Page 32 - BiTS_10_OCTOBER_2023

THE BITS INTERVIEW: Hanna Pk

Hanna PK is a solid pianist, soulful vocalist, and vibrant performer, born

and raised in South Korea, currently residing in Rochester, NY but, as
she reveals in this interview about to move to Louisiana.

She plays a wide variety of the blues & swing, old school folk, and

boogie-woogie. She has a dynamic songwriting style - ranging from funky

tunes with socially conscious lyrics to mournful slow blues and from

pop-edged ballads to uplifting swinging numbers. She is as ‘at home’

with barrelhouse boogie as she is with jazz.

Ian McKenzie spoke to her on the telephone.

HPK: Hello.

BiTS: Hello, is that Hanna?
HPK: Yes, hi.

BiTS: It's Ian McKenzie, Hanna. Nice to
speak to you.

HPK: You too. Thanks for the call.

BiTS: And if you're ready, we'll make a
start on doing the interview. Is that okay?

HPK: Yes. Yes sir.

BiTS: Okay, let's start at the beginning,
then. I'm intrigued about how somebody
from South Korea has become involved
in American mausic. What attracted you
to the music in the first place?

HPK: I think probably my early
childhood influence was largely due to
my father, who still lives in South Korea,
but he is a musician. So since I was a little
kid, music was a big part of it. It was
always around. My father would be
playing the guitar and so I think that was

a big part of it.
BiTS: Did you take piano lessons when you were a kid?

HPK: Yeah. When I was a kid, but I didn't really keep up with lessons.

BiTS: Really, why was that?