The amused barista eventually tires of our back-and-forth and comps the drinks.
By this time, he has recognized Bahng from social media.
(We follow some of the same people, he tells her.)
Hannah Bahng in Los Angeles, December 2024YURI HASEGAWA for Rolling Stone
The latter deals with the ambiguity of situationships.
Her vocals are strong, creating an atmospheric timbre that veers from plaintive to lush.
I think situationships are just stupid, she says.
Personally, Ive never been able to get out of the talking stage.
Ive never been in a romantic relationship.
Ive kind of never even kissed anyone.
As she talks about the sacrifices her parents made, she starts to softly cry.
They never made me feel guilty because I wanted to go into music instead of something more traditionally stable.
My parents didnt have those kinds of choices.
I know they had to overcome so many adversities that tested their strength.
I dont know that I could do what they did.
She listened to the eclectic music her parents played, which included classic pop, Korean trot, andK-pop.
But during the pandemic, when I was in high school, I kind of had this epiphany.
As a fan of K-pop, she makes it clear that she isnt slamming the industry.
She is a solo artist through and through.
Lyrics, composition, directed, executive produced all by Hannah Bahng.
Bahng is clearly a young woman who knows who she is and how she wants to present herself artistically.
I like to stay busy, Bahng says, laughing.
At first it was out of necessity.
As an indie artist, I dont have big label money to back me up.
It is literally a dream come true.
Bahngs initial foray into the indie music world came via TikTok.
My manager found me on her Tiktok For You Page, she says.
I was singing in my pajamas wearing my sunnies, just singing live.
She thought I was interesting and kind of cool and then forgot about me for two weeks.
Im not sure what Id be doing right now if she hadnt found me.
I guess Id be in university.
She also honed her guitar technique.
By now, the industry was paying attention.
But when a major label offered her a recording contract the next year, Bahng turned them down.
As with most of the decisions she has made, Bahng says she has no regrets.
Hannah represents a new generation of singer-songwriters who are unafraid to be unique and sometimes even a little quirky.
The song ends with the affirmation, I love you so much, my daughter.
But as important as family is to her, she is wary of being viewed as a nepo sister.
Im more of a whimsical grandpa, she jokes.
(They also have a younger brother whose privacy they fiercely protect.)
Ive always supported my brother Chris with his career, and Im so proud of everything hes accomplished.
So it means the world that hes so encouraging of the path Ive chosen.
Its so comforting not just as an artist, but as a daughter and sister.
At the second of her sold-out concerts in Chicago this past December, Bahng is at ease.
Onstage, she accompanies herself on the guitar and the piano.
(She remains undefeated.).
As she leaves the stage, she looks back and waves at her Blues.
Later, in her dressing room, she plops down on the sofa.
I cannot wait until my next show, and my next show, and my next show.
It really has been such a dream come true.
I feel like each stop has been thebestnight of my life.
