Becca Hannah Quiets The Noise On “Empathy”
Today, LA via Boston soulful/R&B singer-songwriter Becca Hannah shares raw, lush track “Empathy” out now, alongside the visual from the studio, as she finds her own strength turning her focus towards empowerment and self-love. On January 23, the artist will share her soft, glossy debut album Tonight In My Dreams, available for pre-save now.
On the swirling, vulnerable track, “Empathy”, Hannah shares, “I’ve had this habit of internalizing other people’s opinions, values, and experiences so deeply that I’ve lost a sense of where I’ve stood as an individual. I’ve given people and their judgements the benefit of the doubt in ways that have led me down a dangerous path of self-doubt and further insecurity.”
On how the song came together, Hannah explains, “One hot, sticky, summer afternoon, I found myself in an anxious, cloudy, spiral, picked up my guitar, and started aimlessly strumming. The words “I should be meditating, I know, I do it sometimes…” just popped into my head, and stuck. But I still couldn’t finish the song in one sitting. I wasn’t entirely sure how to articulate what I wanted to say, but I knew I was headed in the right direction energetically. A couple of weeks later, I met up with [collaborator] Tristan [Jantz] to co-write the rest of the song together. He helped me piece the puzzle of the song seed together, and we turned the concept into something quite empowering.”
With “Empathy” the artist reclaims her agency. “Yeah, empathy could destroy me and my wellbeing, but I won’t let it. I am reclaiming my power, identity, individuality, and honoring the evolution of my human experience.” There’s a hidden darkness and rawness to the track that can be found with proper attention. The final line, “Empathy, could it be the death of me” builds with the support of the band, and features a commanding horn arrangement from George Pereli.
The accompanying visual puts the studio recording process on full display. Intimate and vibrant, the video sees the full band come together over Hannah’s sultry vocal. Hannah says while recording the live video, “I was able to tune into this consistent challenge of mine, surrender to it, and infuse it with unconditional love. In doing so, I was able to process, release, and integrate the messages and melodies of the song. I am so grateful this experience was captured.”
Born from real life experiences, the forthcoming ten track project touches on lust, love, growth, fear, loss, and longing with soulful vocals and layers of jazz and R&B as Hannah pulls from female powerhouses like Amy Winehouse, Corrine Bailey Rae and Erykah Badu. Hannah hopes the music connects to listeners in whichever ways they find meaningful. Creating her own sense of community through music, Hannah adds, “We all love, we all suffer, and how beautiful is it that we can relate to each other through songs that highlight all of the above? It brings a sense of community and acknowledgement of our humanness. It makes the ebbs of life more manageable, and the flows all the more blissful.”
The album was tracked live with a 9-piece ensemble, and recorded and mixed by seven time GRAMMY-winner Jim Scott at his own Plyrz Studio in Valencia, CA.
Scott’s work with Tedeschi Trucks Band, Tom Petty, The Red Hot Chili Peppers, and countless others drew Becca and Tristan to work with him. A visit to his secret studio, filled with magical vintage gear and creative energy sealed the deal–this album could only be made at Plyrz with Scott.
The previously shared “Caramel” emerged from a lingering scent from Hannah’s 27th birthday cake. “We approached the writing process in a silly, playful, somewhat ridiculous manner. This was kind of a nice break from my emotionally intense / confessional songs I’ve written in the past. Light-hearted and laid-back, the track relishes in the buzz of a new connection.
Atwood Magazine, premiered the track, calling it, “the perfect jazzy single paradise for pinning over a crush,” adding, “From the very first lyric and vocal note, the track draws us in with its allure, and the instrumentation is truly just as tantalizing.” Atwood goes on to say, “Blending the smoky soul of Macy Gray with the elegance of Norah Jones, Becca Hannah’s seductive single “Caramel” pours into the ears like the smooth drizzle of its namesake.” On the accompanying video, Atwood says, “As we watch Hannah sing into the mic, we can fully feel her energetic confidence and fervor shine through. It is also clear to see how much fun she is having with every warm grin. That positivity ripples through the room, making every other musician beam with smiles of their own.”
With her signature sultry, gritty rasp, Becca Hannah has captivated audiences from Boston to Los Angeles throughout the last several years. The artist has played Made In America Festival in Philadelphia and was a 2025 Tiny Desk contest finalist. After connecting with Tristan Jantz in the local Boston scene, the pair hit it off and later both happened to move to Los Angeles a year apart. Now, they’ve come together to collaborate fully as co-writers and producers on the forthcoming project, Tonight In My Dreams out this January.
The latest sweet, smooth tune by Becca Hannah, “Empathy” is out now. The artist’s warm sophomore album, Tonight In My Dreams, is due out January 23 available for pre-save now. Don’t miss more from the soulful singer-songwriter–connect via Instagram, YouTube and Facebook.
Photo credit: Ken Webb