Gretel Hänlyn

Musician — London

01Profile

A Gretel Hänlyn Photo

03Interview

Name, where are you from?
Gretel Hänlyn, Acton, West London.

Describe your style in three words?
Eclectic, dynamic and grungey.

What’s the best gig you’ve ever been to?
Probably the first one I went to, which was Take That on 'The Circus' Tour when I was about nine. My mum took me and we had to leave at 10pm coz it was a school night. I didn’t understand gigs and what it meant at that point, and it probably wasn’t actually the best gig I’ve been to, but it was the first time I’d experienced anything like that before.

If you could be on the line up with any two artists in history?
Jeff Buckley without a doubt. To be in the same room as a voice like that and to hear it for myself would be an honour, let alone to be in a line up. I’d also say The Stooges coz Iggy Pop is such an outrageously rock n roll performer. Apparently, he used to get his d*ck out a lot and really piss off his crowds. Brilliant.

Which subcultures have influenced you?
Growing up in London, I guess I’ve been influenced by quite a lot of different cultures and subcultures. The most obvious one is probably grunge though, it’s influenced every part of my life, from music to clothing. Not attitude though, I’m still a bit too nice.

If you could spend an hour with anyone from history?
Lou Reed. It’s a hard question coz you never know who is actually going to be interesting and who you’re going to get along with until you meet them, so I’m not dying to meet anyone in particular. I chose Lou Reed though because I love hearing a story. There’s a reason he was such a great lyricist and I think it’s coz he just had so many stories, and he often played storyteller in his songs.

Of all the venues you’ve been to or played, which is your favourite?
The Omeara. The architecture and details are beautiful and really complement great music. I went there to see Tamino in 2018 and combining a venue like that with a voice like his was ethereal.

Your greatest unsung hero or heroine in music?
Sibylle Baier. She’s a German folk singer/actress who recorded an album’s worth of incredible songs in the '70s but never released anything while she was alive. Decades later her son compiled the recordings into a CD for family members but it got released in the end. Her voice is so Germanic and beautiful and her approach to songwriting was so interesting, it’s not like anything I’ve heard before.


Gretel Hänlyn recently released her new track 'Apple Juice', taken from her forthcoming EP 'Slugeye' which is due for release on 5th May 2022.

Gretel will also perform her first headline show at Bermondsey Social Club on 10th May 2022. Tickets are now sold out but details can still be found here.

04Playlist Notes

The first track you played on repeat?
It was probably something embarrassing so I’m gonna be a smart ass with this. When I was really young I had a wind-up sleep toy that would play 'You Are My Sunshine' when it was pulled and I would just keep pulling it again and again to go to sleep. 'You Are My Sunshine' by Jimmie Davis.

A song that defines the teenage you?
'These Days' by Nico. It’s a song that resonated with me for so many years and I feel it sums up a lot of those years, better than another track could.

One record you would keep forever?
'Cosmogony' by Björk and The Hamrahlío Choir. It might be an odd choice for me but I can’t get tired of it no matter how many times I hear it, it’s so unique and in its own world.

A song lyric that has inspired you?
"It’s not the worst I’ve looked, it’s just the most I’ve ever cared"

From 'It’s Not The Worst I've Looked - Lali Puna Remix' by Two Lone Swordsmen, Lali Puna. This is the only lyric in the song and it gets repeated and mutilated throughout the track. I love this lyric so much coz it’s so simple but so powerful, you know exactly how the person feels through one line and just as importantly the way it’s spoken. It doesn’t take the span of a whole song to feel that ‘thing’, there’s just the one perfect line, to explain an emotion you don’t want to have to explain. I want to be able to hit the nail on the head that way, in words and delivery.

The song that would get you straight on the dance floor?
'Sneaking Sally Through The Alley' by Robert Palmer or 'Groove Is in the Heart' by Deee-Lite.

A song you wished you had written?
There are loads of songs I wish I’d written but right now it’s 'Dum Surfer' by King Krule.

Best song to turn up loud?
'You Look Certain (I’m Not So Sure)' by Mount Kimble and Andrea Balency.

A song people wouldn’t expect you to like?
I like a big range of music so there isn’t much that people wouldn’t expect me to like, but maybe 'Eastern Standard Time' by The Skatalites?

Best song to end an all-nighter on?
'Something About Us' by Daft Punk. Easy.

Any new music you are listening to right now?

A couple of new artists I’m loving right now are gglum, Sijya and Crack Cloud.

03Interview

Name, where are you from?
Gretel Hänlyn, Acton, West London.

