philomenah is a dark pop singer – songwriter, from Shetland, Scotland, UK
Shetland-raised artist Hannah Hastings, better known as philomenah, has built her work around a commitment to personal integrity, creative independence and emotional honesty.
Growing up in a working-class island community with strong Nordic roots and its own distinct cultural identity, she developed an appreciation for individuality and self-expression from an early age. Raised in a deeply musical household, philomenah was exposed to jazz, progressive rock and experimental music, shaping the eclectic approach that defines her artistry today.
Having studied counselling and maintained a longstanding interest in psychology and human behaviour, philomenah often explores themes of attachment, identity, grief and self-discovery through her songwriting.
A firm believer in following creative instinct over trends, philomenah’s work champions self-expression, emotional openness and the freedom to embrace one’s own identity. As the sole lyricist and composer behind her current body of work, she remains committed to maintaining complete creative ownership of her artistic vision.
Her career to date has seen her support artists including Aidan Moffat and Bill Wells, VC Pines and George Clanton, alongside performances at venues and events including Sneaky Pete’s, The Hug and Pint, and The Skinny’s annual party at Summerhall. She has also received recognition through Spotify editorial playlisting for her independently released single ‘Lavender’, contributed vocals and songwriting to releases through Edinburgh label Athens of the North, and BBC Radio 6 Music airplay from Gilles Peterson for the House Dub remix of ‘I Can’t Wait’, her collaboration with East Coast Love Affair.
With single ‘sovereign’ marking the first step into a new creative era, philomenah continues to carve out a singular space within Scotland’s musical landscape, where gothic pop and uncompromising artistic vision coexist, and the boundaries of her artistic world continue to expand.
“I wrote this song to reassure myself and other women that it’s okay to have a path that doesn’t look like what we’re told to expect, that solitude can be peaceful and you don’t need to rely on being “chosen” to feel worthy,” philomenah explains. “It’s a song about choosing yourself and being self-governing, which I think is a radical thing for a woman to be.”
Featured in episode 53 of Discover Her Music Podcast
Song: sovereign
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