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Eggen to take centre stage at US music festival

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Texas ranger: Hannah Eggen will play the South by Southwest Festival in Austin (Photograph by Qian Dickinson/Bermemes)

Bermudian performer Hannah Eggen is to take centre stage at a world-ranked music festival in the United States next month.

The 27-year-old singer, dancer and musician will showcase her own work on the main stage at the South by Southwest event in Austin, Texas.

Ms Eggen said: “I have opened up for Wyclef Jean at SXSW before, but this is my first time performing original music and having my own set.” The artist felt “blessed” to have the opportunity.

She said: “I am so excited to share what I have been working on over the years. Glory be to God for my gifts and purpose in life. This is just the beginning.”

SXSW, an annual mix of film, interactive media, music festivals and conferences, will run from March 9 to 18.

Ms Eggen, from Southampton, has split her time between California and New York in the past few years. She hopes the performance will boost her fanbase in the US.

She said: “Last year, my performance was live-streamed on the radio via Pandora.

“This year, I will be performing alongside other great artists and showcasing my original music on the main stage.

“After this, I will be going on tour with Wyclef Jean and opening for his tours in certain cities.”

She added: “I am featured on Wyclef Jean’s latest album Carnival 3 — the song is called Concrete Rose.”

Ms Eggen described her style as a blend of soul, funk, Motown and reggae.

She said: “I am a mixture of music. As Wyclef would say ‘global gumbo’. You never know what you’re going to get from me and I love that.”

Ms Eggen has sung and danced since she was a young girl and taught herself how to belly dance at 13.

She said: “I was like 6 when I told my mom, ‘I am going to be on a world stage’.

“Since then, I just involved myself in every musical and performing arts activity I could.”

Ms Eggen added her hard work was starting to pay off.

She got her big break when Wyclef came to the spa where she worked and she handed the Haitian-American singer and music producer her résumé.

A few days later she got a call to invite her to perform with him in New York.

Ms Eggen said: “Taking that chance the way I did was so scary but so worth it.”

The performance went so well that she was asked to join Wyclef’s band at the age of 19.

The superstar suggested she take up the guitar to expand her skills. She then signed an independent music deal with fellow Bermudian musician Gianluca Gibbons. The pair are part of the band Heritage.

Ms Eggen has spent the past couple of years recording and writing with Heritage and their first single RedLips will be released next month.

She added: “It is only recently that I have collaborated and made some great music with Ding Dong out of Jamaica, and Tommy, who was Tupac Shakur’s chief engineer and worked with greats like Prince and Celine Dion.”

Ms Eggen will be in Bermuda until the end of the month.

She will speak at middle and high schools during her visit and also shoot music videos

She said: “While I am here, I will be collaborating with artists and businesses to bridge the gap between my Bermuda and my American connections.

“I encourage everyone to follow me @HANNAH.THEORIGINAL on Instagram and link my manager on my website for any bookings and questions.”

Hannah Eggen (Photograph by Qian Dickinson/Bermemes)
Hannah Eggen (Photograph by Qian Dickinson/Bermemes)
Star support: Wyclef Jean (File photograph)