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Perennial

by Hanorah

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  • Streaming + Download

    Includes unlimited streaming via the free Bandcamp app, plus high-quality download in MP3, FLAC and more.
    Purchasable with gift card

      $10 CAD  or more

     

  • Record/Vinyl + Digital Album

    180 Grams Heavyweight Black Vinyl
    First Pressing
    Plays at 33 RPM
    Artwork by Siou-Min Julien

    Includes unlimited streaming of Perennial via the free Bandcamp app, plus high-quality download in MP3, FLAC and more.
    ships out within 7 days
    Purchasable with gift card

      $24 CAD or more 

     

  • Compact Disc (CD) + Digital Album

    4-panel Digipak CD
    Artwork by Siou-Min Julien

    Includes unlimited streaming of Perennial via the free Bandcamp app, plus high-quality download in MP3, FLAC and more.
    ships out within 7 days
    Purchasable with gift card

      $14 CAD or more 

     

  • Hanorah - 'Perennial' Signed & Kissed! LP (only 10 copies)
    Record/Vinyl + Digital Album

    180 Grams Heavyweight Black Vinyl - Signed and Kissed by Hanorah -
    Only 10 copies available. One per customer.
    First Pressing
    Plays at 33 RPM
    Artwork by Siou-Min Julien

    Includes unlimited streaming of Perennial via the free Bandcamp app, plus high-quality download in MP3, FLAC and more.

