Q&A: Love Lost, Found and Made Bittersweet in Hatchie’s ‘Liquorice’
INTERVIEW
INTERVIEW
☆ BY ZARMEEN AKHUND ☆
ON A WINDING JOURNEY THROUGH YOUNG WOMANHOOD—Hatchie finds herself anew. A collection of songs deeply personal and unabashedly clever, her latest album Liquorice is as infectious as it is radiant.
Allowing the musical process to take shape on its own, Harriette Pilbeam refuses to shy away from flaw or limitation. Instead, the singer-songwriter embraces the complexities that come with both. Working alongside producer Jay Som (Melina Duterte), Pilbeam turns self discovery into a kind of brilliance.
For her, this new body of work finds its roots close to home. Upon returning to Brisbane in 2022, the artist drew inspiration in the sheer act of slowing down for a simpler kind of life. She found solace in time with self and loved ones. With this, the record encapsulates nostalgia right from the start. Each song feels familiar and yet of its own world entirely, defying convention and expectation.
Pilbeam strikes a delicate balance, reflecting both the artist and the human. Liquorice is a steady compilation of heart, wit and sincerity. Keep reading Luna’s conversation with Hatchie below.
LUNA: Congrats on the new album! Liquorice is a welcome rewind. How has living with a newfound slowness changed the way you create musically?
HATCHIE: Thank you! I really tried to make sure each song was very considered and not rushed in any way. I didn’t force myself to finish any ideas like I had with past records. I think giving the songs more time to breathe before fleshing them out led to more thoughtful lyrics and helped each track develop its own distinct personality.
LUNA: Do you have a favorite track?
HATCHIE: My favourite track is probably “Liquorice” or “Only One Laughing,” they get me the most excited for the album to be out.
LUNA: Any specific media or films that have inspired your process?
HATCHIE: Yes, mostly films! Portrait Of A Lady On Fire, Umbrellas of Cherbourg, Before Sunset, [The] Worst Person In The World… basically any tragic romance!
LUNA: “Someone Else’s News” gives us a glimpse into an experience of womanhood. Can you share more on the song’s premise?
HATCHIE: I started writing this song when I was sitting in traffic. I guess I had been ruminating on something for a while, but I don’t remember how the initial concept started. It was originally about the agony of anticipating a moment that never arrives but then when I kept writing, it morphed into being about keeping someone else’s secret and the ethics around that.
LUNA: What was it like working alongside producer Jay Som on the record? How did your ideas blend together to form this new body of work?
HATCHIE: It was so fun! Melina is really funny and we clicked straight away. She has such a great outlook on making music and is an amazing producer and guitarist. Working in her home studio is as comfortable as it gets. We are such fans of one another's work, she knew exactly what we wanted the record to sound like from the get-go.
LUNA: “Anchor” feels raw, even more personal than some of the other songs. What sparked the idea?
HATCHIE: I was on a walk and saw some stairs that led down into a river. This was at a time when I was at my lowest point and thought it was funny that the visual reflected exactly how I had been feeling. One of my favourite bands is Yuck, I took inspiration from the guitars on their first two records when working on the second half of the track. I wanted it to sound like you were sinking.
LUNA: The album embraces coming into your own, unapologetically. I imagine the journey had its fair share of ups and downs. Were there particular points of friction or struggle that drove you?
HATCHIE: Definitely! I went through so much in my personal life in between my last album and Liquorice, I honestly hit rock bottom and didn’t know if I ever wanted to release music again. In a way, this set me free from any ego or expectations when I finally did get back to writing again - after everything I had been through, I was satisfied by something as simple as finishing a demo. I allowed myself to celebrate small things for the first time in my life while I was making Liquorice, so it’s been very healing.
LUNA: As a listener, I want to jump right into this limitless and imperfect world you’ve made. Every track speaks to some part of growing, being human. What do you hope fans will take away from the album?
HATCHIE: Oh man, that’s a tough one. I know what it’s like to feel like you’ll never be happy again, like no one has ever felt the same way you do. I guess I hope my music helps people feel less alone.
