Interview with Casey Hanner of Donora

Last year, Frank Warren posted a Valentine's Day video on his immensely popular website, PostSecret. It was a trailer for his new book, and the song featured in the clip caught the attention of many. The video soon racked up hundreds of thousands of views on YouTube and MySpace. Everyone was curious to find out more about the band behind the song.

They soon discovered that it was a Pittsburgh-based trio called Donora, and their song "Shhh" was picked to be in the video. Up till then, they were largely unknown outside their hometown.

Today, Donora have released their self-titled debut album, and their star is rising. I asked the group a couple of questions, and vocalist Casey Hanner was kind enough to take some time out of her busy schedule to answer them for me.

I Know That I'm Right: Who were your biggest influences when you were growing up?

Casey Hanner: Well my dad is a musician, so he was probably the biggest musical influence on my brother (the drummer) and me growing up.

The song "Shhh" was featured in the PostSecret Valentine's Day video. How did you guys get featured?

A guy from Pittsburgh actually put together that video -- Jim DiSpirito. We've known Jim for a long time, and he's been really supportive of our music. We played him "Shhh" after we finished recording it, and he thought it would be perfect for the video he was putting together. That video really exposed us to a lot of people outside of the Pittsburgh area.

What was it like receiving all that hype?

It was definitely unexpected! We weren't really prepared for it, and we didn't even have anything to sell. People kept asking us for our CD, and we were like: Sorry....it's not finished yet! But it gave us motivation to get it done.

Who is the main songwriter in the band? Or is it more of a collaborative effort?

My brother (the drummer) and I (guitar and main vocals) do a lot of the writing together. It usually starts with my brother and I, then Jake C (the bass player) adds the bass "hooks". A lot of the bass parts are kind of like lead guitar parts.

How have music critics responded to your debut record?

So far everyone's been very supportive!

Are you all working on a new album? What can fans look forward to?

We're definitely writing new stuff....and working towards the next album. I'm not sure what's it's going to sound like just yet. I don't think we ever know what's going to come out until it's finished!

(Thanks Arthur and the rest of the kind folks at Rostrum Records for making this email interview possible)

Daily Randomness

A look at what's happening right now:



Donora release their official video for "Shout".

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Voxtrot premier their new song, "Trepanation Party", which was produced, recorded and mixed by Jim Eno (Spoon) at his studio in Austin.

Download:
Voxtrot - Trepanation Party

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Grizzly Bear's new album, Veckatimest, drops May 26. They are offering "Cheerleader" as a free download.

Download:
Grizzly Bear - Cheerleader

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Placebo fans can download the free song "Battle For The Sun" from their website. Their new album, Battle For The Sun, will be released on June 8.

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Check out the video for Yeah Yeah Yeahs' single, "Zero".

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SXSW may be over, but you can still listen to the MP3s and relive your memories. Paul Ford listened to all 1,302 MP3s this year and he gives you a six-word review of each [link].

Album Review: Donora - Donora

Donora is a diamond in the rough: they are a relatively young indie-pop/rock band with a considerable following in their hometown, but have yet to break on the international scene; they are a little unpolished at the edges, but certainly chock-full of potential.

The band's self-titled debut album, released under Rostum Records, is an impressive effort from an upstart. Gratifying and delightful, their songs appeal to casual listeners who want something more than just your ordinary radio fare.

Hailing from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, the trio -- comprising siblings Jake and Casey Hanner, and their friend Jake Churton -- grew up in a music-playing environment. The Hanners learnt a lot from their musician father David Hanner, one half of the American country music duo Corbin/Hanner. Incidentally, Dave is the maestro behind Donora's album.

As with many debuts, the LP sounds spotty in certain areas. Of course, it boasts many notable cuts, such as the album opener "Shout", where female vocalist Casey adds spunk to the addictive rock number, and "Shhh", where she does an about-turn, lowering her voice to a purr during the chorus and lets you in on her child-like secret.

However, it falls flat with "Weekend Tongue", a frazzled track which doesn't quite fit in. The plot is lost with the yelping and stuttering, and the tune doesn't really stick in my mind.

"The Chorus" is my favourite track off the album: take a rollicking pop melody and pair it with layers of guitars, rapid-fire drumbeats and a catchy refrain. "I Think I Like You" is an upbeat pop number that was originally written for a film licensing deal, but unfortunately did not materialise in the end.

The album closes with "London", a simple, moving ballad that captures the sweet essence of the band and brings the album to a complete full stop.

Not bad for a young band, but Donora needs to continue working on what it is brilliant at -- that is, crafting lovely, effervescent pop ditties -- to ensure its longevity in the field. These guys are already making major inroads, and are likely to catapult to stardom when their songs get featured in future TV shows and movie soundtracks. I think that day will come pretty soon.

Download:
Donora - The Chorus [Removed]