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| HAYLA (Photo: Daniel Mutton) |
With a voice that seamlessly bridges electronic dance music and soulful pop; and who I like to think of as the Adele of EDM, vocalist and singer-songwriter HAYLA is stepping into the spotlight with her debut headlining 4-date tour across North America that kicks off this weekend in New York City. Following the release of her emotionally charged album DUSK last November and fresh off performing to her largest crowd yet with Kygo in Mexico City last week, the UK-based vocalist is bringing her soaring vocals to San Francisco's historic Great American Music Hall on February 20th. Tickets are still available here at press time.
Despite collaborating with numerous electronic artists and producers over the years, HAYLA took her time crafting her debut album – a three-year journey that captures the raw emotions of life changes and heartbreak through powerful vocals and introspective lyrics. In a candid conversation, HAYLA opens up about her musical evolution from a shy bedroom singer who found therapy in Whitney Houston to an artist ready to command the stage, while sharing insights into her creative process and the deeply personal stories behind her music.
SFBayAreaConcerts: Thank you for making the time. Where in the world are you right now? I saw you were just in Mexico?
HAYLA: I was yeah, but I actually live in London, in the UK, so I think I got back on Monday? It's kind of blended into one. We were in Toronto on the week just before, and then we made our way to Mexico City for the gig on Saturday. So yeah, just got back to the UK on Monday.
SFBAC: And looking at the crowd size, was that the biggest audience you've played to so far?
HAYLA: I think, other than potentially festival sites, because then you can't really tell how many people are actually there, or listening just exclusively for that gig, but yeah, that was definitely, definitely the largest crowd that I've ever played to in a headline show setting before. It was quite incredible.
SFBAC: Well, congrats and congrats on the album DUSK, which was released last November. You're starting out on a four city mini tour in San Francisco on the 20th playing at the Great American Music Hall.
HAYLA: Yes, I am indeed. I can't wait. Actually, I was gonna say I've never been to San Francisco. So it's my first time there, so I'm really looking forward to it.
SFBAC: That was gonna be one of my questions. The Great American a great historic little venue. I think it's been around for 110 or 120 years, which is old here for San Francisco! But we're looking forward to having you! This is your first headlining tour, is it not?
HAYLA: It is my first ever. Yeah, I've done support slots with people, but as far as it goes for actually having my own show and then bringing my own set up, yeah, this is my first ever. The Roxy was sort of the first ever one that I've done standalone. But, yeah, we've got the four shows, and then hopefully in the future, we're going to do some more.
SFBAC: Well, what can fans expect? Will you having a backing band? Is it going to be just you on stage? Can you paint the picture of what we can expect?
HAYLA: So the show actually is just going to be me and the music. I've been working with an amazing musical director, trying to blend together some of the collaborations that I've done, plus also the tracks from my album. So hopefully there's something in there for everybody. If people may have heard me from some of the features that I've been involved with, the collaborations, I'll also have that alongside some of my own solo music. So if anybody has heard that as well -- I'm hoping that people will be taken on a bit of a nice musical journey.
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| HAYLA (Photo: Daniel Mutton) |
SFBAC: Excellent. Let's talk about the album. I've read that you put about three or four years of work into putting this together?
HAYLA: It was three years, yeah. And I just think that it was really nice, actually, that there wasn't kind of a massive amount of pressure applied because of the collaborations that I had. There was kind of, natural pauses that had to take place because of things that were happening because of them [the collaborations], which has been incredible, but it sort of allowed me to really, create a bit of a diary piece out of this album. Because it was very sort of moments in time. I can kind of look at a track and remember where I was mentally or what was going on at the time. And it was great to just work with some amazing collaborators and just be able to breathe into the music, rather than rush anything out that didn't feel authentic. I don't know. I feel like it was a really nice place to play and be creative in the most authentic way. So I really enjoyed it, even though I know probably my label was thinking three years? <laugher> But I'm grateful to them for being really understanding, and also, just being really supportive with it.
SFBAC: How did the label deal come about? Did you get the deal before you shopped the album?
HAYLA: Well, no. Basically, I am still classed as an independent artist. So I'm with Believe, which is obviously majorly a distribution label, but they also offer label services, so I have that sort of arm of things as well. But I'm still classed as an independent artist, because I'm not with a major and I don't have the full kind of backing. I got signed to them in 2021 on a sort of 10 single deal basis. And little did they know that it may take so long for me to get those 10 singles out. But it was throughout those years I was actively writing. So it was nice, because I was able to get their input on the things that maybe I've been writing in and around the features that I've done, and I think that the artists that I... The first two tracks that I had with them, were a bit more electronica and a bit more relaxed. So I still tried to make sure that everything sort of made sense throughout those years, because obviously everybody changes in three years. So many things happen, you know? But I think that the artist that I was at the beginning compared to the artist that I am now is definitely gained in genre interests and also in my writing.
