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We’ve had a fondness for Carlie Hanson since her debut EP Junk, and nothing has changed about that first love type of affection, but what has changed is Hanson—as a person, a writer, and a vessel for emotion. In her latest record, too late to cry, we stumble into a young adult life, one filled with perspective and a vexing understanding of our temporal position. This seven-track body of work is by far one of the most beautiful projects we’ve been blessed with, arriving as a love letter to a journey we have been so happy to be a part of. Wanting to hear Hanson’s own word on the record, we reached out to her to walk us through the project, track by track.

"Baby"

The lovesick feeling of not wanting to do anything in the world except be with that one person. I think it’s somewhat of an ode to my codependency problems as well. I love how the first verse paints that picture of waking up and having lost sense of time, because you’ve been so engulfed in the world you’ve made with this person and feel like you almost don’t know anything else anymore.

"Covering Faces" 

I wish I could say this song is as deep as everyone thinks it is. When I wrote it, I free-styled most of it, it all just subconsciously fell out of me. There are a lot of people who are no longer in my life that once were, and I thought they were sticking around forever. This song is kind of that "F You, I never needed you anyway" song of the EP

"Too Late to Cry"

Nostalgia… loneliness... turned into acceptance. The first line of the song really represents the theme of the EP for me. “ Look how far we’ve come and far apart.” I feel like I’ve grown apart from a lot of people that I thought I’d have forever. But I’m more than okay with these changes now. Life moves fast and I’m exactly where I’m supposed to be. It's too late to cry

"How Many Hours"

Wanting to make something work with someone who is not mature enough / not emotionally ready. You’ve been trying to force something that’s not meant to be, but you have so much history with this person that you can’t imagine being with anyone else.

"Sinking"

"Sinking" is about a girl I know... She left her hometown in Wisconsin to a new city in Florida. She realizes just how hard it actually is to start over. Trying to have fun, experience new things, whilst working multiple jobs, and trying to stay afloat... She also just went through the loss of her father, so she is dealing with grief too all while trying to find herself in her 20s.

"Portland"

This song is about how I sometimes hold my expectations way too high for people. I imagine how they’re going to react when they see me, what they’ll say, etc etc... and if it’s not exactly how I wanted it to be, I become insecure and feel let down.

"Nutshell" 

I don’t think I’ve ever released a cover. When I recorded it, I had been down the biggest AIC [Alice In Chains] hole. No pun intended! His MTV Unplugged really struck a chord in me. I dunno why, but I just had to sing this one. Those heart-wrenching lyrics. So good. I can connect with them in a lot of ways. Whether it’s about my own feelings or connecting them to family members or friends.

Check out a very young Carlie Hanson playing for us in NYC here.