Today we’d like to introduce you to Hannah Wolfe and Rob Lynn.
Hannah and Rob, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
I (Hannah) met Rob somewhat serendipitously through a mutual friend last fall. At the time he had recently parted ways with TUTS (Theatre Under The Stars) after several successful, albeit stressful, years.
I had recently left Primer Grey a local graphic design agency after +two years. Although we both were very proud of the work we had made and the skill sets we had acquired, we both expressed a growing lack of fulfillment in what we were making. Several coffees, whiskeys, and conversations later we realized we had a similar vision. We wanted to make the work we had dreamed of making before entering the workforce.
We wanted to make the kind of art that we would want to see in the world. We wanted to disrupt expectations in performance or storytelling. We also made the bold assumption that we were young, pretty, and charming enough to attempt something so risky coming from comfy corporate jobs.
Roughly a year later, we’ve successfully grown an identity— RAWBANANA is “Rob And Hannah.” We’re proud to say we’ve worked in tandem with companies all the way from London and 2019 is looking pretty busy, which is amazing for such a baby company!
Has it been a smooth road?
Honestly, after putting in a combined ten years of work we’ve had a lot of friends to ask for advice and help. We thought we were starting late and then realized we had spent a lot of time cutting our teeth and knew how to be crafty. Also, I think it’s a testament to the art community in Houston.
In a pinch you can find “someone who knows someone… who has a writing degree/camera/microphone” and is willing to help if you have a concept that excites or entertains them. But you can’t be too proud to ask. Having a vision, being organized about what you need, and then approaching other professionals for help will cut your stress level in half.
Financially/mentally going from cush-y salaries to the budding freelance salary was stressful for both of us in the beginning. Mostly because health insurance in this country is THE PITS. We both had part-time jobs briefly to supplement freelance income. In the grand scheme of life that’s no struggle. It was humbling, and there’s no shame in hard work.
So, as you know, we’re impressed with Rawbanana – tell our readers more, for example, what you’re most proud of as a company and what sets you apart from others.
Rawbanana is one part Rob— theater production, writing, and direction and one part Hannah— illustration, animation, writing.
Before getting together Hannah was known as the HOUMOJI girl in Houston and Rob was fresh off of his NYC talent managing run and the new young TUTS artistic associate (and part-time puppet maker).
Throughout the year Rawbanana worked for Gooddog Houston with Rooftop Cinema, local musicians and breweries creating logos, illustrations, and animations (of both the digital and stop motion variety).
In the spring of 2018, we wrote, constructed the sets, and directed the music video “Body Map” for Clay Melton. To date, that’s been our largest scale project and received a considerable amount of press. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=poMfKc4r_ik&feature=youtu.be
What sets apart is a willingness to defy convention and lean into our queerness. For all other inquiries refer
to: instagram.com/veryrawbanana
Let’s touch on your thoughts about our city – what do you like the most and least?
Best? All the public nudity. Least? It’s proximity to Austin.
Contact Info:
- Email: veryrawbanana@gmail.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/veryrawbanana/
- Twitter: @veryrawbanana
Image Credit:
Pat Laughrey (claybae), Brandon Bond (video stills)
Getting in touch: VoyageHouston is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you know someone who deserves recognition please let us know here.
