Raised on the muddy banks of Muscle Shoals the daughter of a legendary musician-songwriter who worked at the famed studio, Hannah Aldridge has the musical spirit of Alabama flowing in her veins.
An early life spent looking to create her own identity while coming-of-age in the South, Hannah's songwriting is forged around themes of rebellion and self-discovery that has seen her release three albums: 2014's 'Razor Wire', 'Gold Rush' in 2017 and 'Live In Black And White' circa 2020.Currently based in Nashville, Aldridge's next musical chapter is the album 'Dream Of America' (due in June), which she collaborated with Australians Damian Cafarella and Lachlan Bryan.
A mesmerising slow-waltz of sad-Americana tones filled with a dark pop-noir melody and Hannah's smokey-honeyed vocals (that are so comforting!), 'Dorero' is the first taste of 'Dream Of America' – a song about dealing with a chaotic childhood and associated trauma.
There's a gritty spareness to the music that adds to the aching beauty felt. "'Dorero' was written about a character in the podcast 'Root Of Evil'," shares Hannah.
"The podcast is based around the Black Dahlia murder, but the underlying story is about the trauma and struggle of a little girl growing up in the midst of chaos.
"It was the first song written for the record. We wrote this song, and every song on the record, via texts, emails, and voice memos as the pandemic kept us from being in the same room for the entire writing and recording process."
Ahead of the song's release tomorrow (3 March), scenestr is thrilled to premiere the music video for 'Dorero' today. Enjoy.
"When my co-writer, Lachlan Bryan, and I sat down to write this song I was in the midst of studying Gothic literature in college and tried to channel that imagery through the eyes of myself as a little girl," adds Aldridge.
"I related deeply to the story and tried to work through my own ghosts while writing someone else's story.
"Lachlan sent me a little worktape of him singing: 'I take back everything I said Dorero / I don't believe a word I read about you,' and from there the song was born.
"I sent back some more lyrics and ideas that I sang into my iPhone, and this went on a few times until we had completed the first song for the record.
"Damian Cafarella and Lachlan Bryan produced the whole record together in Australia. They really honed in on a sparse, yet cinematic sound for this song.
"Everyone who worked on this project really reached deep to blend Old Hollywood soundscapes and visuals with Southern Gothic storytelling and it all began with this song, 'Dorero'."
Hannah Aldridge & Lachlan Bryan 2023 Tour Dates
Sat 15 Apr - Healesville Music FestivalSun 16 Apr - Guilded Palace (Torquay)
Tue 18 Apr - The Vanguard (Sydney)
Thu 20 Apr - Stag & Hunter (Newcastle)
Fri 21 Apr - The Royal Hotel (Hunter Valley)
Sat 22 Apr - The Tamworth Hotel (Tamworth)
Sun 23 Apr - Flow Bar (Old Bar)
Thu 27 Apr - George Lane (Melbourne)
Sat 29 Apr - The Barn at Wombat Flat (Neales Flat)
Sun 30 Apr - Murray Delta Juke Joint (Goolwa)
