Hana Piranha delves into the dark allure of beauty, obsession, and transformation in ‘Elixir of Life.’ In this interview, she discusses the gothic inspirations, theatrical visuals, and personal intensity behind her music.
1.
‘Elixir of Life’ is a haunting tribute to The Picture of Dorian Gray. What drew
you to this story, and how did you translate its themes into the song and
video?
The Picture of Dorian Gray is about a man who locks his soul away in a painting
in exchange for preserving his youth, chasing the illusion of eternal beauty.
I’ve always been fascinated by the irony that nothing is untouched by time and
yet people spend their lives chasing this changeless state. To me, beauty is an
ever-changing thing and the song tries to make the point that to try to stop
something changing is essentially to reject life itself.
2. The video is visually striking, blending horror, ballet, and
transformation. How involved were you in conceptualizing the imagery, and what
message do you hope to convey?
I wanted to create a dance video that captured a struggle with the devil
alongside a portrait sitting—something elegant yet unsettling. I worked on this
concept with my choreographer, Olivia Grace Piper, for months before bringing
it to director and editor Arron West, whose artistic vision really tied
everything together. Ballet was the perfect medium—it embodies both beauty and
pain. The video hopefully shares a feeling: the constant tension between
control and self-destruction, which is a constant theme at the core of my art.
It presents the pull toward darkness and the inevitable decay hidden beneath
every perfect surface.
3. The violin plays a prominent role in this track. How do you balance
classical influences with the raw energy of rock and metal in your music?
The violin doesn’t actually feature in this track, but it’s a big part of our
music overall. I brought the violin into rock simply because it was my
instrument, but over time, I grew to love how its melodic and lyrical qualities
shaped our sound. String arrangements add a depth and drama that wouldn’t be
the same with just guitars—they bring something raw yet expressive that really
defines our music.
4. You often explore themes of beauty, obsession, and destruction. Do you see ‘Elixir of Life’ as a cautionary tale or an embrace of these darker desires?
The song is a reminder that trying to freeze a moment in time goes against nature. As women—especially in the music industry—aging can be a difficult thing to navigate. There’s a toxic narrative that treats it as something to hide or be ashamed of, but I hope that, in some small way, my voice as an artist can help push back against that. I believe there’s beauty in every stage of life, and this song is a reminder that stopping time ultimately stops life.
5. Your music is deeply personal yet theatrical. How do you maintain that balance between raw emotion and performance?
For me, there’s no real separation between my life and my art. I don’t put on a persona when I perform—it’s all real, just amplified.
6. Your last interview with us touched on your evolution as an artist. Since then, how do you feel your songwriting or approach to music has changed?
I feel like my songwriting is always evolving—becoming more refined and intentional while still holding onto the raw edge that defines me as an artist. Growth is important, but so is keeping that intensity and honesty at the core of what I do.
7. Your upbringing and past experiences have shaped your music’s intensity. Does revisiting dark themes ever take an emotional toll, or is it more of a release?
Revisiting dark themes is always very painful, but it’s also a way of processing those experiences. Putting things out in the open takes away some of their power—it turns them into something I can make sense of. I even feel like some of my personal narrative can be captured entirely in some of my lyrics, and I love sharing that level of honesty. Keeping traumatic experiences hidden can be incredibly damaging, and I believe sharing them helps turn the focus outward—putting the responsibility where it belongs, rather than letting it fester inside.
8. Wingspan has been out for a while now. Looking back, what does this album mean to you, and how do you see it fitting into your overall discography?
I love every album I’ve made but hopefully as an artist you get better with every album and in my opinion Wingspan is the jewel of our discography. We’re already very excited about the next album we’re writing though, and while we’re still loving performing songs from Wingspan, we can’t wait to share our new material…
9. Horror and gothic aesthetics seem to be deeply woven into your art. Are there any particular films, books, or artists that inspire your visuals and storytelling?
I feel like my art marries dark themes with classical influences. I mostly read classic literature and listen to classical music, which shapes a lot of what I create. Darren Aronofsky's Black Swan was a huge inspiration for our video—it's the perfect fusion of both of these elements. I’m definitely drawn to the gothic in literature; some of my favorite books are Dracula, Frankenstein, Jane Eyre, Wuthering Heights, Rebecca, and The Turn of the Screw. But I find darkness in almost anything I read. Authors like Graham Greene, Charles Dickens, and John Steinbeck have heavily influenced our next album. I could go on talking about the books I love all day long...
10. Your live performances are known for their intensity. How do you bring the cinematic, immersive quality of your videos to the stage?
When I write a song, it’s like I’m experiencing an entire world in my head, and I wish I could share all of that with my listeners. I believe when people buy a ticket to our shows, they deserve more than just a musical performance—they should feel like they've gotten something unforgettable in return for their time and money. I want to give them an experience that goes beyond just hearing the album. It’s about leaving the audience with a lasting impression that feels immersive and transformative.
11. Being part of Not Saints, a label focused on musicians in recovery, do you find that community and support influence the way you create and share your music?
Definitely. It’s a space where honesty is encouraged and I feel like everyone in this community has known true darkness in some form. I love being part of a group of people so actively dedicated to growth but also able to accept their demons.
12. What’s next for Hana Piranha? Can we expect more videos, new music, or live performances soon?
We’re on tour at the end of this month, playing cities in the North of England and ending in London. You can expect at least one more music video from Wingspan but mostly we’re dying to get into the studio to record some of our new material. If you attend one of our shows you might just get a preview of one of our brand new songs…
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