    Sold Out
1.
Candle Wax 02:47
lyrics
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(Babe, you got me) I got a story ‘bout when i fell apart The man from the river walked in and stole my heart And I wondered, would I see him again? What do I tell my friends? When they see me Blue and black I never saw you coming in my path Watch me melt away like candle wax Watch me dripping down Without a sound Come mess around Lay on the ground with me Without a sound Come mess around with me Found myself wishing for giant tidal waves No doctor or preacher could put out that flame Now I’m open, unraveled on the floor I can’t love no more Babe, you got me Babe you got me Blue and black I never saw you coming in my path Watch me melt away like candle wax Watch me dripping down Without a sound Come mess around Lay on the ground with me Blue and black I never saw you coming in my path Watch me melt away like candle wax Watch me dripping down Without a sound Come mess around Lay on the ground with me Without a sound Come mess around with me (Babe you got me) Without a sound, come mess around with me (Babe you got me) Without a sound, come mess around with me (Babe you got me) Without a sound, come mess around with me (Babe you got me)
2.
If Life Were A Movie 02:15 video
lyrics
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The streets know our secret They’ll never breathe a word Like the moon watching over us Playing in the dirt Doomed from the start Could it end a different way If life were a movie? I’ll never be happier for you That you found happiness But I’ll never forget how You used to kiss me that way From dark till day Tangled in heat now The meaning’s lost to us If walls could talk We’d have to answer for our love Doomed from the start, Could it end a different way If life were a movie? I’ll never be happier for you That you found happiness But I’ll never forget how You used to kiss me that way From dark till day I’ll never be happier for you That you found happiness But I’ll never forget how You used to kiss me that way From dark till day
3.
Solution 03:40 video
lyrics
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Some will create their own problems and Wait for another solution, yeah, boy Yeah, boy Some will create their own problems and Plan for an obvious future, yeah, boy Yeah, boy Ooh, ooh yeah, boy Yeah, boy Ooh, ooh yeah, boy Yeah, boy Don’t you want your own? Don’t you want to build your own home? Who do you think you are Stealing other’s thunder? Their thunder, oh Some will create their own problems and Wait for another solution, yeah, boy Yeah, boy Some will create their own problems and Plan for an obvious future, yeah, boy Yeah, boy Ooh, ooh yeah, boy Yeah, boy Ooh, ooh yeah, boy Yeah, boy (solo) Ooh, ooh yeah, boy Yeah, boy Ooh, ooh yeah, boy Yeah, boy Ooh, ooh hmmm
4.
Coffee 03:18
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I miss your swollen morning eyes How the bed shakes when you roll over to your side I miss your dry, hot hands in mine Miss how the beads of sweat would trickle down my spine I’ll be ready, love, when you come home With a pot of coffee on the stove, no no No no apprehension in my bones I’m ready, ready for the man I know Do you remember the night You crawled across the carpet, How I made you mine? And how the music goes for miles? How we declared our love with stars in our eyes? I’ll be ready, love, when you come home With a pot of coffee on the stove, no no No no past, no future in my bones I’m ready, ready for the man I know To forgive his past mistakes Catch a pattern in the wake He’s exorcizing all his vices I can do this once, not twice I fall in love with you, the human Every day, but not your demons Hope you find that love for you, Come see yourself just the way I do, oh oh Woah, yeah, mmm With a pot of coffee on the stove, no no No no apprehension in my bones I’m ready, ready for the man I know Woah yeah Ready for the man I know, I know, I know For the man I know, I know, I know For the man I know, I know, I know
5.
Skeletons 04:36
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When am I wrong? When am I right? When will I learn to stop this fight The simplest things Just seem so hard And there’s good people close to me Still, I can’t show all my cards Somewhere deep inside, I know These walls do me no good Can you blame my apprehension? I’m afraid I’ll be misunderstood Cause I am not perfect I never meant to be I’m just trying to learn to love All the broken parts of me Time and again, I hurt all my friends And I beat myself black and blue Gotta clear out all my skeletons Cause it’s time to start anew When am I down? When do I feel high? Is there something clear that triggers it, A demon in disguise? I truly regret If I made you feel used When I show you all my ugliness At least you’ll know I’m true Cause somewhere deep inside, I know These walls do me no good Can you blame my indecision? I can’t tell if I’m out of the woods Cause I am not perfect I never meant to be I’m just trying to learn to love All the broken parts of me Time and again, I hurt all my friends And I beat myself black and blue Gotta clear out all my skeletons Cause it’s time to start anew Cause I am not perfect I never meant to be Baby, help me learn to love All the broken parts of me Time and again, I hurt all my friends And I beat myself black and blue Gotta clear out all my skeletons Cause it’s time to start anew Gotta clear out all my skeletons Cause it’s time to start anew
6.
The Drudge 03:05 video
lyrics
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You’re going harder these days Working all your dreams away It’s not so easy to shake your brain Out a funny mind frame Conquered days bleed out Spirit ways you sold out You find the time, you find the time to reset, boy Chippin’ away, oh joy A complicated affair Madder than a march hare Corporate catastrophe Draining all the life from me, me A cataclysmic disease Afflicting all humanity Conquered years bleed out Spirit ways you sold out You find the time, you find the time to reset, boy Chippin’ away, oh joy (oooh) (New brown suit and your hair slicked back) (oooh) (Counting out the payment for your credit card) Driving to the office in your cadillac New brown suit with your hair slicked back You’re working through the evening, yeah you go so hard Counting out the payment for your hair credit card Driving to the office in your cadillac New brown suit with your hair slicked back You’re working through the evening, yeah you go so hard Counting out the payment for your hair credit card Conquered days bleed out Spirit ways you sold out You find the time, you find the time to reset, boy Chippin’ away, oh joy
7.
Good Love 02:44
lyrics
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I want to talk to you, Do I have your permission? To get close to you, Let me know if I’m coming on too strong See the way you move How you feel the heat, you feel the groove I wanna feel it too, If that’s alright with you Oh, I wanna feel it too, If that’s alright with you Good love Communication and trust (It doesn’t take all that much) Promise me you’ll lead me to your Good love Oh, your good love, yeah Want you to touch my skin, I wanna feel you quiver In anticipation like you’ve been Hurting for my love (yes, you do) Hear the whisperings of Sweet nothings? I do, wanna hear em too If that’s alright with you Hear them too If that’s alright with you Good love Communication and trust (It doesn’t take all that much) Promise me you’ll lead me to your Good love Oh, your good love, yeah If you don’t want it, don’t take it Cause bad love will rip you in two I won’t be the cause of half the heartbreak I’ve been through, gimme gimme that Good love Communication and trust (It doesn’t take all that much) Promise me you’ll lead me to your Good, good, good love Oh, your good love Oh, baby your good love Oh your good love
8.
Slingshot 02:55
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(What do you know about music?) (What do you know about Soul?) Come round, come in, for a tale with a twist You’ve heard of karma and Skeletons This one right here’s for the famous and rich Delusional, jealous kid You took my worth, my words from me You’re just a snake and a leech I’ve got a trick up my sleeve Baby that trick, that trick is me It’s crazy how fear can be such a rush One crumb is too much, ten tons not enough You used to hold me tight And I was scared to leave But I slingshot Cause I’m a woman Even if I’m afraid, I’ve come a long, long way I take care of me Cause I’m a woman So you’re lonely, empty, What’s that got to do with me? So I dig my teeth into the Ropes ‘round my feet And I slingshot Cause I’m a woman Your lies, your tricks What you’d do for a fix I’m so damn done with all of it Go back, go back to your hole I’m not your trick anymore What do you know about music? What do you know about Soul? You used to hold me tight I was scared to leave But I slingshot Cause I’m a woman Even if I’m afraid, I’ve come a long, long way I take care of me Cause I’m a woman So you’re lonely, empty, What’s that got to do with me? So I dig my teeth into the Ropes ‘round my feet And I slingshot Cause I’m a woman You used to hold me tight (what do you know about music) I was scared to leave But I slingshot Cause I’m a woman (I’m a woman) Even if I’m afraid, I’ve come a long, long way I take care of me Cause I’m a woman So you’re lonely, empty, (I’m a woman, I’m a woman, I’m a woman) What’s that got to do with me? So I dig my teeth into the Ropes ‘round my feet And I slingshot Cause I’m a woman What do you know about music? What do you know about Soul?
9.
Winter Shade 02:41
lyrics
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Don’t love my father with half my heart Can’t grieve ancestors I’ve never known With a fraction of my soul Powers that be don’t claim me as their own I don’t live in half a home Ticking boxes just ain’t my game Don’t be fooled by my winter shade By my winter shade I see the world through my left eye I know the violence in between your thighs Won’t take up space that was never mine, no I can’t think with half my mind Ticking boxes just ain’t my game Don’t be fooled by my winter shade By my winter shade By my winter shade By my winter shade
10.
Afterlife 04:08
lyrics
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Come around the corner, park your car, Come up the heavy stairs The nurse will let you in, go steady now The family is there Hold his hand, stroke his hair, See how the grief alleviates Whisper words of wisdom I never Had the chance to say I know you don’t believe in the afterlife But I do,I do See how you carry him in your heart and mind like I do Tell him he accomplished all the most Important things in life Tell him many, many people still Appreciate his light How we proud we are to walk the planet Sharing the eyes We will cradle him inside our hearts Until the end of time I know you don’t believe in the afterlife But I do,I do See how you carry him in your heart and mind like I do I do Ooh, I still believe, I still believe in love Ooh, I still believe, I still believe in love I’ll never forget you I’ll never forget you I’ll never forget you I still believe in love I’ll never forget you I’ll never forget you I’ll never forget you I still believe in love Ooh, yeah yeah yeah, woah Never forget you Never forget you I’ll never forget you Never forget you Never forget you I’ll never forget you

