Last week, Vancouver-based singer-songwriter and musician Haley Blais premiered a shimmering new song titled “Rob the Original”, an “empathetic single balancing a concern for mental health with guitar-and-piano led instrumentals brimming with positivity.”
As dissonant guitar strings fire and a bass drum pulses, Blais softly lulls us with the record’s ethos “With all these magic moments sparkling, this one’s mine.” Of this Tennis-produced single, she shares that “‘Rob the Original’ is inspired by a close friend of mine who has dealt with depression and various mental health issues their entire life, and recollections of how it feels as though an alien completely takes over your body. The title coincidentally derives from the Wikipedia page about E.T. the Extra Terrestrial, so big alien vibes.” You can stream/download the single here.
The track is taken from Blais’ debut studio LP “Below The Salt”, set to release on August 25th. “Below the Salt” is a coming of age story recognizing that there is no real ‘coming of age’. There are hundreds of instances of recognition and learning. The charmingly candid honesty of Blais’ online presence filters into the collection of catchy bedroom pop anthems on Below the Salt, where dreamy atmospheres are punctuated with witty observations and confessions. Featuring production from indie favourites Tennis and fellow Vancouver artist Louise Burns, Haley’s signature sound has matured into a distinct new voice. The record bursts out of the gate in a flurry of drums and keys, soaring synths have replaced ukulele noodling, and confidence has replaced doubt as Haley belts out rock and roll confessionals by way of Stevie Nicks, Karen Carpenter, and Hayley Williams. Her lyrics riff on the joys and banalities of the everyday, on the need to break apart and away from an uninspiring life, on radical acceptance, and manifesting a world where you feel proud of yourself and who you’re surrounded by. You can pre-order “Below The Salt” on vinyl here.
Connect with Haley Blais
Website
Facebook
Twitter
Instagram