SFBAC: And you were already collaborating with artists before this, but the album came about during the COVID era. Was this just something that you decided during lockdown, that this is what you wanted to do and break out on your own?
HAYLA: Do you know what? I hadn't released any of my own music until 2020. My first ever single came out then, and I was just... I had a deal with a different label, still an independent label, but it was just on a really sort of three single basis. But I've always wanted to have an album. I've always wanted to have that body of work to just even, I think even for me, I mean, I hope that people love it as much as I do. But I think just having that body of work to say, like, I've made something, you know? Something that I've always loved. I love listening to albums. My mom and dad had loads of vinyl. Hopefully, I'm gonna have a vinyl soon. And I just thought it was great to just have the thing physically, because we live in such a digital age that it was really important to me to just, even for myself, to just kind of have that little something, you know? So I think I've always wanted to have an album, and I think I dared to dream a little bit, and it's nice that it's happened.
SFBAC: Well, it seems to me that the lyrics across the album are very emotional. They're dealing with relationships and breakups. Was that, effectively, your head space or what you were going through at the time? And you channeled that through the songs and the lyrics that you put together?
HAYLA: Yeah, actually massively. Quite a life changing breakup, really. And it was one of those, it sort of meant that I had to move back home and re-evaluate what... and where I was going to live. It was just, it was quite a long term relationship that, I think for a while, it really stuck with me. Because I think when anything breaks up, it makes you question who you are a bit, you know? Because you sort of had that person there always, not that I didn't think we still were independent of each other, in a sense, but it was like, when you lose that person, it's quite a shock to the system. And I think writing through that definitely was really helpful. And I think that hopefully, some of the songs in in this album, I hope that maybe if people have been through something similar or feel that kind of way, that maybe they don't feel as alone because I've been there. So yeah, it's definitely, definitely.
SFBAC: The emotion comes through in your lyrics and your voice, and in some of the research that I've been doing, a recurring theme I've read about is around a lack of confidence... And I hear your music and I hear your voice, I can't reconcile the lack of confidence with what I hear coming from speakers. Where does that come from? Is it true?
HAYLA: The lack of confidence thing?
SFBAC: It has to be misguided.
HAYLA: No, I mean, I've always been, I don't know, I've always been incredibly shy. It took me years to feel comfortable in singing in front of people. And I've not really had any sort of traditional training or anything like that. I've just listened to loads of Whitney Houston, I used to sing in my bedroom to myself as a kind of therapy thing. But I really lacked self confidence, like massively, you know? And I think that singing has ended up becoming one of those things where I think I feel most myself now. And in a weird way, I suppose it's kind of a meditative thing. So I get, the emotions that I get from singing, I don't know whether I turn into a different character. I don't think that happens necessarily, but I definitely go somewhere else. And I think that that really helps, I don't know, maybe helps me overcome some anxieties maybe? Because, I'm just focusing on something that I really fully enjoy doing? Yeah, good question by the way. That's something I don't think anybody's ever asked me before.
SFBAC: Well, your voice is stunning, absolutely stunning. It feels like it comes from a very authentic place. And if you're going someplace else, it takes the listener with you, because it's just really powerful. So in my mind, you're the Adele of EDM, your voice is just incredible. So this is, I hope for you. This is just the start of an amazing career, and we really can't wait for the Great American show. It's gonna be great to see live.
HAYLA: Oh, thanks, me too.
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| HAYLA @ the Roxy (Photo: Nikki Haney) |
SFBAC: So when you're going through the recording process, do you start with the sounds? Do you start with the lyrics? How's the song come together?
HAYLA: Do you know what? It really depends! I think I am constantly writing on my phone when I'm on the go. I just tend to write in my notes on my phone. Or maybe sometimes I'll have my voice recorder and if I'm falling off to sleep, I'm like, 'Oh, I'm gonna have to record that', just like a little thing. You know, someone may have these little nuances to bring into a session. So we could start there. I could say I've got an idea, and this is roughly, I think I want to have it sound a little bit more. I mean, I love melancholy, you know, it's my favorite mood. So most of the time I end up going in with a bit more of a sort of, yeah, that kind of melodic idea. It's usually quite a sort of minor [key] kind of thing. But I do go into sessions sometimes with producers and they've got little eight bar loops of an idea that they've produced up and, just something that they've maybe been influenced by, or something they've heard earlier in the week. Other than that, we could just be talking about various things in our day, in our lives, and just have an open conversation, and then go, 'should we get some piano chords down then?' And the piano chords come out, and then all of a sudden, we just think, 'what are we talking about there? Actually, that might be quite good to explore.' So maybe we'll try. I'll try and find some melodies that might fit something. And I think, I enjoy the sessions, where it really feels like it's not trying to be anything. I think it's amazing when you leave a room and there was nothing there to begin with, and you leave with something. I don't know that magic kind of thing. I don't know who it was who said it, I can't remember who it was, but I think it's something that we harness, the idea, you know? It almost like plants a seed in you. I think sometimes it just happens, and that's kind of the most like, little explosive, creative moments, I think in the most quiet kind of way.