about

Hanorah’s debut album “Perennial” explores the paradox of intimacy: it is as difficult as it is necessary. In the past 7 years, the singer-songwriter collected stories that weave the dark side of romance and humour in heartbreak with personal moments of self-reflection. She visits and revisits these subjects with affection for her past-self, and a little bit more wisdom this time around. The music reflects the intimate themes—often clear, with minimal added effects, her sound evokes equal parts levity and nostalgia. In contrast, Hanorah sings with a certain emotion and command; her voice can be warm and sensitive one moment, then powerful the next. All these natural elements blend well into a personalized sound, grounding the album with a distinctly human quality.

Hanorah’s lyrics often reflect a strange comfort within a conflict. “Coffee” is a song that expresses gratitude for intimate moments that might be normally overlooked, while hinting at the doubt that creeps in as a relationship matures. Lyrical snapshots of “swollen morning eyes” and “dry, hot hands in mine” are ambiguous, evoking the unglamorous moments that come with love. Hanorah sings with a sensual quality that has a relaxing effect, and with a sensitivity that betrays her anxiety. Her vocal melodies express the open-hearted affection that is present when two people in a relationship come to truly know one another. She creates an alluring atmosphere around her words which describe this sentiment as one of “no apprehension in my bones,” while making a plea for her love to leave his baggage behind.

The album explores another side of intimacy with the song “Skeletons”, where Hanorah turns the focus inwards to explore her personality’s dark corners. This act is a compassionate and honest one, even though it pinpoints aspects of the self that may resist scrutiny. “Skeletons” is an interesting juxtaposition to the previous song, “Coffee”, suggesting that close relationships can often trigger our defence mechanisms. Hanorah’s unique feel for music is especially moving in this song. Minimalistic and stripped down, the clear electric guitar plucking, sparse bass, and an occasional high hat provides the foundation for Hanorah’s versatile vocals to shine through. She builds emotional tension with her voice, finding relief, and repeating this rise and fall, as the song confronts certain “walls” and “apprehensions” that may fuel destructive patterns.

