Nineteen-year-old Hannah Yates, of Adelaide, South Australia, played seven different musical instruments and needed a little help from her family in her “1-lady band arrangement of “Better Days,” in which she “used all the instruments and people that live in my house!” Hannah’s 10-year-old sister, Mary, is featured in the video, as well as her mother and father. Below is her video, followed by a Q&A with Yates conducted by Janglin Souls. Thank you kindly to all those who submitted videos.
Q&A WITH HANNAH YATES
Q: Where are you from?
A: Adelaide, South Australia. I just graduated high school and auditioned for a Pop Culture, Creative Technologies alnd Songwriting course at Adelaide University, which means I can gig and write songs, which is all I want to do! ( and maybe a teaching degree to be safe, or I’m happy to continue being a poor musician!)
Q: Where did you film the video?
A: In my dodgy hallway!
Q: What instruments were used?
A: I played my autoharp, guitar, bassoon, my granny’s dodge piano, ukulele and cello.
Q: How long did it take you to learn to play this song on so many different instruments?
A: Roughly two days.
Q: Who else was featured in the video?
A: My sister played bongos and my first baby piano at the end. My Mum was on backing vocals and was the handing-over-instruments lady (and Dad helped out by taking my instruments and filming!).
Q: How long have you been an Edward Sharpe and The Magnetic Zeros fan?
A: Since about 2011 when I heard some of the “Up from Below” album and loved it.
Q: Have you been to an ESMZ concert? Please describe your experience?
A: Yep, at the Entertainment Centre in Adelaide, with Mumford and Sons. It was mad! It was a crazy show, and I loved everything about them, like their clothes, what great musicians they are, how they floated around the stage and well, they were just themselves! My favorite part was when Alex threw his mic into the audience! I absolutely want to see them again!
Q: What made you pick “Better Days?”
A: I adore the lyrics, and was thinking about a mate of mine one morning at 4 a.m. and found the song rolling around my head. From there, I got the idea to cover the song and to play loads of different instruments to symbolize how many cool instruments are played in ESMZ!
More Cover Song Contest Submissions
Stefano Pellegrini – “Better Days”
December 9, 2013 at 9:15 am
Brilliant!!! Very creative and entertaining. Loved it.
December 10, 2013 at 9:31 pm
That is just so sweet. ESMZ have the greatest fans. This young lady and he family are wonderful. Thank you for the smile.