Hannah is an Estonian pop and dance singer, also known as Hannah Ild, born in 1981. She is a singer-songwriter and pianist who builds her work around pop, chart and dance-oriented material, including vocal trance and club remixes.

Career in Estonia

Hannah is based in London but comes from Estonia, where she builds a long-running career and achieves sustained chart success. She releases six albums and receives repeated recognition at home. Her awards include Best Dance Hit of 2001 for Blinded at the Estonian Musical Awards, and Best Female Artist at the Estonian Golden Record Awards in 2003 and 2005. She also receives the Estonian Golden Record Award for Best Album in 2005. At one stage she is named Estonia’s official Ambassador for Tourism.

Early training and musical background

Born in Estonia in 1981, Hannah begins training very young. She joins Tallinn’s Children’s Music Studio at three, the Estonian Radio Singing Studio at five, and Tallinn Music School at seven. She also sings with the Estonian National TV Choir. As a child, she wins the Estonian Children’s Song Competition at 13 with one of her own compositions. At 16, she leaves the choir and continues into a music career alongside university studies in media and advertising.

Recordings and collaborations

Her work includes a blend of ballads and pop songs, and she records with a range of writers and producers. Among the collaborators named are Steve Robson, Steve Booker, Grant Black and Peter-John Vettese. Robson is known for work with Take That and James Morrison; Booker has credits including Duffy and Sugababes; Black has written for Liberty X, Holly Valance and Peter Grant; and Vettese has worked with artists including Annie Lennox, Carly Simon, Gary Barlow and Robin Gibb. From these sessions come the album tracks Shadow On The Wall and Free.

One of the releases from this period is the single Keeping Score, issued on SnowDog Records and remixed by Bimbo Jones, Digital Dog and Riffs & Rays. The album connected to this era follows later in the same period.

Live work and other activities

Hannah tours the UK as a special guest of Jason Donovan and later plans to return to the live stage after that run. She lives in London and says she uses the move to work more effectively in the international pop market. Outside music, she works with the International Fund for Animal Welfare, raises money for children’s charities, runs regularly, and keeps two dogs and three cats.

Recognition and public role

Hannah’s profile is built on long-term success in Estonia and repeated awards there, alongside her role as a cultural representative for the country. She describes Estonia as a place she wants to present to wider audiences through its countryside, spas, islands, nature and history.