Today we’d like to introduce you to Hannah Mack.
Hi Hannah, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
Growing up with my father being an incredibly talented, professional musician, I got exposed to every genre of music. At his house gig, I sang standing on top of the bar at four years old. I joined choir in 4th grade and got to have the beautiful experience of singing with a group of voices. That led me to start arranging voice parts in high school when I was the leader of an a cappella group. I got a huge chunk of my performance experience in a rock band, traveling the southeast playing in clubs and festivals starting when I was 11. Although music has always been my first love, I convinced myself that I needed a “real” job. After going to Georgia State University for a year with a focus in criminal justice, it was distinctly clear that it wasn’t fulfilling me. Feeling quite panicked, my dad encouraged me to audit a class or two at the school he teaches at, the Atlanta Institute of Music and Media (AIMM). I decided to give it a shot, and I fell in love with it immediately. Being in school at AIMM made my passion for music so clear to me. I had the blessing of getting my AA in music and technology. That led me to perform in corporate bands around the US, and audio engineering around Atlanta. I have Nite Driscoll, Joshua Grau, and my father, Michael Milsap, to thank for giving me the opportunity to attend AIMM. My life would be very different without their support. (and honorable mention to my mom, Claudia Milsap – thanks mom).
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
I have been blessed with the most supportive family, who paved the way for me to be able to pursue my career in music, but there have definitely been some curve balls thrown my way. Most people have the same story regarding covid, including me. Covid hit during my last year in school at AIMM, and it made the path for musicians tumultuous. Everyone’s lives were interrupted. With performances halting and studio sessions being few and far between, music became difficult to pursue. Eventually, I got the opportunity to start working in studios as a recording engineer and got back into the groove of making music regularly. Another obstacle, that I feel is fairly common, is unlearning the habit of comparison. Jealousy is a thief of joy, and social media feeds into that mindset. Being able to create music solely for the purpose of creating and enjoyment is such a freeing feeling. It’s been a rollercoaster trying to get comfortable in my own skin and talents, and it’s a journey I’m still on, but it continues to get better. I have Jesus to thank for my sense of self-worth.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
I have always been a performer first. I feel at home on stage. There’s nothing that compares to being able to share the talent God gave me with other musicians and an audience. I’ve been performing live for 13 years, and I fall more and more in love with it each time I get to do it. I’m currently in a band with my dad called Mack & Michael. We love getting to play together, as well as with some wildly talented musicians. We recorded a live studio album recently with a film team led by my sister, Kirsten Milsap, and our first single from that is coming out soon! Stay tuned!
Alongside audio engineering, two of my favorite jobs to do are songwriting and vocal production. Once again, I can thank my dad for encouraging me for years to start songwriting. I bucked him on it for so long, and once I started, I couldn’t stop. Songwriting with other writers is such a joy. I’m blessed to be working with some incredible writers, like Mic Lovay and Nisan Joseph, doing pitching for artists, as well as movie & TV sync licensing. One of my most genuine joys is writing my own music and having it come to life through my producer and partner, Hounslow. I couldn’t be more grateful for the people that have been placed in my life to work with.
I have two singles out right now under “Hannah Mack” on all platforms! The first is called “Setup” and the second is called “Homebody”. I have another single dropping soon, so stay tuned for that too!
I started learning vocal production through teaching myself to arrange a cappella pieces for 4-8 voice parts in high school. Then at my first studio job, I met Avehre, who is an absolute beast at vocal production. He mentored me in the studio and helped me develop my skills, which made my passion for vocal production flourish. Another job I have is independent, in-home vocal coaching. I have a select handful of students that share my passion for singing, and it is such a joy to get to share my passion for vocal technique with them.
I am grateful to God and proud of myself for pursuing a career in music and being able to make my living at it. I have several jobs that I love doing, so I feel incredibly blessed.
In terms of your work and the industry, what are some of the changes you are expecting to see over the next five to ten years?
I think the entrance of AI into the music and entertainment industry is starting to make major waves, and not necessarily in a positive way. I find that many artists I talk to about the issue have a similar moral reservation about it. Artists are people, and we deserve to have some autonomy about what topics we sing or rap about. AI makes it difficult to maintain that choice and makes the ethical line incredibly blurry in regard to those choices. It will be interesting to see how artists handle AI going forward as this progresses.
Contact Info:
- Website: mackandmichael.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hannahmackmusic/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61552142848802
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@MackandMichael/featured
- Other: https://tr.ee/MsYuQM2NRi
Image Credits
Kirsten Milsap, Lito Raw, Phoenix Janae, Tommy Chung, Atlanta Institute of Music and Media