SFBAC: Do you have a home studio, too?
HAYLA: I don't have a setup, and I would love one. But I have a mic, and I have a little sound card. I can just get little ideas down, and I produce on my laptop at the moment, to a kind of basic level. I produced one of the songs and wrote one of the songs on my album, the title track ["Dusk"] on my little laptop here. So I don't really have much of a setup to speak of. Maybe one day!
SFBAC: You've already worked with a few well-known producers, but who else is on your bucket list to work with?
HAYLA: Oh, I mean, I'd love to work with Bonobo. I've been a fan for years. And I know it's not necessarily in the EDM world, I know that. But I think he's probably done crossover tracks, maybe genre wise, but, yeah, always been a massive fan. And I think, gosh, there's so many. I mean, there's so many bands. I listen to quite a lot of different music, other than just dance and EDM. I mean, the last band that I went to go and see live was Sleep Token. Hopefully this year I'll go and see some more. I've seen that Nine Inch Nails is going on tour soon. So I'm definitely going to try and see if I can go to that. But, I don't know, it's a good question. There's so many. Anyma would be great. The Sphere shows look incredible. I mean, wow, amazing. Working with Imogen Heap would be incredible, because she's such an icon.
SFBAC: She's another one. Adele and Imogen Heap. Yeah, I can see the similarities.
HAYLA: I honestly, I think Imogen Heap is one of my favorite gigs I ever went to. I went to see her about, gosh, probably about 10-15 years ago, but it was one of the best gigs I've ever been to, and the reason why is because her gear broke mid-set. But she started talking to the audience about her day and who she was and what she'd been up to. And it was just the most little magical thing, because we got a piece of her, and I've always carried that with me, and I thought that was kind of the most magical part of a gig I've ever seen, because it didn't go right.
SFBAC: And so do you open up to the crowd within your shows? Some artists, you know, they're just there to perform and maybe not make a kind of dialog connection with the audience? What's your perspective on connections?
HAYLA: I think ever since I saw that gig with Imogen, I realized the power of being human, you know? I know that sounds funny, because we're all human. Being open at the end of the Roxy set, I just had, I'd written something down. I had a piece of paper in my pocket for the entire gig, because I wrote something down, because I kind of wanted to say a few words, and I just really wanted to thank everybody. That have been there to support me, really. And I think I would like to try and maybe have just a few words said, just... I just really appreciate everybody being there. So, yeah, I did have a piece of paper that I'd written, like a little chat down. And at the end of the Roxy gig, I did just say a few words.
SFBAC: Well, I'm not sure if I'm hoping that there's a set malfunction or a sound malfunction to get that dialog or not? <laughter>
HAYLA: There's moments, I'll do it at the end!
SFBAC: It's gonna be great show! I guess one last question around influences, you mentioned Whitney Houston earlier, are there any other musical influences who were on the radio or the stereo when you're growing up?
HAYLA: Oh, I mean, Fleetwood Mac was always on there. James Taylor was always there. I think we listened to a lot of TOTO, a lot of Paul Simon. Paul Simon's Graceland, what an album. I don't think there's been anything like it since or beforehand. So yeah, epic. My parents were really well rounded with their music. Labi Siffre as well. And there were so many, I'm trying to think now, like T Rex. I suppose they kind of came in there too. There's a lot of 70s rock and then kind of singer-songwriters as well. For some reason, I listened to Vivaldi Four Seasons a lot when I was a kid. I used to play violin. I was obsessed with Vanessa May, just quite a lot of different kinds of music, really. A lot of jazz. Surrounded by listening to Ella Fitzgerald and Billie Holiday and Celine Dion, obviously, from the kind of bigger vocal vocalists as well. Just a wide range, really. It's something I'm really happy that I was introduced to at a young age.
SFBAC: Well again, I can't wait for the show. Thank you so much for the time. Are we going to have to wait another three years for your next album or do you have something percolating?
HAYLA: Well, the one thing that I know people will have soon, I know there will be a vinyl at some point of this album. Which we haven't yet released. So that's in the works. But the next album is bubbling away. I don't think it'll take three years this time, but I don't think it will be this year.
SFBAC: Well, Hayla, thank you so much. We're looking forward to your upcoming show at the Great American Music Hall on February 20th! Best of luck on this tour and your next album!
