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HANNA PK – A GIRL CAN DREAM IN BLUE

By Lawrence Lebo

Rochester, New York by way of South Korea, singer/songwriter/
pianist Hanna PK’s story is the traditional American dream come
true. It was love that Hanna followed to America, but once there
she found yet another. Her love for the American blues!

Born Han Na Park, in Dongducheon, South Korea, she’s taken
the stage name of Hanna PK. Hanna’s musical dream began
playing piano and singing at open mics in neighbourhood dive
bars, which led to her, along with guitarist Aleks Disljenkovic,
representing the Western New York Blues Society in the semi-finals at the
2019 Memphis International Blues Challenge. There Hanna caught the attention of
Louisiana blues guitarist Kenny Neal, who then brought her onto his Booga Music label … and ...
Hanna’s American dream really did come true!

Produced by Kenny Neal, Hanna PK’s
release Blues All Over My Shoes debuted
at #13 on the Billboard Blues Chart! The
album contains 10 originals from across
the blues umbrella-spectrum and one
cover tune. If it weren’t for Hanna’s
Korean accent coming through her vocals

one would never have a hint of her true
background, not by the way she
confidently croons and growls while
delivering her lyrics. All the while her
authentic left-hand stride piano and keen
sense of blues swing feel, shows her deep
understanding and respect for the
tradition of the genre. Producer Neal also
contributes some harp, bass, and his

signature blues guitar to the work.

I asked Hanna PK to tell me about her
life, her music, her American journey.
This is what she told me …

LL: So, you were born in South Korea! Would you tell us about the family you grew up in, and

when and how you came to America?

HP: My dad is a musician, and he listened to a wide range of music. Though my parents got
separated, from my early childhood music was a big part of my life. I came to America because of a
relationship, but I ended up staying in Rochester, New York after the relationship was over.

LL: What kind of music were you exposed to growing up?

HP: It was hard to discover music that wasn’t already getting played around you then, without
internet and all… also, I’m from a very small town. So, it was my luck that my dad was a musician,