Haley
Bonar is an indie, alternative, country and hard-core artist from Saint Paul and
we spoke to after a day off in the middle of a gruelling week preparing for a
gig in Brooklyn, with shows being really positive. Haley Bonar will soon be
coming on a UK tour, something she told us she ‘can’t wait’ for. “I’m very
excited!” she said, returning to the country a couple of years after promoting
her last record.
I
asked her to describe her new record, ‘Impossible Dream’, which forms the basis
of the new tour. “This album makes sense in the progression of my other
records. It’s maybe a combination of ‘Last War’ and ‘Golder’. It definitely has
more of a rock element to it, but I think it’s the songwriting that pulls it
all together. It’s a really kooky synth-body of work, I think maybe more so
than the two records of mine.”
‘Impossible
Dream’ was recorded on analogue tape. “The studio we recorded at was one of the
last left in the United States that merit the use of [that] as the room sounds
so incredible. I really wanted to capture that warmth and you lose a bit of
that when you go digital.”
Pulling
on lots of themes for her tracks which she goes into detail on her website,
Haley established the album as mostly a work of fiction. “Some of it comes from
my own experiences but these stories about other people and myself, but they
are stories.”
A
video for ‘Called You Queen’ is also available online, a promo video created by
Haley’s sister. “She and I have collaborated on many things over the years, and
I really wanted her to give it a shot as her first time in doing a music video,
and I think she did a really good job.”
Looking
at the tracks, Haley flicks between ‘Kismet Kill’ and ‘Jealous Girls’ as her
favourite track. “With ‘Kismet Kill’ I love the way it sounds sonically and I
think we really nailed the juxtaposition between the fluttery, dreamy vocals
and everything else is tough and driving, but it never feels like it’s rushed
because of the way the melody is delivered.
“With
‘Jealous Girls’ I really loved the production, and I think that’s one of the
best songs I’ve written.”
Discussing
how she captures her music live, Haley told us she’s touring as part of a
five-piece band including herself on guitar. “It’s actually pretty similar to
how it sounds on the album.”
Following
the tour in October Haley is looking forward to further dates and festivals
next year. “I’d really like to focus on other projects. I’ve been working on a
book here and there over the last few years, and I’d really like to work on
that. It’s a compilation of poetry and short stories!
“Hopefully
I’ll be doing a concert with Minnesota Orchestra next autumn, so I’ll get to
reconfigure a lot of my music for a full orchestra which will be lots of fun!”
Haley performs at the Brudenell Social Club in October. Click here to buy tickets.
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