The time NYC-based songwriter Hannah Jadagu spent in California to set her newly released second album Describe to tape was influential in a number of ways, perhaps most obviously in the sense that it provided the artist with plenty of access to new in-person collaborators and the troves of musical gear they had at their disposal. But what may have been even more significant about that change of pace following her 2023 Sub Pop debut, Aperture, was that the physical distance from her familiar personal life it provided her with proved to be deeply inspiring. While Aperture may have captured the artist comfortably enmeshed in her natural surroundings, Describe depicts Jadagu comfortable within herself.
In terms of genre, many of these tracks come across as a modern-bedroom-pop take on sophisti-pop, with Jadagu interested in finding a unique balance between analog and synthetic sounds. Yet her dreamy vocal performances across each track are the record’s true unifying theme, expressing a sense of abiding calm that’s fairly unique to the SoCal lifestyle. It’s telling that all of the non-musical influences Jadagu lists for us are essentially forms of relaxation one partakes in alone, with the sole exception being a new method of grounding herself within her life back home while living on the opposite coast.
With Describe out now via Sub Pop, Jadagu outlines five of these influences on the record below. Stream the album here and read on to find out how ASMR and long drives helped shape the LP’s sound.
Going for drives
When I made this album, I was in Altadena, California. Driving around allowed me to think of new creative ideas, and also helped me clear my mind in-between the making of various songs. It was refreshing, and acted as a reset and also somewhat as stimulation for my brain and creative juices.
ASMR
ASMR was all I listened to whenever I was not listening to my own songs or someone else’s. I enjoy listening to ASMR as a way to decompress, relax—and, a lot of the time, fall asleep. It can be hard to get good sleep while making a record, but I found ASMR to be very helpful.
Art museums
I really enjoy going to art museums, although I don’t get to go often. When I was in California, and had an off day, I would literally just go to the museum. I like being alone in a museum, surrounded by strangers, and just doing my own thing. It helps me feel more human and in touch with myself.
Past Lives (2023)
Past Lives is one of my favorite films of all time. It’s such a beautiful story about re-connecting with oneself, culture, and loved ones. I love to re-watch Past Lives, and truly believe that the way in which it conveys a feeling of intimacy, longing, and battle with acceptance somewhat influences my own music
Talking on the phone
I think that picking up the phone and calling people is way more intimate than texting, and I did a lot of that while making my album. I definitely found that this influenced the songwriting on the album.
