HASSALL Shares Exclusive Playlist of Inspirations Behind Means More To Me Than It Does To You

Naarm/Melbourne singer-songwriter HASSALL is riding high after the release of her debut album Means More To Me Than It Does To You. Known for her sharp lyrical wit and heartfelt delivery, HASSALL’s first full-length offering marks a powerful moment of arrival. From shimmering indie-pop hooks to raw, confessional ballads, the album channels the honesty and charm that’s made her a standout in Australia’s indie scene. Having already turned heads with singles like Overpopulater and Boss Level Shit, HASSALL continues to cement her reputation as one of Naarm’s most exciting rising voices.

To celebrate the release, HASSALL has shared an exclusive playlist with AAA Backstage, highlighting the songs and artists that inspired the creation of her debut album. From indie icons to emerging local acts, the playlist maps the soundscape behind Means More To Me Than It Does To You and gives fans a deeper look at the threads woven through her songwriting.

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Everyone I’ve Never Met – Leith Ross. I was quite obsessed with this song when I first started writing Dinner Table, which was about three years ago now. It definitely inspired the rhythm and feel of the verse chord progression. 

Is This You How You Feel? – The Preatures. The production style of The Preatures always sounded so good to me that it felt unattainable for myself. Working with Dave Jenkins engineering and producing for this album allowed me to open up my mind to what was actually possible sound-wise. For Overpopulater, we drew heavily from that polished pop-rock sound that The Preatures do so well, and especially the jangly guitar lines. 

Julie In July – Jeff Pianki. Jeff has perfected the art of the 1 minute song with this one. His songwriting reminds me that sometimes I don’t need to squeeze every single piece of information into my lyrics (like I do with all my other songs) to get the point across. This was in mind when writing You’re Stuck With Me For Good. 

Hang Me Out – Ella Ion. Ella is a beautiful Adelaide based musician – the way she has used the drum kit in this particular song really inspired the drum arrangement  in My Mind. They come in super irregularly and dynamically, and when the actual groove starts it alternates between straight and swung rhythm, seriously gorgeous stuff. 

11th Hour – Pinegrove. Pinegrove are my favourite band, hands down, no questions. When I wrote the first half of Ducks In A Row, it was the first time I’d noticed their influence coming through in my writing, both in my vocal tone and the straight strumming pattern that doesn’t quit. 

The Grand Finale – FIZZ. I am so impressed with how FIZZ weaves between different snippets of songs as expertly as a musical theatre overture, while remaining obnoxiously fun the whole time. I tried to capture that kind of playfulness in the transition into the second half of Ducks In A Row. 

Total Control – The Motels. The way the guitar chugs along so consistently was a huge inspiration for Tracy Grimshaw – I’m pretty sure they’re the same tempo too! I love the way it edges you until the huge saxophone solo towards the end that opens up completely. 

Teeth – Platonic Sex. A really, really incredible song by a Brisbane based band. We wanted to capture the same kind of live, roomy sound that you hear in this song for Far Out, William, and then really open it up in the back end of the song in a similar way that they do at 2:52 (and gawd damn they do it good).

Night Shift – Lucy Dacus. I’d already written most of the song when I realised I wanted Boss Level Shit to follow a similar trajectory to Night Shift. It fell pretty naturally into the world of a lyric focused first half, and then a roaring, wall-of-sound, distorted outro, with belted vocals. 

Means More To Me Than It Does To You sees HASSALL prove she’s more than ready to step into the national spotlight. These inspirations not only showcase her influences but also serves as a reminder of her ability to take inspiration and turn it into something entirely her own—bold, honest, and deeply relatable.