Aussie Indie Artists is a series of interviews with lesser known Aussie creators across all forms and fields. The goal is to share exciting new works, find new angles towards the art, and peek behind the scenes.
Tess Hannah’s music is grungy, moody, and frayed with overloaded electric guitars– often likened to Wolf Alice or Angel Olsen. But with the release of the single ‘Pride’, Tess Hannah has undergone a metamorphosis. The grime, sludge, and heavy rock has given way to airy, mellow, and beautiful melodies. Tess Hannah has become Kit Genesis.
To celebrate this transformation and the release of ‘Pride’, I interviewed Kit about the change and the new direction.
It’s interesting that ‘Pride’ isn’t an entirely new song, it’s one of the first you ever wrote. Was Kit Genesis a part of you waiting to break out?
I wrote ‘Pride’ back in 2017, when I was 19 and had just experienced my first queer heartbreak. I’ve been playing this song for several years now and it’s gone from its original version on an acoustic guitar, to trialling all sorts of arrangements and vibes live and in the studio. I think it’s the sort of song that I needed to sit on for a while and gain perspective. I think this version with producer Bonnie Knight, is finally what it was meant to be! Although it’s an old song for me, it still holds a lot of meaning for me. It reminds me of how far I’ve come in embracing my queer and non-binary identity.
In my personal life, I changed my name to Kit, which feels really empowering and just right. So naturally, my music project needed a new name too. The word ‘Genesis’ has meanings of ‘birth’ and ‘beginning’ and I thought that was fitting for me and my identity experience as it almost feels like a rebirth in some ways, a new beginning, a second puberty and a whole heap more confidence and love for myself. I think Kit Genesis was waiting to break out for a long time, but I needed space and time for self discovery and confidence. I also needed time to work on music and find the direction I wanted to head in.
Can we expect more of these nostalgic new releases from your upcoming EP?
Unfortunately not so much. Most of the tracks on the record I wrote almost a year or two ago. Maybe in the future I’ll whip out and reinvent some of my old unreleased songs though.
Exciting! Can you tease anything else from your EP?
Well anyone who knows me closely would know that I couldn’t ever write love songs, but something happened, I fell in love and wrote a couple of love songs which will appear on the EP!
My upcoming EP ‘Romanticism’ is about the trials and tribulations of romance and finding deep queer love – while on a journey of self-love and authenticity. So I feel like my record reflects this new beginning and chapter in life for me.
Previously you’ve said that Tess Hannah was inspired by Daughter, The XX, and Phoebe Bridgers, but who is Kit Genesis inspired by?
It feels like my previous project was a stepping stone and Kit Genesis is a more fully fledged and authentic representation of who I am today. My sound has also evolved and I think I’m returning back to my indie, singer/songwriter roots that I loved to listen to, play and write when I was a teen. So I think a lot of my music inspiration is still in a similar world but I think for the EP, I drew inspiration from artists like Andy Shauf, Angel Olsen and Hand Habits.
And what about your wonderful new fashion style and visual persona, how was that developed?
Well it’s very convenient having a partner who is a stylist and owns a vintage store – shout out to Buzzkill Vintage! So the photoshoot for the single was styled by my partner Ebi Coniglio with Buzzkill Vintage, to create a look that introduces the Romanticism theme, which I think also has both a femme/masc feel.
My music video probably encapsulates more of my everyday style, with a beautiful story line told by Director and DOP Alan Robert Hopkins and Assistant Director, Wheeler Maurer shot at iconic Melbourne venues Paradise Alley in Collingwood and The Evelyn Hotel in Fitzroy. The clip follows the story of lost love or perhaps a fabricated fantasy of desire.
It’s an exciting change! What’s been your favourite part of becoming Kit Genesis so far?
I’m at a place where I feel excited by my music project. I want to release more music, play around with the band and I’m getting the urge to keep busting out new tracks in the studio. It was also so cool to work with Bonnie Knight for this record, they are so great! I feel like they were so in touch with my aesthetic and sound vision, but also brought ideas that shaped the sound and really made these tracks special.
That’s lovely! Thanks for the interview.
Thanks for having me Branden and the AU Review!
The launch show for ‘Pride’ will be Friday the 8th of March at The Tote in Collingwood. You can also listen to Kit Genesis on SoundCloud. And you can follow Kit Genesis’s work on Instagram, and Facebook.
