Check Out JT Hanna’s Story

Today we’d like to introduce you to JT Hanna.

Hi JT, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story. 
I was born and raised in a small town in Mississippi. Something pulled me towards the arts when I was around 9 or 10. I sat down at my sister’s keyboard and started playing songs by ear. I begged my parents to let me take piano for a few years before I began, having to squeeze it in between the plethora of sports I played and other school activities. I knew pretty early on music and art was what I was meant to do. Nothing had ever excited me more. Over time, that love for art began to bud in the world of film and acting. Going to the movies on Sundays with my dad is one of my favorite memories looking back on my time back home. Art was my way of making an environment I wasn’t necessarily comfortable in feel more alive and suited for myself. Imagining different worlds around me, living different lives, all while dreaming of running off to some big city after high school to make all that dreaming a reality. Eventually, I got to that point and was rejected for my dream school, NYU, so I settled on Belmont in Nashville. I studied Songwriting there before dropping out after my second year to move to LA. At that point, I had several experiences that made me realize how much I loved film and wanted opportunities to work in that space, so LA felt like the best place to be for a little bit of everything. That was 6 years ago. 

We all face challenges, but looking back, would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
I don’t think anything about this journey has been smooth haha. It’s a tough road to go down. I was coming from such a different world. I knew so little about how things worked. I didn’t grow up near or around the industry at all, for music or film. It took a few years to just to get my bearings in the city and feel settled. You show up thinking you’ll hit the ground running, and one thing after another, you’ll climb the ladder. But you forget all the time you have to spend looking for a job or place to live, then working said job and just taking care of yourself. Then, being thousands of miles and hundreds of dollars away from home, when I’m so blessed to have such a warm and loving family is probably the hardest part. The amount of sacrifice it takes to stay out here, trying to make something work day after day and year after year of things not really working the way you hope, is really tough to reconcile. 

As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar with what you do, what can you tell them about what you do?
I’ve primarily been a musician most of my life. Known as a “piano man” back home. I’ve been writing and performing music since my early teen years. I’ve been acting since those early days as well. So, first and foremost, I love performing. As a singer or actor. Being on a stage, there’s nothing like it. At my core, I really see myself as a writer. I love writing both music and film, it is all the same to me. Writing is the nucleus of creativity. It’s birthing ideas, putting them onto paper. Creating worlds with your words. So, ultimately. I just think of myself as a creative. I think of the thing and then want to make it and participate in telling the story. I’m most proud of when I did all of these things a few summers ago in a live theatrical production that I produced, wrote, directed, and acted in. And also, the feature screenplay I just finished and am developing that is based off my growing up in Mississippi. I’ve put out an EP and several singles. (working on new stuff!) and also several short film on YouTube. Sometimes, I wish I only wanted or enjoyed doing ONE thing. It’s overwhelming and often counterproductive to be drawn to so many different crafts. But I can’t help it. I tried for years to just stick to one thing, and it just never works out. It might even be a fatal flaw if I’m being honest. 

Do you have recommendations for books, apps, blogs, etc.?
A book I’ll always recommend to anyone, but especially artists, is “Letters to a Young Poet” by Rainer Maria Rilke. Right now, I’m learning French, so Duolingo and several YouTube pages are keeping busy, and I like having a continued focused that’s outside of my artistic endeavors. And also, just going to the movies. That’s my happy place. Nothing can make me feel better or inspired as easily as a trip au cinema. 

Contact Info:

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jthanna_/
• Youtube: http://www.youtube.com/@jthanna_
• Other: https://open.spotify.com/artist/3y0w1oGCGsMl0N35bnleGU?si=1×8-IiUxQr6qq2DwSpfJEw

Image Credits
Yannick Delva
Emily Durkin
Dameta Ayala
Carlie Johnson