Concrete & Roses Album Review

Singer songwriter Hanna Grace has just released her debut album Concrete & Roses, with a little harmless self-promotion it is based on an Adele-meets-Amy Winehouse sound and just the right balance of rhythm and seduction.

Hanna is a true artist in every sense of the word and draws her inspiration from real life experiences. Her second single ‘Hush Now’ is a perfect example of this. “I was actually having an argument with someone at the time when the melody hit me, so I grabbed a bottle of wine, called Phil and away we went.”

 

Concrete & Roses has taken some time to mature. “Its quite an eclectic album really,” Hanna continues. “Partly because it was not conceived overnight, but also because it comes from a deep sense of personal growth. It really shows my journey over the last few years and how I have matured as a person and as a songwriter.” 

Although this self-funded debut album was produced in a small studio in Phil Stoodley’s livingroom, it is a tribute to their professionalism, passion, and kiwi ingenuity that this album has all the hallmarks of a major production.

All the 14 tracks on Concrete & Roses can’t pigeon hole Hanna Grace’s sound into one genre. ‘Silver Venus’ is a fantastic example of the album’s theme as the soulful lyrics explore the dark and lighter shades of life. The album runs the gamut from soul in ‘Hush Now,’ to a beautiful piano ballad ‘I bought you a Rose,’ and sprinklings of melodic pop with slight reggae vibes through out. ‘Alibi’ brings across more of a rock style that puts Hanna in the category of diverse and innovative NZ musicians who are extremely talented. Great Pop-Jazzy-Rock’n’Roll album that deserves a listen, at the very least.