Hannah Ellis – That Girl | 365 Days Of Inspiring Media

Curb Records

Release Date: January 19th 2024

Reviewed by: Joshua Andre

Hannah Ellis– That Girl (Amazon mp3/iTunes)

Track Listing:

Country Can
Us
That Girl
Wine Country
Someone Else’s Heartbreak
Karma On The Rocks
Still
Replaceable
Somebody else
Plans
Home And A Hometown
One Of These Days
Too Much And Not Enough

Ever since 2019 when my brother Jon and I branched out into different types of music (because of this blog series about influential artists); I’ve been always on the lookout for new music. The ongoing blog series has pushed me out of my comfort zone musically; but more than that, it’s made me realise that I’m really limiting what kind of music speaks to my soul and my spirit if I just listen to CCM. Fast forward to 2024, and these days, I listen to all kinds of music (aside from the metal genre, and most mainstream rap!), and I have many playlists on Spotify- some curated by Spotify and some created by myself. Anyway, it was through one of these playlists that I found out about rising country singer Hannah Ellis– it was through her 2022 single “Country Can”. And aside from her debut studio album which released just last month (which we are reviewing right now!); Hannah’s discography still isn’t the biggest- Hannah has unveiled a debut EP in 2017, as well as a slew of standalone country singles. But what Hannah lacks in number of songs is what she makes up for in her passion and her big heart. Vocally, Hannah is incredibly impressive, and a joy to listen to; and though Hannah has just released her debut album; I truly believe that she will be one of the biggest stars within the next few months and years- within the country music scene and also beyond that as well, along with fellow country star Rachel Wammack.

We were talking about country music and what it means to everyone. I didn’t feel like I had that anthem yet. I didn’t have that thing that brought all country music lovers together. We’re sittin’ on the back porch drinking rosé and we were like, ‘Okay what is it that country music really does? It brings people together from across the world, it makes new friends at concerts,’ and ‘Country Can’ was born.

Country music is a life force that connects generations across time and space. It celebrates the highest of highs, and is always there as a friend during the lowest of lows

My goal has always been this: I want to write a record that girls can put on their makeup too. That’s always my favorite country, female specifically, records to listen to is stuff that kind of takes me on a journey for that hour of me getting ready and doing my hair. So, I want to write something that kind of takes you on a journey, but also, that when the record is done, you feel like a friend to me. You feel like you really know me and that somehow, you feel known a little more yourself.

I first heard of Hannah Ellis when she sung with for KING & COUNTRY on a country version of their song “Together”. She also sung with Stars Go Dim on the holiday-themed track “Home”. And so I’ve heard of her somewhat. But “Country Can”, a powerful, moving, vulnerable and authentic melody, is my first song I’ve heard from Hannah from start to finish. And boy am I impressed. As the album opener to her project That Girl, Hannah pays homage and a tribute to country music in general and the fact that country music gifts us so many complex stories and so many real, human, emotions; and she skilfully and fervently presents us with a heartfelt melody deserving of many listens. As Hannah eloquently relays to us that ‘…country can, country can get a cold one in my hand, make these old boots wanna dance with somebody, make my two lane, four wheels roll down a winding back road, nothing turns my radio to gold like country can, nothing makes you fall in love underneath back forty stars, nothing makes you wanna cry like a heart broke steel guitar, nothing helps you find the words you wanna say when you can’t, nothing gets you back home like country can…’, we are transported to those tightly-knit small towns, and we are presented with a melody about the benefits of country music. But in essence, it’s a melody confirming the stereotypes that country music does have its place in society, because this song alone is evidence enough that country music stirs the soul and soothes the spirit more than any other genre on earth.

The rest of That Girl propels Hannah into a stardom that is enviable- with strong female country artists like Gabby Barrett, Emily Ann Roberts, Kylie Morgan, Callista Clark, Erin Kinsey, Megan Moroney, Priscilla Block, Mackenzie Porter, Ashley Cooke, Alana Springsteen, and even crossover CCM/country artist Anne Wilson; the future is bright in country, along with the addition of Hannah and her impressive debut album. “Us”, a previous promotional single, is a sappy and breezy ballad where Hannah dives deep into the bond she has with her partner, or even her best friends, with Hanah comparing blatantly obvious things or items that ‘go together’, and then concludes that ‘you and me will always be us’. yeah, it’s probably a love song, but this melody also allows us to bask in the moment and realise that sometimes you may have a relationship in your life that you might be taking for granted, and this song is hopefully the catalyst to restarting that again, because a romantic relationship or platonic friendship with someone special… well, they’re worth their weight in gold! Title track “That Girl” is as vulnerable, revealing and authentic as ever, with Hannah outlining that ‘…I’m the kind of girl that wears my feelings like a T-shirt, I could try to cover up but I know that it won’t work, , it’s just something that I can’t hide, might as well be a neon sign, sometimes it’s hard to get ahead of, of my emotions, you’re gonna see it, you’re gonna know it, wish I could just make it till I make my way through the hurt, but I’m never that girl…’- a statement of surety that she’ll never compromise for anybody; while the fun, raucous and rowdy “Wine Country” sounds like a song that Floridia Georgia Line might record, as Hannah relays that she loves her wine, and longs to relax and let her hair down at the end of the day, with a glass of wine in her hand. Ballad “Someone Else’s Heartbreak” is a soothing, calm, reflective and contemplative melody where Hannah outlines that she’s fine encouraging her friends on their heartbreaks, but terrible at looking at the positives of her own past breakups; while the no-nonsense and hard-hitting track “Karma On The Rocks” is directed to a former friend who seemingly betrayed Hannah. And as Hannah outlines that they are now drinking ‘karma on the rocks’; the message of this moving track, is that the subject is now getting what they are deserved- a taste of their own medicine.

