Hannah found new inspiration for her music through an Erasmus exchange
Hannah Jankuhn creates electronic German-language pop music with a strong focus on performance. She thinks about every aspect of it: the atmosphere, the stage, the costumes and the visuals. ‘I like to think of myself as an artist rather than a musician. I’m always thinking about the bigger picture.’ There’s lots of room for this interdisciplinary approach in her master’s programme Master of Music at ArtEZ Academy of Music in Arnhem. To find new inspiration, Hannah spent six months at the Royal Academy of Music in Aarhus, Denmark, through an Erasmus exchange.
Photo: Julia Jankuhn
Scandinavian pop
Hannah first heard about the academy by chance, during an exchange project with Danish students. Looking back, it feels like it was meant to be. ‘I really like Scandinavian pop music, and I loved the setting in Denmark.’ As part of her application, she asked for recommendation letters, wrote a motivation letter and submitted videos of her performances. ‘It was a little stressful. You can’t help but wonder whether you’re the right candidate. It helped to talk to someone at the Student Office. Then you don’t just see a list of deadlines, but you can actually talk with someone about the process.’
‘During an exchange, you get to know yourself better, reinvent yourself and meet new people.’
From Berlin to ArtEZ
For Hannah, studying abroad was not entirely new. She is originally from Berlin and had already moved to the Netherlands to study at ArtEZ. That experience made her eager to live abroad a second time. ‘There’s a certain discomfort that comes with it, and I actually like that. You get to know yourself better, reinvent yourself and meet new people.’
Photo: Julia Jankuhn
Telling stories through music
In Aarhus, Hannah explored the relationship between music, stage design and performance. That fit perfectly with the way she approaches her work. She loves performances that make people feel genuinely connected to the music. For her graduation performance at ArtEZ Academy of Music, she developed an entire concept, including her own stage design and carefully selected visuals. She also enjoys collaborating with dancers, fashion designers and other artists. ‘Then it really becomes a show. A good performance should move people.’
‘Don’t overthink whether you’re good enough or try to be what you think others want to see. Stay true to yourself, and you’ll end up exactly where you’re meant to be.’
Stepping outside your comfort zone
The exchange gave Hannah plenty of new ideas for her music. She attended performances by fellow students and discovered how differently artists approach live performance. Working with other students was inspiring too. ‘I took a course with female vocalists only, and there was so much support. We stepped outside our comfort zones and played instruments we wouldn’t normally play. It was a really nice experience.’ Outside university, Hannah worked in a café so she could get to know other people from Aarhus as well. ‘It was great to see how quickly you can connect with people and feel at home in a new place.’
For students who are considering an exchange, Hannah has one piece of advice: ‘Just go for it. Don't overthink whether you’re good enough or try to be what you think others want to see. Stay true to yourself, and you’ll end up exactly where you’re meant to be.’
Photo: DeadHYPE
Why choose ArtEZ Academy of Music?
Hannah followed that advice herself when she chose to study at ArtEZ Academy of Music several years ago. She didn’t know anyone in the Netherlands, but that was exactly what appealed to her. ‘I wanted to try something new. Maybe I would fail, but then I could always get up again. ArtEZ felt like a safe place where you get the opportunity to take risks.’
It turned out to be the right decision. ‘Studying at ArtEZ has taught me to trust myself. You can meet great people anywhere and create something beautiful together.’ Her time in Denmark confirmed that feeling. ‘In Aarhus, I realised I could do that in a completely new environment, and in a very short timeframe. That gave me a lot of confidence. I’m more willing to experiment now, and I trust that everything will work out in the end.’
