What’s new in Nashville? Not country. Not even rock. In fact, it’s something completely different and hard to categorise. There is a reason ‘Americana-Country-Pop’ is not a widely recognised music genre, it’s because the ladies of mmhmm created it. It’s impossible to put them in a box, so we had to come up with our own genre for their sound.
Nashville-based mmhmm are Hannah Fairlight (Acoustic Guitar, Stomp Box) and Raelyn Nelson (Ukulele), who is Willie Nelson’s granddaughter. The pair have gained a lot of traction individually with their solo projects, and now the universe has pushed them together to form a genre-mixing duo.
When Midwest native Hannah Fairlight moved to Raelyn Nelson’s hometown of Nashville, TN, the people of the village kept confusing them for one-another, so the two like-minded lookalikes decided to form a band.
Raelyn Nelson has been singing since she can remember, having been raised on a steady diet of traditional country and gospel music. A gift from her grandpa (Country music royalty Willie Nelson), in the form of a guitar, was the inspiration she needed. She began writing her own songs and formed The Raelyn Nelson band, a completely fresh and original sound.
Hannah Fairlight, a Midwestern girl turned TV-personality and original music pioneer, hasn’t wasted any time paving her future in Music City since she landed there in 2013. After landing a leading role on A&E’s Crazy Hearts: Nashville and released a self-produced EP reminiscent of Jack White’s raw rock sound, Fairlight went on to work with legendary rock producer Michael Wagener (Alice Cooper, Ozzy Osborne, Motley Crue) before landing the role of Veracity in Universal’s Pitch Perfect 3. Check out the duo’s latest music video aw hell below!
We managed to catch up with the duo as they talked about their upcoming album and more!
So, how much are you looking forward to the release of your debut album?
Raelyn – on a scale of 1-10, 37!!
Hannah – very much
Can you tell something about the release no one else knows?
Raelyn – mmhmm
Hannah – Gene Simmons asked to be in our band but that’s not true.
What is your favorite song on your debut and why?
Raelyn – My favorite songs are the ones that Hannah sings on.
Hannah -My favorite songs are the ones that Raelyn plays ukulele on.
What’s your favorite song to play live?
Raelyn – the latest song that we have written
Hannah – the oldest song we’ve written together which is “aw hell” but “mama’s” is really fun, also.
If you could collaborate with any other artist who would it be?
Raelyn – Judas Priest
Hannah – Paul McCartney…he’s the dreamiest of dreams
Do you think Americana-Country-Pop is a genre lacking in the music industry and did you mean to create it or did it just happen?
Raelyn – it just happened
Hannah – we just wrote some songs together, we didn’t intend to create a genre
What’s the music scene like in Nashville?
Raelyn &
Hannah -The Music community in Nashville is very supportive and diverse. It seems like a music revolution is happening; a shift back to authenticity and a rebellious spirit. That being said, music row is sticking with their formula but a lot of talented Nashville musicians are making leaps and bounds on their own.
What do you both get up to in your spare time when not working on music?
Raelyn – raising youngins and homeschooling
Hannah – being a mama and working
What was the first ever gig you went to?
Raelyn &
Hannah – the first gig mmhmm did together was for a Christmas benefit at Basement East in Nashville.
Raelyn- my first show I went to was a Willie Nelson & Family Show. I was too young to remember where it was.
Hannah- the first real show I went to was Weezer in the quad cities…next to the Mississippi River in Iowa. I was 16 and they all signed my shoes.
What’s your spirit animal?
Raelyn – my grandpa and horses…. and eagles!
Hannah – wolf
Question for Raelyn-
How much did your granddad inspire you to become the artist you are today?
My family is a huge inspiration to me. My grandpa and aunt Bobbie have been on the road together for more than 40 years playing their music. I grew up with my aunts in bands and writing songs. Melodies have always come easy to me so I’d say yes, my family passed the music bug on and I just go where the music takes me.
Question for Hannah-
You have been cast in both Wild Hearts:Nashville and Pitch Perfect 3. Can you share a bit about that, what came first music or TV/film?
Music came first; tv and film was a natural extension of that. Both of those projects were based around music. It was playing music that led me to both of them so I’m following where my path takes me. My music always comes first. And the whole Pitch Perfect 3 experience was rad!!!!!