The year is 2011, a young 15-year-old Hannah has just entered into a pop-punk phase filled with over-the-top side-swept bangs, bright pink hair dye, bracelets up to her elbows, and a stick-it-to-the-man attitude. Hot Topic was the go-to shopping spot and Warped Tour became a frequent Summer festivity. Looking back on my younger self, you’d think I’d be embarrassed – on the contrary, I loved that phase. It was the first time that I had used artistic mediums to cope with my anxieties and depression – two things that became all-too-familiar at that age. Movies had always held a very special place in my heart, and obviously still do, but this was a time when music took a more prominent seat in my life. Back in the day, I used to sing with a program called School of Rock (yes, JUST like the movie), that took place after school a few times a week. I had always loved to sing but hated being in the choir, so this place was just what I needed to let out all of that teenage angst. It was the perfect opportunity for me to sing the classic rock songs, and even the current pop-punk jams, that I adored and would later perform with an insanely talented group of people in various dive bars around the Twin Cities. It was my safe haven to explore my personality, embrace my weird quirks, and be around people who shared similar interests.

Jan 7 2019