Dominion Post
Howes has been labelled a sleepy lioness, an apt description of not only her stage presence, but also the deeply personal tales and clearly articulated philosophies scattered throughout her dreamy lyrics. – Emma Smith, Critic Magazine
Hannah Howes performed a brilliant set to a rapt audience. Ambitious, intelligent and unpretentious, Howes music speaks to the brain, heart and soul. Her lyrics are well-crafted and tight, her voice seemingly effortless. She travels easily through different styles of music, from folk to reggae to protest songs with equally captivating results. Howes was joined onstage by Alan Starrett, whose improvised contributions on viola and accordion made the evening feel even more of a once-in-a lifetime event. Her music was also enriched by the addition of drums and bells. An exciting, eminently promising musician, Hannah Howes was the musical highlight of the Fringe Festival. - Hilary Smith, Dunedin Fringe Festival
If Hannah Howes’ musical talent existed as a tactile thing, it would be a perfectly formed, and ever-so-slightly imprinted love letter from a gently spoken creature to its passionate lover. Her lyrics flicker across the musical canvas like dancers, and the meaning of the songs linger long after the recently released, CANDY, takes its final curtain call. - Amie Mills, Exposure Lifestyles, Issue 6, June 2009
MOBILE 00 64 27 4656 721
EMAIL hannahhowes@gmail.com
Member Profile
Hannah HowesBeginning her solo career, in 2003, in Dunedin's music scene as Sista Mischief, Hannah began collaborating with acoustic artists, roots DJs, and local producer Ecophonik.
In 2004, Hannah released her debut album, PATCHWORK QUILT, a mix of reggae and folk ballads, featuring major players: Warren Maxwell (Fat Freddy's Drop, Little Bushman), Matt Eddy (Zuvuya, Phantom Power) and Alan Starrett (Principal Viola for the Southern Sinfonia, The Clean, David Kilgour).
"Intelligent, ambitious and unpretentious...her music speaks to the brain, heart and soul"
- Dunedin Fringe FestivalIn 2005 Hannah put out a second album LIVE AT BODEGA featuring guest artists: Francesca Mountfort (Carnival), Yair Katz (The Mamaku Project) and engineer Aidan Mills (Holly Smith, Dave Dobbyn, Little Bushman)
"Compelling...sumptuous soul"
– Groove GuideSince the release of her first two albums, Hannah has been a highlight at major NZ festivals and now shares the stage with some of Aotearoa's most sought after musicians including Ben Wood and Maz Hermon (Hikoikoi, ROY G and the BIVinators), Peter Hill (Rhombus, Woolshed Sessions), Myele Manzanza (Olmecha Supreme, Electric Wire Hustle) and Dayna Sanerivi.
