Meet JustHannah

We recently connected with JustHannah and have shared our conversation below.

JustHannah, so good to have you with us today. We’ve always been impressed with folks who have a very clear sense of purpose and so maybe we can jump right in and talk about how you found your purpose?

To quote the Beatles, “I get by with a little help from my friends…”
When I moved to Texas in January of 2018, I had considered myself “retired” from music. I had spent the last 12 years as a full time church musician and had accomplished enough to make me satisfied with my work. As fate would have it, I would meet a group of friends that have been making music and memories together since the 70’s and had some pretty famous friends to tell stories about – Townes, Richard Dobson, Guy Clark, the list goes on. Their stories and original songs became great sources of inspiration for me and I found a new home in the pickin’ circle. The reason I even started writing again was just to have some songs to share in the circle, and to my genuine surprise, my new friends were totally digging them! So I kept writing and sharing and eventually those jams were met with the request from my dear friend who I call “cool james” saying, “I want to see the people dance” – and that’s when I knew that it was time to branch out and book some gigs, just to make my buddy’s dream come true. After 2 years of playing out and continuing to receive a great response, and realizing that I was enjoying the process a whole lot, I decided to take myself and my music more seriously. Now it’s the only thing I can see myself doing with my life (that, and scuba diving of course).

Let’s take a small detour – maybe you can share a bit about yourself before we dive back into some of the other questions we had for you?

To me, what I do is sing emotions and bring uplifting energy to any atmosphere I’m in. My goal is to raise people’s spirits and inspire them to live their most vibrant, fulfilling lives. I’m incredibly grateful that music lets me travel, explore new places, and connect with amazing people—because as an introvert (which surprises most folks), I probably wouldn’t end up in those spaces otherwise.

My songs are playful and soulful, dreamy yet grounded, and there’s always a little nugget of wisdom tucked inside for you to take home and reflect on later. I also have a deep love for island life and the ocean, and over the past year I’ve earned three scuba diving certifications—most recently, my Rescue Diver course. Looking ahead, I see my future filled with performing across this great state of Texas and hopping between islands I love, diving into the sea and sharing my music with the world.

Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?

First and foremost, I’d say it’s important to stay humble and teachable. There’s no finish line in this musical journey—or in any journey, really. You never know who you might learn something new from, so it’s essential to stay open.

Second would be my ability to connect with anyone, no matter their age, background, or beliefs. That skill has shaped both my songwriting and the way I engage with audiences. I make people feel comfortable because I’m comfortable in my own skin.

And finally, my knowledge of the guitar has been pivotal in my path. I’ve been around music since I was a baby, but it wasn’t until I got my first guitar at 12 that it truly became a part of me. Playing guitar lit something inside of me, and that spark led me to start writing songs—and I’ve never looked back.

Before we go, maybe you can tell us a bit about your parents and what you feel was the most impactful thing they did for you?

Wow, I have to give so much credit to my mom and dad who, to this day, are my number 1 fans. They saw my musical talent at a super early age and invested in piano lessons, bought me a flute when I played in band, and bought my first guitar. Then when I was a teen, volunteering tons of hours playing music for our church, they supported me by doing my laundry, cooking my meals and driving me anywhere I needed to go. They believed in me before I believed in myself and despite not having tons of extra income, they always made a way for me to grow in my talents and dive deep into the experiences that have shaped me and paved the way for my career. I am eternally grateful.

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Image Credits

9I7A1999.jpg – Summer Pierce Photography

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