411 Music Interview: Hana Pestle
Posted by Vanessa Willoughby on 12.18.2008
Although she's from a small town, Hana Pestle's voice and talent are the exact opposite. Since graduating high school, eighteen-year-old Pestle has not stopped touring. But does she regret the whirlwind life of hopping from city to city? Absolutely not.
Eighteen-year-old Hana Pestle may come from the small town of Billings, Montana, but you could hardly say the same about her voice. Reminiscent of artists such as Sarah McLachlan and Tori Amos, Pestle's voice is meant for sweeping, emotional musical creations rather than a run-of-the-mill pop song. Her debut album has been recently completed and is set to hit stores on July 7, 2009.
About a year ago, Pestle uprooted from the Midwest and moved to Los Angeles to work on her album with Ben Moody, the co-founder of the band Evanescence. It's hard to believe that just two years ago, Pestle was still playing shows at local clubs back in her hometown, unaware of the future that lay just around the corner. Pestle's big break came from a surprising, albeit rather traditional source. Impressed by one of her shows, a friend of one of Pestle's friends knew a producer in Los Angeles and got a hold of one of her recordings. Before she knew it, Pestle was flying to California and recording a slew of demos. Although the transition from small town to the fast-paced, big city life was somewhat of a challenge, Pestle was equally excited to travel to one of her favorite states.
"I've always been in love with California," Pestle confessed.
Having been gone from Billings six months and counting, Pestle credits her friends with aiding in the transition period. Ever since getting on the plane and arriving in LA, Pestle has been busy making her mark with the industry and more importantly, the fans.
On May 27, 2008, her EP was released and Pestle kicked off a touring schedule that's just about to wind to a close. In addition to the Blues Traveler, Live, and Collective Soul Tour, she has opened for Joshua Radin, John McLaughlin, and Ingram Hill. Other recent performances include the acoustic Hotel Café Tour, which has blossomed into one of the nation's leading venues for singer/songwriters. Now in its fourth year, the tour has featured artists such as Jewel, Rilo Kiley, and Damien Rice.
Touring, which is "ultimately going really well," will most likely continue for the next two years, in hopes of raising even further awareness about Pestle.
"I've been singing forever, "Pestle said. "I come from a really musical family."
When was the first time she knew that she wanted to pursue singing?
"Seventh grade. I had a solo at a Christmas concert," recalled.
Pestle's music is not only refreshing due to her mature, rich vocal style, but also her creative efforts. Unlike other young, mainstream artists, Pestle writes a lot of her own material. On her debut album, about half of the songs are solely her own creation, while the other half are collaborations.
Her source of inspiration is diverse, as she counts things such as "the ocean, hiking, and relationships."
Pestle, who loves to write, has a diverse musical taste that is certainly reflected in her music. Her favorite bands and musicians range from REM, Alanis Morissette, and Sarah McLachlan to the Smashing Pumpkins and John Mayer. However, there's one band that's steadily captured her heart for the past six years.
"I'm a huge fan of Radiohead. To work with [them] would be beyond amazing," she gushed.
If there's one thing for certain, Pestle has the passion and insight of a seasoned music vet. Earning a college degree isn't something that she's entirely ruled out, but as of right now, music fills her past, present, and future. Call it luck or call it fate, but perhaps if that one, pivotal show had not happened, maybe Pestle would have become just another college freshman after all.
And if she entered college, would she have studied music? Surprisingly, this wasn't her initial response.
"I love to read. So I'd probably study literature," she said.
It's a good thing that this is all in a hypothetical sense, as the world may not need another lit major, but the industry certainly needs another talented, genuine, and unique artist.
To learn more about Hana Pestle, visit her Myspace page at: http://www.myspace.com/hanatunes.
