AF: You’re a north country native, born in Canada, raised in Rapid City, South Dakota and currently residing in St. Paul, Minnesota. Do those north country winters affect the subject matter / mood of your music?
HALEY: I am a moody person, and weather definitely effects that. The winter is tough sometimes, but man can you get a lot of work done.
AF: What kind of music did you grow up listening to?
HM: I was obsessed with girl bands of the early 1960s like The Crystals and I loved the Beatles. That was not considered 'cool' but I felt like I was born in the wrong time. That being said, I also loved TLC, Green Day, The Cranberries, Enya, and Wilson Phillips.
AF: At what age did you start writing your own music?
HM: I was about 14.
AF: What were those first songs about?
HM: Oh, about being a sad sack.
AF: Traditional boys + blues? Or about living in the Midwest?
HM: The first song I ever wrote on guitar was literally called "Depression." I guess I wrote piano songs when I was much younger. I started playing piano around age five.
AF: Wikipedia classifies your sound as “folk, slowcore, indie rock” - are those definitions on point or off base?
HM: Slow core - what a name! I don't know, I am really bad at defining my own music because it isn't defined in my brain when I write it. I just write it, and sometimes the songs are more rock, some ballads, some classical/jazz influenced. I think my goal is to bypass all the labels and be my own style, which is many.
AF: Your new album
Pleasureland: is instrumental. Was that a conscious decision or did it come from a more organic place initially?
HM: I started writing piano songs initially, just to play around with composition. After I wrote a few, the idea became solidified. I honestly was so blown away with the state of everything that I said, "What can I possibly have to say?" I'd rather convey a feeling. I needed to take a break from telling stories about myself that way.
AF: The state of the world?
HM: Yes. Election, MeToo, Black Lives Matter, immigration. So much negativity and violence, so many people crying out. It was overwhelming, and I found solace in playing piano and pushing myself in a new direction musically.
AF: Were you visualizing anything in particular when you wrote it? Was there a specific movement or subject on your mind?
HM: I envisioned destruction, chaos, a feeling of being out of control. But there is hope that comes through despite all of this. Beautiful parts of humanity and the planet we dwell upon, almost like a requiem for goodness.
AF: Have you had a chance to play this album live? Do you plan on touring with a focus just on Pleasureland as a stand alone piece? Or will you mix in some old favorites?
HM: We will be performing Pleasureland live when we're in the UK in November. I'll be playing other songs as well, but more stripped down versions.
AF: What feeling or emotion or vibe do you hope to convey during a Haley show? How do you want people to feel when they step out into that Minnesota cold?
HM: I suppose it would be nice to have folks walk away from the show thinking, "There is more to this artist than I thought." People tend to pigeonhole, label, or be reductive in women's capabilities as artists. It's not intentional, just the way it is.
AF: Do you feel like you've been pigeonholed in the industry?
HM: Definitely. I have a lot of music, and it's kind of all over the place. In my other band, Gramma's Boyfriend, I write the lyrics/melody and sing my ass off - but the band is consistently panned as my "side project" and any review mostly references what I'm wearing on stage. They don't understand that comprehensively, I'm a pretty versatile musician. I've always felt like the "biz" doesn't quite know what to do with me. And that's okay!
AF: What music are you into right now? What do you have spinning on the regular?
HM: Teyana Taylor's new record has some serious tracks on it. Also really digging this Brit band Sleaford Mods. Oh, and Cardi B's "Be Careful" is my JAM.
AF: There's a young musician in St. Paul, she's thinking of dropping out of college to go on tour. What advice would you give her?
HM: I'd say go for it. I learned a hell of a lot about life by doing that.
Pleasureland is out October 12 (preorder HERE) via Memphis Industries. Check out the band's tour dates below.
