American singer Hassanah teams with producer Danny Breakenridge of Upstairs Music for ‘The Real Thing’, her second album, which was released in August.
Her first album, ‘Journeys’, was released in late 2022. She said there is a difference in mood between the two works. “I think this album is uplifting but also contemplative,” Hassanah noted.
Previously, she and Breakenridge collaborated on a cover of Mariah Carey’s ‘We Belong Together’. For their second project, they agreed to work on an album of originals and covers.
Hassanah, who lives in New York, wrote the title track and ‘Brighter Day’, while South Florida-based Breakenridge contributed ‘Bills, Bills, Bills’ and ‘The World is A Stage’. Covers on ‘The Real Thing’ include Marvin Gaye’s ‘I Heard it Through the Grapevine’ and ‘By Your Side’, originally done by Sade.
Born in Washington DC, Hassanah lived in Nigeria, New Zealand and Hawaii. She discovered reggae and Jamaican culture in her youth through her parents’ music collection which included artists like Peter Tosh.
‘The Real Thing’, she stated, hears a mature artist. “I’ve evolved a lot as an artist since I first started recording. In the beginning I used to second guess or overthink my songs. I’ve learned to relax into my own vocal and songwriting style more. I’m always trying to improve my craft, but I try to keep a balance and not compare myself to others too much,” said Hassanah.
