Indie-pop introspect Hana Lili had the surprise of her life when she received an email from Coldplay asking her to support on their two early-June shows at the Principality Stadium. Now, having had a few days to recombobulate, the Vale Of Glamorgan singer-songwriter is reconnecting with the past/present/future, she tells Emma Way.
Reflecting on those two Principality Stadium shows supporting Coldplay, then… how was it?
It was just such a massive honour to just be there with the band onstage and perform songs that I write in my bedroom. The crowd was just so great, and to have that experience was awesome.
Did you get to meet Coldplay?
I met Chris [Martin] and they also left a bottle of champagne and a thank-you note, which was super, super cool. One thing I like about Coldplay is their ethos as a band – that they have local artists perform live for them all across the world when they do their live tour. It’s just awesome that they do that and a real testament to how cool a band they are, and I think that really came across on stage watching them. There was such a personable element to their show, you feel like you’re in a really small venue.
How did the stadium stage compare to the previous stage you’ve played on, apart from in size?
We were talking about this as a band. We’ve been doing so many gigs with each other over the years, performing in such different venues, and as an artist you’re kind of always learning as you go along, developing your sound and stuff. I think it’s so lucky in Wales that we have projects such as The Forté Project and Horizons, and all of these different venues that put on shows, because I think it gives artists the opportunity to really discover what they are as live musicians.
Have you been playing with the same people for a few years?
Yeah – me, Jack, Theo, and Dale. We’ve been performing together for a couple of years now. It was really cool onstage… you would turn around, we’d make eye contact and just go, “what is this? This is insane!” But it’s really nice to lock in as a band and just enjoy that moment.
What was your headspace like when you were on stage?
So excited. I’ve always said I’m more comfortable onstage than anywhere else, because you can escape into this world where you’re just performing songs and having a great time. And obviously having a great group of musicians around you is a pleasure. I get more nervous day-to-day, in conversations with people, whereas onstage you can just escape into it.
How did you first get started in music?
I first started performing through the Eisteddfod. And then at the age of 13 I think I stole my dad’s guitar and just started writing songs about situations and feelings. It’s always been a space that I’ve been able to go, to where I can express myself – that kind of diary type of thing, where I can just put all of these emotions into a song. It helps navigate those emotions in my head while I’m figuring it out, and while I’m writing those songs.
During lockdown, there were no live shows happening, and you couldn’t work with other people, so I think it took me to that point where I was like, why do I do music? I do it just because I love it. Finding that space and finding who I am as an artist was a cool moment.
If you had to suggest one of your songs to someone who might have heard you during the last few days, as an entry into your music catalogue, which one would you choose?
Maybe Existential, because that is such a fun one to play. Lyrically, it’s a song about having a massive existential crisis and going, what am I doing? Am I doing the right thing? Just having that kind of internal moment of a freakout.
What does the next few months look like for you? Can we expect new music?
We’re announcing a headline show in Clwb Ifor Bach. And yeah, new music, really excited for that. We played it at the [Coldplay] gig. Then more shows over the summer – one’s in London Omeara, curated by Sian Eleri from Radio 1, on Wed 19 July.
Hana Lili plays Clwb Ifor Bach, Cardiff on Fri 15 Sept.
Tickets: £10. Info: here
Find Hana at hanalili.com
words EMMA WAY