Describe your style in three words?
Eclectic, dynamic and grungey.

What’s the best gig you’ve ever been to?
Probably the first one I went to, which was Take That on 'The Circus' Tour when I was about nine. My mum took me and we had to leave at 10pm coz it was a school night. I didn’t understand gigs and what it meant at that point, and it probably wasn’t actually the best gig I’ve been to, but it was the first time I’d experienced anything like that before.

If you could be on the line up with any two artists in history?
Jeff Buckley without a doubt. To be in the same room as a voice like that and to hear it for myself would be an honour, let alone to be in a line up. I’d also say The Stooges coz Iggy Pop is such an outrageously rock n roll performer. Apparently, he used to get his d*ck out a lot and really piss off his crowds. Brilliant.

Which subcultures have influenced you?
Growing up in London, I guess I’ve been influenced by quite a lot of different cultures and subcultures. The most obvious one is probably grunge though, it’s influenced every part of my life, from music to clothing. Not attitude though, I’m still a bit too nice.

If you could spend an hour with anyone from history?
Lou Reed. It’s a hard question coz you never know who is actually going to be interesting and who you’re going to get along with until you meet them, so I’m not dying to meet anyone in particular. I chose Lou Reed though because I love hearing a story. There’s a reason he was such a great lyricist and I think it’s coz he just had so many stories, and he often played storyteller in his songs.

Of all the venues you’ve been to or played, which is your favourite?
The Omeara. The architecture and details are beautiful and really complement great music. I went there to see Tamino in 2018 and combining a venue like that with a voice like his was ethereal.

Your greatest unsung hero or heroine in music?
Sibylle Baier. She’s a German folk singer/actress who recorded an album’s worth of incredible songs in the '70s but never released anything while she was alive. Decades later her son compiled the recordings into a CD for family members but it got released in the end. Her voice is so Germanic and beautiful and her approach to songwriting was so interesting, it’s not like anything I’ve heard before.


Gretel Hänlyn recently released her new track 'Apple Juice', taken from her forthcoming EP 'Slugeye' which is due for release on 5th May 2022.

Gretel will also perform her first headline show at Bermondsey Social Club on 10th May 2022. Tickets are now sold out but details can still be found here.

04Playlist Notes

The first track you played on repeat?
It was probably something embarrassing so I’m gonna be a smart ass with this. When I was really young I had a wind-up sleep toy that would play 'You Are My Sunshine' when it was pulled and I would just keep pulling it again and again to go to sleep. 'You Are My Sunshine' by Jimmie Davis.

A song that defines the teenage you?
'These Days' by Nico. It’s a song that resonated with me for so many years and I feel it sums up a lot of those years, better than another track could.

One record you would keep forever?
'Cosmogony' by Björk and The Hamrahlío Choir. It might be an odd choice for me but I can’t get tired of it no matter how many times I hear it, it’s so unique and in its own world.

A song lyric that has inspired you?
"It’s not the worst I’ve looked, it’s just the most I’ve ever cared"

From 'It’s Not The Worst I've Looked - Lali Puna Remix' by Two Lone Swordsmen, Lali Puna. This is the only lyric in the song and it gets repeated and mutilated throughout the track. I love this lyric so much coz it’s so simple but so powerful, you know exactly how the person feels through one line and just as importantly the way it’s spoken. It doesn’t take the span of a whole song to feel that ‘thing’, there’s just the one perfect line, to explain an emotion you don’t want to have to explain. I want to be able to hit the nail on the head that way, in words and delivery.

The song that would get you straight on the dance floor?
'Sneaking Sally Through The Alley' by Robert Palmer or 'Groove Is in the Heart' by Deee-Lite.

A song you wished you had written?
There are loads of songs I wish I’d written but right now it’s 'Dum Surfer' by King Krule.

Best song to turn up loud?
'You Look Certain (I’m Not So Sure)' by Mount Kimble and Andrea Balency.

A song people wouldn’t expect you to like?
I like a big range of music so there isn’t much that people wouldn’t expect me to like, but maybe 'Eastern Standard Time' by The Skatalites?

Best song to end an all-nighter on?
'Something About Us' by Daft Punk. Easy.

Any new music you are listening to right now?

A couple of new artists I’m loving right now are gglum, Sijya and Crack Cloud.

 

05Videos

Gretel Hänlyn | Apple Juice (2022)

Gretel Hänlyn | Motorbike (2022)

Gretel Hänlyn | It's The Future, Baby (2021)