Hannah Powell is the embodiment of a ‘go get ’em’ attitude. The twenty four year has completed a broadcasting degree, hosted her own drive time radio show, produced a podcast, and now freelances for the iconic Rolling Stone magazine.
She grew up in Cust, North Canterbury, and it was while studying in Wellington that she fell in love with Indie music. On returning home to Ōtautahi, she decided to follow her passion and started a radio show with RDU where she focused on the local music scene. Soon after she contacted Rolling Stone magazine and began freelancing for them. Her latest offering in the magazine looks at the Christchurch music scene and profiles some of the people behind both the music and the venues.
We spoke to her about how this all came about…
You went through Broadcasting School?
Yeah, even before that, I went to Wellington to study and did half of a film degree and then came back to Christchurch and went through Broadcasting School majoring in Journalism. I graduated last year.
Since graduating last year, it looks like you’ve gone on to all sorts of amazing things!
I never even thought I’d be able to write as a job. From copywriting and storytelling in my comms job to freelance music journalism, I learn a lot. I had initially started writing for Salient magazine and Tearaway and Yo Vocal. I was writing and doing all of the things, but it took me a wee while to realise that I could actually make it a full-time job.
Did you have an internship before you graduated?
I got an internship at Great Scott – which is actually where I work now. I was really lucky to go straight into a job there. I decided to go into Communications and PR because I really liked storytelling and I liked that feeling that you’re helping to give someone a platform for the success in the work that they’re doing. It feels like a good transition from my work with Yo Vocal because the kaupapa there was celebrating other people and their work. It’s about putting positivity out there rather than just a critique, which is something I consider in everything I do.
What do you do in your day job?
I work as a Comms Advisor and we work with a variety of people helping them get their stories told. we look after the whole package really. I’ve learned so many skills in this job already. On a Friday and during the weekend, I put my freelance music journalist/podcast host hat on. I keep myself busy that’s for sure!
So with Rolling Stone, is that a freelance gig?
Yes! It’s my dream freelance gig. I’ve been freelancing for them for almost a year now.
How did you get that gig?
I believe in putting yourself out there, so I messaged the Music Editor of Rolling Stone Australia AU/NZ on LinkedIn. I also decided to flick the Editor of Rolling Stone a message too – just introducing myself and saying ‘this is what I do and I’d love to contribute anytime’ and I attached my CV. I truly believe you have to just put yourself out there to make things happen. It’s got me to where I am now, at least.
And what happened?
They replied, we had a chat, and now I write for them on a freelance basis!
Do you pitch them ideas or do they tell you what they’re looking for or is it a bit of both?
It’s a bit of both. I love the opportunity to interview a range of artists I’d never dream of sitting on a call with…Faye Webster, Dallas Tamaira, even Weezer. For the recent Christchurch story, I pitched that idea instead. They helped me develop the angle and worked alongside me. A lot of growth comes out of that process.
What was it that sparked the idea about the Christchurch music scene?
I was pitching some stories for Music Month and I wanted to go local. I’ve been involved with RDU 98.5 FM for the last three years – I had a radio show and now I do a podcast with them – and so I just see so many cool up-and-coming talent as well as all the venues and people behind the scenes who make the music scene what it is. To be honest, it wasn’t until I came back from Wellington that I realised how unique the scene here is and that there are so many opportunities you wouldn’t necessarily find anywhere else.
And opportunities for you too as a writer?
And in radio even. Things just fell into place. I started a radio show in 2021 called ‘Smoko’ on RDU and it focused on indie and surf rock from New Zealand and it was mostly interviews. It went on for three years and it kind of morphed into the podcast that I do now. So the podcast concentrates on giving a platform for up-and-coming artists. I’ve just wrapped up Season One and it started off with a national focus but as the season went on, I came to realise that people are really hungry for Christchurch content and to see themselves represented and celebrated.
Christchurch is the best kept secret really isn’t it?
It really is. I mean, Christchurch is doing fine without all the fuss, but it’s still nice to celebrate it and let it have its moment. The podcast, too, is turning into a more Christchurch-based show.
There’s obviously enough content for it to be solely Christchurch focused?
Yeah, it’s very cool. The thing that blows me away is the opportunities here. There’s a great network of musicians and creative people here who are always willing to pitch in or put their hand up.
How would you describe the Christchurch music scene at the moment?
So much is going on. I feel like a lot of people outside of Christchurch view it as conservative and the biggest thing I would hear from musicians who weren’t from here was ‘we just don’t get the crowds in Christchurch’ – I get that touring is expensive, but it made me sad to hear that. I wanted to change that perspective – which is part of why I wrote the Rolling Stone article. I wanted to hone the point that Christchurch is great, and there’s so much happening here and it’s full of so much history and the live scene is actually thriving and doing really well.
I see that Electric Avenue has just extended to two days.
I know! Everything feels very serendipitous at the moment. Even thinking about Jonathan Ogilvie’s film ‘Head South’ which opened the International Film Festival. I was there on opening night and it was so good to see Christchurch represented and celebrated as a place where there’s such cool music. We need to hold onto these things.
There’s also a lot of variety in music styles here.
There really is and I feel like I’m only just starting my journey to discover all the pre-earthquake artists and musicians and venues. What I love here, is there are so many pockets that have taken root in the city. There are so many places where amazing things are happening. There’s so much diversity and diversity in age – it’s not just young people making music and that’s really cool.
That’s a good point – diversity of age. People can tend to think of music being a young person’s game.
There’s some amazing talent here of all ages. There’s so much to discover.
Who’s one to watch?
Oh wow, there are way too many to single out. I’ve had some really nice chats with the likes of Goodwill, CAITLIN, Mim Jensen, There’s A Tuesday. The Butlers will always have a special place in my heart, they were my first radio interview. Pickle Darling and Hannah Everingham. There’s a really cool indie community that stretches far and wide – The Knews, Sam Bambery were very much a part of that before they moved, Shaun Malloch as well (he is still here, thank goodness). The DJ scene is a whole other amazing thing – the community Twominds created never ceases to amaze me, as well as the up-and-coming and established talent Flux hosts every week. There’s such a great scene, I’d hate to miss out on anyone. Everyone is one to watch.
What was your first gig that you went to?
I was about eighteen and still in high school, and we went to Lyttelton Records in Woolston to see Run 77 because they had been finalists in the Smokefree Rockquest that year.
The good old Smokefree Rockquest!
It’s such a good event and Dig the Gig is also a really cool initiative. A lot of people have come out of these and they’re such great platforms for musicians. It’s so much more than just a high school or University thing because it can really change the game, like when This Dog won Dig the Gig, they went on to win another comp and got vinyl pressed for them. It’s epic.
You can read Hannah’s Rolling Stone article here.
Listen to Hannah’s podcast here.