Scene Queen is the emo, glitter-covered heavy metal brainchild of 23-year-old Hannah Collins. After blowing up on TikTok and pioneering a new genre Bimbocore, she released her debut EP early 2022. Following the release, she took Scene Queen to the next level – stages all over the world. Opening for acts such as Palaye Royale and Wargasm in addition to her own headlining shows, Collins has become the epitome of feminism in the heavy music space.
Rockin’ Interviews – How are you?
Scene Queen – I’m back and more Bimbo than ever. (So good)
Rockin’ Interviews – Releasing Bimbocore Vol. 2 only seven months after your debut EP Bimbocore, I was wondering what the writing and recording process was like? Did this follow up EP come together very quickly or was it always the plan to release them so close together?
Scene Queen – I wanted to write an albums worth of music, but had only put out one song prior to getting signed, so I figured it would be best to get my music out there in segments that way I could grow a fan base and actually have them around by the time all the music was out. So for Vol 1 I wrote 9 songs so I had three ready to go by the time I got around to writing Vol 2.
Rockin’ Interviews – How do you feel you’ve grown as an artist since your debut EP?
Scene Queen – Honestly, I think my confidence in myself has grown almost as quickly as the project itself. Which is something I never thought would happen. I feel so much more sure of the message I’m bringing and my own writing voice. I mean you can even visually see that in the music videos, the way I carry myself in camera like I’ve been holding my head just a little bit higher and more willing to take risks.
Rockin’ Interviews – What was it like working with MOTHICA on The Rapture (But It’s Pink)?
Scene Queen – I wrote The Rapture to be on Vol 1 but ended up scrapping it because it just didn’t feel like it fit. I ended up posting the song on TikTok as part of a “songs I cut from the EP” series and fans loved it. I still wasn’t going to put it on the EP though because I just felt like something was missing even though I LOVED the message of the song. Fast forward a few weeks and I get a text from MOTHICA saying she wanted to be on it. It had been so long since I wrote it that I forgot I had sent it to her casually because I was proud of it. MOTHICA brought a whole new life to the song and was 100% the part that was missing all along. So, in hindsight I’m really glad I scrapped it because nobody would’ve gotten to hear her on it.
Rockin’ Interviews – How and when did the aesthetic of Scene Queen come to be?
Scene Queen – I grew up around emo music, cut my own side bangs with kitchen scissors, wore rubber bracelets etc. but from college onward as a surprise to no one I dressed pretty feminine. Especially around the time I was in a sorority. Before Scene Queen came to be, I dropped an active rock song and was just my blonde girly looking self. The comments I got were filled with men saying I was too “prissy” to make that sort of music and it sparked a rage in me. I was already switching up my sound at this time, but I made a promise to myself that I would make my branding as overtly feminine and pink as humanly possible because I never want another woman to look at my project and have to wonder if it’s a place where they’re accepted. You can visibly see my message. Also I wear pink quite literally every single day so it’s perfect.
Rockin’ Interviews – Can fans expect a tour next year?
Scene Queen – Definitely. I feel very lucky that I was able to play so many sold out headline shows this year and I’m still processing that it even happened. But because it did happen, all I can think about is seeing those same people again but making my show ten times wilder for them. I want to see the same faces over and over while hopefully meeting some new ones. Hint hint
Rockin’ Interviews – Who are your musical influences?
Scene Queen – So Set It Off is obviously a huge influence as well as Pierce The Veil and The Ready Set whom I literally have tattoos for. But additionally, bands like Cobra Starship or artists like Kesha massively influenced the pop side of my music. Plus, the obvious metal influences.
Rockin’ Interviews – Having a large following on TikTok, how do you keep things interesting for your followers and come up with unique ideas for videos?
Scene Queen – For whatever reason, most likely ADHD related, I never really have a lack of content ideas. The problem for me is filming content while writing or traveling. I’m now at a point where I realized it doesn’t always have to be the perfectly propped up video. I’m having a lot more fun lately showing people my daily life or just posting silly tour videos.
Rockin’ Interviews – What has the experience of making music videos and creating a visual for your songs been like?
Scene Queen – The last four music videos have all been female directed. And all my EP covers have been shot and edited by women. It’s honestly been really cool to see other women bring in their ideas of what femininity is to them. Also, seeing the men that have worked on visuals working so hard to bring other women to set design etc. Having a team that knows how important that is means the world. Prior to this, I had never even stepped foot on a set, so the actual filming is as fun as you could imagine. My videos have as many fight scenes as they do steamy ones so it’s all hilariously fun and awkward on set.
Rockin’ Interviews – As Scene Queen, you are known for your pink aesthetic. If you had to choose another color to use instead of pink, what color would you choose?
Scene Queen – Black because it would match my shoes.
Rockin’ Interviews – You can go back in time to see one concert/festival, who would you go see and why?
Scene Queen – I’d want to see Queen with Freddie Mercury probably. His spirit and willingness to be goofy, made space for so many wild, wacky, and queer artists for years to come.
Rockin’ Interviews – You can only listen to three albums for the rest of your life, what do you choose?
Scene Queen – Collide with the Sky – Pierce The Veil, I’m Alive I’m Dreaming – The Ready Set, Ever After – Marianas Trench
Rockin’ Interviews – What would your dream festival lineup look like? Who would you like to have the bill?
Scene Queen – Any artist I’ve listed thus far plus: Meek Mill, Chase Atlantic, Ashnikko, The Wonder Years, The Story So Far, Taylor Swift, and Brad Paisley (yes this is very random but it’s all my most played)
Rockin’ Interviews – Is there anything else you’d like to add?
Scene Queen – Genres are dead but Bimbocore is all of the loudest ones.
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