Redhead fires up campus

By KATIE REDMILES

Hana Pestle captivated the Underground with her booming voice and acoustic guitar and fiery red hair as the Acoustic Night performer on Tuesday, Feb. 19.

“Her sounds are inspiring…not everyone can sing and play like that at the same time,” said sophomore Madeline Moravitz, a psychology major in the education program. Tuesday’s performance was Moravitz’s second time seeing Pestle at the University of Mary Washington. It proved just as impressive as the first.

“I saw her last year. I love her. I listen to her songs on Facebook,” said Moravitz.

With a mix of her own work and covers, Pestle reached out to her listeners by giving a back-story to each of her songs. Pestle told stories, such as how the song “Make You Hurt” is about a boy who broke up with her in high school at a Wendy’s, and how one of her newest creations, “For the Sky,” talks about the struggles of being on the road.

One song, “What Makes Things Break Up as They Do,” is about the acclaimed novel “Lord of the Flies” by William Golding. Pestle had originally written the song for a high school English project, which she got an A on. She believes it to be some of her best work.
Only 22 years old, Pestle has lived in Los Angeles, Calif. since graduating high school in her hometown of Brillings, Mont. Pestle talked about how different it was going from Montana to the big city L.A.

“I had to get used to …the sea of people,” said Pestle.

With one album already released, Pestle is working on her college tour and experimenting with new sounds.

“I really liked her variation and intimacy,” freshman Michael Middleton, undeclared, said.

Pestle said that the thing she loves most about music is how it can connect with people and build that intimate connection.
“It’s the greatest connecter,” she said.

Others, such as senior Logan Martinez, really appreciated what she chose to write about. According to Martinez, Pestle’s songs about being on the road and moving around a lot felt very relatable.

Though she usually writes songs about her life experiences, Pestle also draws inspiration from everything she listens to.  Artists such as Radiohead, Florence and the Machine and Adele are some of her main idols.