Folk is inclusive, considered to be music for the common people. How apt it is then, that h. has chosen this genre to explore the commonality of our world in her debut single 26 Letters.
h., a 22 year old checkout chick from Canberra, was inspired to write her debut track when she became aware of our need to constantly be defined by what sets us apart, forgetting how much we have in common. h. says the song “explores the idea that perhaps we are more similar and connected than we think.”
Folk is inclusive, folk is human and folk is sincere. With 26 Letters, h. embodies the genre’s ideal with compassion and careful consideration.
The 26 Letters that h. refers to in her song speak for her inclusive theme – that no matter how we try to define ourselves, we have a limited number of letters to do so.
Australia alone has a population of more than 24 million people, who can only ever be described with 26 letters.
The single begins with simplicity, her acoustic guitar strumming repetitious and calming. h. believes the binary, softer tones of her music are great opportunity to ensure the lyrics are at the forefront of the audience’s mind.
She describes people making choices due to societal perception, rather than individualistic choice. Ironically, they are making these choices to ensure they are seen as distinctive and superior. The chorus reiterates her sentiments; cleverly playing on the wording of the song’s title, singing “Don’t you know that you can’t write a script until you’ve spelt it?”
26 Letters boasts the addition of violin played by Connor Hicks, one of h.’s favourite musicians to collaborate with, “We have always had really good communication when playing together. It’s like he can read my mind”.
She had written the chorus and verse to 26 Letters years ago, but found herself unable to complete it. She states that one day she was listening to Nirvana’s About a Girl, and a sudden key change within the song inspired her to add a solo section to her track.
“It wasn’t so much the instrument as it was that I knew Connor would know what to do with it.”
H. discovered folk music due to a lack of commercial bands in her hometown, instead opting to visit the National Folk Festival:
Growing up in Canberra you don’t get lots of acts coming through playing shows, so a really big opportunity to see music was the festival. I went there for the first time when I was in grade ten and that was what really solidified my love of folk.”
h. attributes her persistence with the genre to growing up in Australia listening to Angus and Julia Stone and John Butler Trio, both of which she states have influenced her music today.
h.’s EP, also titled 26 Letters, will launch is on March 4th at Smith’s Alternative in Canberra. All the details here.
