NOW
Hannah Kerr lost in the flow
by caroline lusk
Most college sophomores are contemplating social activities , midterms and finalizing their major . Hannah Kerr is not like most college sophomores . The twenty year old holds the distinction as the first artist to sign with Black River Christian label , has toured with the likes of Casting Crowns and Matt Maher and is releasing her first full length album , Overflow , April 14 . Atypical ? Yes . A phenom ? Without question . ICONIC recently chatted with Hannah about music and more .
ICONIC : Has music always been a part of your life ? How did a girl from upstate New York end up in the Nashville music scene ? Hannah : I ’ ve always loved singing . I started singing in church when I was five but it was only when we moved to Nashville from New York that music became something I could do for a career . It ’ s been a crazy ride , but I ’ m so grateful to have been with Him on it . ICONIC : You ’ ve toured with some incredible artists including Casting Crowns , Matt Maher , Building 429 … the list goes on ! What did you learn from them about what it means to be an artist in this industry ? Hannah : I was at first a little hesitant about the artist thing and really prayed about it . Turns out it ’ s what God has been preparing me my whole life to do . I ’ ve had about a two-year mentoring relationship with Mark Hall of Casting Crowns . Theirs was the first concert I ever went to . It has been really cool to watch him on tour — how he interacts with people . For Mark it ’ s not just walking out and saying great things ; he truly looks people in the eye . He cares . That ’ s what has allowed them to be where they are . They care about their fan base . I ’ ve learned how to pay attention to people and be intentional with all the people in your life . ICONIC : Your new album is finally here , to the delight of many . How would you describe the creative process behind this project ? Hannah : A lot of people create albums in a certain way . I do it backwards . I would write a song with someone then record it . I recorded 30 songs for the album but only ten of them made it on the final product . The album is really a culmination of all the things God has taught me the past 20 years . It took about three years to record the whole thing . ICONIC : The title , Overflow , is beautiful . What are you hoping people will take away from the album ? Hannah : I want people to take away that God will pour in love and grace . You have no choice but to let it overflow . This is what happens when I feel alone . When I moved to Nashville , I left the home I ’ d known my whole life . The first year was extremely hard . I had always been outgoing , but I became really shy , anxious and depressed . It was the darkest time of my life , but I could see how God drew me to His heart . He took that time of darkness and redeemed it . I now want to tell people what He ’ s done in my own life . The way that I put the songs on the album is intentional . It starts with a warrior , staring down the face of fear . The whole album goes through this progression and ends with a song about being still and trusting that He is God and we are not .
Learn more at hannahkerrmusic . com .
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