tunesday – my favourite things with hanbee

If there was any such thing as a daydream radio, it would sound a whole lot like hanbee’s brand-spanking-new album. Which, quite aptly, is called daydream radio. The rad musician’s sophomore album is a lo-fi pop dreamscape, perfect for cosy afternoons spent wandering the backstreets of your city. We caught up with hanbee to chat all things daydream radio and why any time of year is a good time for a karaoke Christmas tune.

Favourite radio station to daydream to? 95bfm – an independent radio station in Auckland, New Zealand – is one of my favourites. They host a variety of different shows covering a wide range of genres featuring wonderful artists. I love finding indie gems from their shows and discovering new artists.

Favourite karaoke tune? “Last Christmas” by Wham! would be my favourite – whatever the season, this song always makes everyone feel nostalgic, turning the room into holiday season.

Favourite songwriting experience you had while making your upcoming album, daydream radio? Writing “ocean mail” and “call me yours” were probably my favourite songwriting experiences on the album. Being a huge fan of the ocean and chill days on the beach, I wanted to write a song that could capture the perfect beach day. Both songs came to me so naturally – I was able to try and express the beach in two different ways – the vast ocean, perfect to set sail in “ocean mail” and the more relaxed chill beach day in “call me yours”. Hopefully these songs can take listeners to the beach and ocean to feel the sense of freedom I felt when I wrote them!

Favourite gig you’ve played? Laneway Festival in 2024 would be one of my favourite gigs I’ve played. This was one of my first outdoor festival gigs, and I was so nervous about how things would be. Once I got on the beautiful stage and felt the warm vibes of the audience, I was too happy to be singing in such a lovely place to be nervous anymore. The weather was amazing, and feeling the warm breeze on my face as I performed with my trustful band was so special – it became one of my treasured memories.

Favourite dish that contains (baby) tomatoes? To be honest, I love any dish that contains any kind of tomatoes – in every colour, shape and size! Although it is so difficult to choose one dish, my favourite would be just fresh baby tomatoes drizzled with some virgin olive oil and lightly sprinkled with pepper and salt!

Favourite way to wind down after a show? After a show, I love to take a long shower, lie in my cosy bed with an iced latte, with books and my Nintendo Switch. Before a show, I tend to restrict my hobbies to make sure I don’t get too distracted – I easily get carried away with things – so when I’m done with a live gig, I let myself indulge in sweet alone time and get swept away into the game or book I’m loving at the time.

Favourite city to spend time in? Choosing one is so difficult – either Sydney or Tokyo. I’m usually not a morning person, but both cities make me into a morning person – just because I love feeling how alive the city is, and I can’t wait to explore. I’ve been lucky to have my music come to life in both cities, which makes it feel even more special – music video shoots in Sydney over the years, and my very first vinyl release in Tokyo. I also love venturing through small shops and meeting new people. I feel like I never have enough time to spend in these wonderful cities.

Favourite place in the world to wake up? Nothing beats my family home – my parents always keep my room clean and cosy for when I visit. I love waking up at home hearing my parents talk and bustle about in the morning. At my own place I usually wake up to a lot of tasks and chores, so having some freedom and being able to do nothing but lay back and spend wholesome time with family is always a treat.

Favourite method of getting over a creative block? Whenever I have a creative block, I return to my numerous hobbies – whether it be reading, gaming, drawing or scrapbooking. Going to a different creative hobby seems to always do the trick. If something isn’t working, I move on to another activity which always cures the block. On the rare occasion where none of my hobbies are helping, I love to take a short break in a different place – whether it be a city I’m fond of, or a simple stroll around my neighbourhood.

Favourite song to play live? My favourite song to play live would be a tune I wrote in 2022 called “Seaspray”. The very first time I played this song live I wasn’t feeling too confident, but once the song started I was just happy to sing it and let it play. The song always takes me to another place, making me feel like I’m at the beach on a sunny day – now it has become a staple in my live set list to help me loosen up and enjoy the gig.

Keen for more ripper pop music? Feast your eyes on our chat with Robert Baxter or have a squiz at our chinwag with Lyric. Plus, sign up to our newsletter to stay in the loop.