The album flies through highs and lows, but moves organically in a positive direction. The song “Good Love” radiates a lively energy. Placed later in the album, after stories of heartache and personal struggle, this song seems to be a product of going through these hard experiences. Hanorah expresses both the physical and intellectual joys of a healthy relationship. Her lyrics paint a picture of a romantic rendezvous, where there is chemistry between two people, combined with “communication and trust”—the necessities for a “Good Love”. The song is a celebration of love and human connection as a radical act in a world that feeds people media soaked with suffering.

“Perennial” comes to a close by revisiting the motif of intimacy in a new form. “Afterlife” approaches heavy subject matter in a gentle way—the complicated emotions of saying goodbye to a loved one during their final hours. The song shows the anticipation of grief that fill these moments, as well as the pride one feels for carrying on someone’s legacy. Hanorah’s descriptive lyrics speak of “sharing the same eyes”, being there to “hold his hand, stroke his head” to “see how the grief alleviates”. “Afterlife” is a fitting song to end the album. A goodbye to the audience, but also a reassurance that this is not really the end—a conviction that life will go on, in one form or another.

While her 2019 EP looks back at serious trauma and assesses the damage, Perennial is here, now, a beckon to water the grass we are standing on, so that we can be ready to face the same human problems head-on with new, hard-won perspective each time.

“The album itself is about repetition, cycles, the same subjects, themes and issues coming back around as if on schedule. Recurring dreams and experiences, and the growth they bring about. The songs were collected over a pretty long period of time, and I am still surprised by the fact that a song like Candle Wax that I wrote 7 years ago before I could really play any instrument ended up fitting on the same album as a song like If Life Were A Movie, which I conceived entirely by myself, about the same subject! The point of view has changed, and it's been interesting to witness and notice that, thanks to Joey actually! He noticed the connection.

The themes have to do with love, destruction, family, work, mental health, self-sabotage, self-discovery, identity, and trauma recovery. I sought a contrast of a smooth, airy mood, and other times it's more choppy and rhythmic. The more I change, the more I stay the same. Instead of fighting and judging it, or seeking to be something else, this album seeks to water the grass it's standing on.”
-Hanorah Hanley

credits

released October 14, 2022

All songs written by Elizabeth Hanorah Hanley
Except for ‘Candle Wax’, ‘The Drudge’ and ‘Good Love’ co-written by Paul De Rita and Elizabeth Hanorah Hanley and “Slingshot” co-written by Elizabeth Hanorah Hanley, Maia Davies and Marcus Paquin
Produced by Jacques Roy

Hanorah: All vocals, electric guitar on ‘Solution’ and ‘Skeletons’, acoustic piano on ‘If Life Were A Movie’, ‘Solution’, ‘Afterlife’, additional percussion and hand claps
Olivier Cousineau: Drums, percussion, tambourine and shakers
Etienne Dextraze-Monast: Bass guitar
Paul De Rita: Electric and acoustic guitar, programming
David Osei-Afrifa: Rhodes piano and synthesizers
Christian Henegan-Comeau: backup vocals on ‘Afterlife’, ‘Skeletons’, ‘Solution’, ‘The Drudge’ and ‘Good Love’
Jacques Roy: additional bass on ‘If Life Were A Movie’, ‘Solution’, ‘Skeletons’, ‘The Drudge’, ‘Slingshot’, ‘Winter Shade’, ‘Afterlife’ and hand claps
Joseph Griffin: finger snaps and hand claps
Kevin Annocque: mouth trumpet on “If Life Were A Movie”

Recorded at Les Studios Opus, Assomption, Canada
Engineered by Jacques Roy and Steeve St-Pierre
Mixed and edited by Jacques Roy
Mastered by Harris Newman at Grey Market Mastering, Montreal, Canada
Photography by Monse Muro
Styling by Amanda Van Der Siebes and hair / makeup by Brigitte Lacoste
Artwork by Siou-Min Julien
℗ & © Ensoul Records, 2022.

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Hanorah Montreal, Québec

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