Hailes is pushing Boundaries with the fresh and distinct neo soul sound
Hailes is an independent singer/songwriter coming from Kansas City to push the boundaries with her distinct, fresh approach to R&B and Soul space. She fuses her love of neo soul, alternative and acoustic sounds to create effortless and unique genre bending sonic experience. Her influences include artists such as Lauryn Hill, India.Arie, Erykah Badu, D'Angelo and contemporary artists such as Frank Ocean and Lianne La Havas.
The authenticity of her artistry is apparent in genuine, thoughtful lyrics that create a tender yet groovy ambiance for her listeners. Currently touring with the Tony Award winning Broadway Musical HADESTOWN, Hailes still finds time to create and self release her music while performing 8 shows a week across the country.
Maria: How did you get into music? When was the day when you woke up and decided that this is what you wanna do now?
Hailes: Well, my introduction into music was actually through musical theatre. In high school, I joined one of the musicals and then decided to study musical theatre in college. And once I'd kind of decided that the musical theatre was a little too strict and I kind of wanted to try telling my own stories and creating my own music. When I was studying musical theater, I was like, what other outlet can I give myself to be creative? And that was when it started. But, honestly, during the pandemic I was like “Okay, well, what am I going to do now?” That was when I started putting out my own music.
Maria: And do you think musical theater inspired your sound in the beginning?
Hailes: I think I kind of started completely from scratch because sometimes musical theater didn't always resonate with me. I kind of wanted to break away and do something completely different. And I've been living in Brooklyn for the past five years, and I connected with some really incredible musicians. So our collaborative sound is what inspired the music that I make now.
Maria: And how would you describe the genre of your music?
Hailes: Honestly, I don't know if I would put it in a genre. I think growing up I listened to so much. One of my favorite bands is the Dave Matthews Band. That kind of like an alternative rock kind of thing. My dad was a huge fan. So I grew up listening to that, but then also a lot of Erykah Badu and Jill Scott. So a little more of R&B, soul, neo-soul. So I would say it's kind of a combination of everything. But if I had to choose I guess I would put in the alternative R&B kind of soul category.
Maria: How would you describe your writing process for your song Come Thru?
Hailes: So I wrote that with my friend Dan, right before everything shut down in the pandemic. And honestly, I have less of a process but it's more of like, an energy thing. I feel that I have to be in a space where I'm completely comfortable and just allow it to flow. But honestly we wrote that song in like 20 minutes. He started messing around on the keyboard and playing the beat. And the words just came out. That was actually probably the fastest song I've ever written.
Maria: Do you think that your process of writing your music changed in any way since you started?
Hailes: I feel like when I started releasing music at first, I felt a little more pressure to be quick and put out more because I started getting a positive reception to it. People were like, “oh, where's the album” or “what's happening like, where there's more music”. Now I'm more on my own timeline, letting it flow when it happens.
Maria: Do you have any advice for someone who would want to follow into your footsteps?
Hailes: I would say just do it. Don't wait to have all of the pieces before you allow yourself to create something. There's no formula. There's no rules to this. Whenever you feel inspired to do it – do it. And honestly, mostly a lot of it is getting out of your own way. Because I feel like we put a lot of pressure on ourselves or we're self conscious or we don't want to share. But all of that, none of that is real. You know, when you have the impulse to do something, do it and beautiful things always come of it.
Maria: What is the message that you would like to share for your songs?
Hailes: I think connecting with and sharing your authentic self. I think in my music I take from my personal life experiences so I'm just writing from a very real place. I'm not putting anything on or trying to come across in a certain way. I would say be true to yourself and who you are. At whatever point in your life – you are always enough. And your work deserves to be seen and shared at any stage that you feel inspired to share it.
Maria: If you can have your fans remember one thing about you what would it be?
Hailes: I think about how I connect to music. I just want them to feel something you know.
Maria: Do you have any upcoming future projects?
Hailes: Actually, I have a single coming out in the next few weeks. And then a small little EP of songs that I've had for a while. I was listening to them in the car a few days ago and I was like “this sounds like a summer soundtrack”. So that'll all be coming in the next few weeks slash month.