“Still”, a warning or a sage piece of advice, is where Hannah imparts wisdom and knowledge to a friend, encouraging them not to go out with their ex, because even though he may be charming, he’s still the same guy that the friend broke up with for the same reasons, and he still is reeling the friend in through the same tactics- always smart and never changing to be better and to be more humble. It’s a vicious cycle of saying the things to gain brownie points, and then being in the good books, and showing the true colours later on; and Hannah lifts the lids on people like that, exposing them for who they really are. While “Replaceable”, a sassy yet important song, is probably the most resonating from the entire album, and outlines that most things in life are replaceable- whether you need to pay money for them or not. They’re tangible; but Hannah’s point here is that relationships are people aren’t replaceable, and so we need to cultivate them and spend time on them because they could be here one minute but gone the next. “Somebody Else”, an emotional and honest melody directed to Hannah’s husband Nick Wayne, speaks about how other guys might be better for her on paper, but they aren’t him, and she loves him more than anyone could even comprehend or imagine; while the powerful and bright ballad “Plans” speaks about Hannah and Nick’s plans for their married future, which they had many, many years ago!

“Home And a Hometown” is a track that juxtaposes the fast pace and the hustle and bustle or city life with the slower paced of small town country towns, with Hannah reiterating that she appreciates both of them just the same and that both of them feel very much like her home; with the 90’s inspired melody “One Of These Days” has Hannah eloquently describing her perfect day, and thanking God for the life she’s living right now. That Girl then ends with the acoustic guitar led sobering and personable melody “Too Much And Not Enough”, where Hannah’s larger than life personality has been sometimes described by her family and friends and maybe critics, as ‘too much and not enough’, that ‘…I’m always apologising for being unapologetic…I’m so sure of myself and so insecure, I wish I could care less a little bit more, it’s confusing as hell, when you’re constantly stuck between too much and not enough…’; with Hannah also subtly concluding that she reckons she’s perfect the way she is, and the haters will have to move on and find something else to hate on.

Hannah Ellis is a rising star and an artist that will undoubtedly be on everyone’s lips within the coming weeks, months, and years. There’s nothing much more I need to say about Hannah… because you all should listen to this beautiful, emotional, and personable debut country album… and then Hannah’s entire discography. I may have heard about Hannah’s music from for KING & COUNTRY and Stars Go Dim. But Hannah is a bonafide burgeoning artist and one to definitely look out for in the future. Well done Hannah for this comforting, powerful and impacting album, guaranteed to gift us solace, peace, and a sense of belonging! I can’t wait to hear what’s next in store for you in the future!

I wanted to make sure that people knew those more vulnerable sides of me, like “Someone Else’s Heartbreak” and “Too Much and Not Enough.” I wanted to start sharing a little more of my heart in that way with people because I think it’s easy to just think, ‘Oh, she has a really bubbly personality and is fun to have at a party.’ I think there’s so much more to me and I’m really excited for people to discover that on this record.

When you’re writing to just write songs for anyone, be it yourself or other people, you’re just kind of writing the best song in the room and whatever comes to mind. But whenever I’m focused on myself, I’m like, ‘How would I say it? How would I deliver this message?’ Not only verbiage and the way I would talk but the things I would talk about and the way I want it to sound sonically, there’s definitely a difference.

Writing that song [Too Much And Not Enough] was just honestly such a poignant and special moment in my life. I think that as artists, we have no problem being vulnerable when it comes to heartbreaks or my parents’ divorce or things that I’ve kind of already processed through, but it’s so much more difficult to talk about our insecurities and things that we don’t necessarily want laid bare to the public. I think in writing that song, I just took off all the boundaries and said, ‘What do I really struggle with? What is something that I’m constantly going through?’ And when I told my truth, it turned out it was actually a lot of other people’s truth as well.

So, we have a music video for “Home And A Hometown,” [released a couple of years ago] and we shot it during the 4th of July in my hometown, which is kind of our signature thing in Campbellsville, Kentucky. It’s been something that I’ve tried to go to as many years as I possibly can and it means a lot to me. Getting to have a whole film crew there filming me with my family and friends was just so special, and something I’ll cherish forever.