Hannah Johnson On the Making Of “Slow Motion”
Can you tell us about the inspiration behind "Slow Motion" and the story it tells?
For me, it would have to be Michael Jackson, Prince, Mariah Carey, and Justin Bieber - at least at this time. It’s honestly hard for me to nail down just four since I listen to so many different genres/eras, and I love different aspects of both, but I feel that these four are the most impactful to me at this time in my life. I aspire to have the musicianship of Prince, songwriting abilities of Mariah Carey, and longevity/impact of Michael Jackson and Justin Bieber.
Were there any challenges or breakthrough moments during the songwriting process for "Slow Motion?"
The bass line was probably the “aha” moment that made everything come together. I write and arrange my music in Logic most times these days, and when I came across that bass track I knew that it was special. From there, the piano and synths built off, and the guitar at the end is just the icing on the cake. Overall, I’m extremely proud of this song, the writing/arrangement, and the production. It was a dream come true for me.
Can you share insights into the collaborative process behind the creation of your latest single?
I wrote “Slow Motion” and arranged a lot of the foundational elements, and then I was able to connect with an amazing producer through SoundBetter that brought the demo full circle into a well-polished song. Bringing someone else into my creative process has been a very new (and at times daunting) experience, but I’ve been blessed to work with someone who recognizes my talent and drive and brings the same energy to each project.
What did you envision when creating the song?
I hope this song makes people want to dance. Of course love is much deeper than that, and way more intimidating as well, but this song is too groovy not to get up and move. I want folks to feel nostalgia everytime they hear the synths, a need to groove everytime they hear the bass line, and an innate feeling to get funky when the guitar pops in. "Slow Motion" is just a positive vibe type of song, and I want people to enjoy listening to it as much as I did creating it.
What is the next step for you?
2024 is going to be a big year for me musically. "Slow Motion" paves the way by being my introduction to the world and giving folks an insight to my songwriting center, but this is just the beginning. I’m very big on creativity, and I want to make sure that I never box myself in and feel like every release has to sound the same. I love 80s Pop, 90s R&B, modern-day Hip-Hop, Motown, and 70s Funk: these are all very different genres, so of course my music will not always sound like the previous release. The main thing is that I create to express, not to impress, and that I stay true to myself. I honestly believe that this is the key to success, and I’m excited to see where it takes me.