Singles Spotlight:
Hemma – “Boarding School Blues”

Hello reader,

How are you today?

We’re excited to discuss another Midwestern-based singer-songwriter making great music: Eau Claire, WI-based Hemma. The bio on her site peels the onion a bit more, stating, “Hemma’s music comes from her deep experience as a musician, student of dance and art, and life. Hannah Hebl, whose nom de music is Hemma, Swedish for ‘home,’ spent much of her childhood with her family’s band, The Hebl Family Singers, and learned the ins and outs of recording studios, performing, songwriting, and guitar and piano. For the young Hannah, her big ears for music took in Prince, Joni Mitchell, Broadway musicals, Los Angeles folk rock, and much more. After beginning her career as Hemma over a decade ago, she cut her debut EP Hallelu with producer Jaime Hansen, whom she credits for pushing her into doing what she was meant to do. She was 20, and the following years took her to San Francisco to study art, Montreal for dance, with songs being written at a constant rate.”

Earlier this year, Hemma released two albums: the first, a tape of demos with songs about the LA Wildfires and yellow winds; and, most recently, in April, the well-received Abalone Sky.

And recently at SWT, Josh and I were informed that Hemma had a new single out titled “Boarding School Blues,” via a press release. We got to listen, and we enjoyed the song. So much so that I’m here today with another in the Singles Spotlight series. One that you should explore more after you finish here. There’s no shortage of amazing songs from great musicians in the series. I appreciate your support in 2025 and beyond.

Within the press release, Hemma talks about the single, saying, “Songwriting became a coping mechanism while away from home. I began to feel that being pulled from home actually made this well of emotion deeper and shaped me as an artist. There are themes of homesickness and a deepening of the feeling that home and heart are the first and greatest teachers.”

“Boarding School Blues” opens with some poignant guitar and piano chords that beautifully hang in the air and into your ears, soon followed by Hebl’s confident vocals that cut the melody to shreds in the best ways. The lyrics are reflective throughout and paint a scene of a teenager leaving their first home for an extended period. It’s gorgeously emotive, putting you there, in a state of relatability that makes you feel as you listen—including but perhaps not limited to homesickness and loneliness. The narrative comes around to expressing gratitude. Kudos all around for the concept and execution of this song. The background vocals are perfectly placed and paired, adding depth to Hebl’s fantastic storytelling and songwriting, and everything put together really sticks with you as a listener. Kudos again. I think there’s no better introduction to Hemma than this song, and that you’ll soon become a big fan of her work, eager for a full-length album.

Take a listen for yourself to “Boarding School Blues” from Hemma’s Bandcamp page:

Giving credit where it’s due, credits for the song include:

• Written by Hannah Hebl
• Paul Brandt: Piano, Organ, and Backing Vocal
• Hannah Hebl: Voice
• Pat Kuehn: Bass and Backing Vocal
• Shane Leonard: Electric Guitar and Backing Vocal
• Joe Westerlund Drums
• Produced, Recorded, and Mixed by Shane Leonard
• Mastered by Jon Neufield
• Record Album Art by Karen Wells Verlander

Alex M Theel

Co-Founder, Reviewer, Content Creator, Business side, Editor at Scummy Water Tower Productions | Web

Scummy Water Tower Productions co-founder, reviewer, business manager, and editor. Thank you for visiting this site, scummywatertower.com, and YouTube for Water Tower Sessions and SWT Interviews. And all of our socials.
Questions, feedback, or more? Contact me: alex@scummywatertower.com