2023-07-10 17:52:53
Hanna Randall is the frontwoman of the Sugarcoats from Rudolfsheim and gave an insight into her musical life.
VIENNA/RUDOLFSHEIM-FIVE HOUSE. When and how did you find your way to music?
HANNA RANDALL: I started singing when I was eleven in a gospel choir called the Vienna International Choir, directed by Sandy Schweighofer-Cooper. My grandmother gave me the impetus back then – she said singing makes you happy. I am very grateful to her for that! With the choir we traveled to cities like Paris, Kraków and Prague and performed in Vienna at “Licht ins Dunkel” and in the town hall. Gospel music will always bring back fond memories for me.
What were your first steps as a musician?
After catching fire in the choir, I learned to play the guitar and wrote my first songs. When I was 20 I started my first band: The Passengers. At the same time, I regularly went to private lessons with the brilliant Eva Klampfer aka Lylit. Eva has perfect pitch, sings like a goddess and also plays the piano really well. I was very lucky to have ended up with her right away.
Do you have a stage name, if so how did it come regarding?
No, Hanna Randall is my real name. However, it is a rare name in Austria – I imported it from Australia, so to speak.
Please describe your music and style in a few words.
Now I prefer to sing soul because the music puts a smile on people’s faces and makes them dance. I also write my own stuff, but for that I need inspiration and, as we know, it comes when it pleases.
I sing in the band The Sugarcoats. I founded the group regarding 1.5 years ago and we play soul covers combined with contemporary songs and songs that you know from films. We focus on the retro sound and are interested in the London mod culture of the 1960s.
How many people are you in the band?
We are eight now! At the last concert we had to count who was there before we went on stage. It’s nice to work together on the sound and to divide the band jobs between us. It’s also important for us that we have fun – in addition to organized rehearsals and performances.
What do you value as a musician?
I want people to go home inspired and smiling following a performance. It’s also nice to really get lost in a song on stage.
What are your most beautiful experiences as a singer?
When you find people with whom you harmonize musically and the lyrics “just flow out of you” while playing together, then it feels like pure magic.
Where have you already performed, are there any concert highlights that you are proud of?
Last year, for example, we performed with the Sugarcoats at the Gurtel Nightwalk or in the Café 7*Stern, together with Amiro and the Popchor Wien. We also play at the Wasserweltfest every year, a really great multicultural event. It was also nice at Café Korb as it is a very culture oriented place.
I’m always proud when the atmosphere is good and the audience really clicks – I love that!
What are your future projects? What are you working on?
I want to continue to perform a lot with the Sugarcoats and spread sweet soul music in Austria.
Since it is important to me to understand and learn regarding the roots of music, I started working on a playlist: Where does soul come from? What older genres led to soul? The playlist is a work in progress, an attempt at understanding. It is intended to pay tribute to the – predominantly Afro-American – artists and show the lineage of this beautiful genre.
Where can we see you live in Vienna soon?
On 06/30 we play in Club 1019 and on 25.08. on the Danube Island at Veganmania!
Do you compose your songs yourself, if so please briefly describe the content/themes of your songs – what moves you?
You can get an impression of my songwriting style on Soundcloud. With my earlier project Randall/Fuchsbichler I composed many songs – together with the jazz guitarist Wolfgang Fuchsbichler. Incidentally, these can also be found on YouTube.
What do you like and dislike regarding the 15th district?
I appreciate the cultural diversity and the wild mix of Viennese Bobos and migrants from all over the world. I also like the Meiselmarkt, the Auerwelsbachpark and the Schmelz. Of course I love our rehearsal room on the 15th!
What I think is a pity is that the Westbahnpark project is being held captive in such a way. Everyone I know from the 15th wants this park so bad. Unfortunately, there are not enough green spaces in Rudolfsheim Fünfhaus. If there is still something going on with the park and there is an opening party, we would love to play there!
Have you ever performed in the 15th, if so where and how did you like it?
We perform with the Sugarcoats every year at the Water World Festival. The organizers are great people with a big heart for young people and the colorful diversity of the district.
Have you traveled internationally musically?
We hissed through Europe with the choir and in my second home Australia I had a few gigs. At the moment we are concentrating on Austria with the Sugarcoats. But maybe we’ll play a concert on a romantic beach in Italy or on a historic square in Portugal – who knows?
The Sugarcoats
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