1993
1993

 

Haley 
Blais

By Tony Hartman & Parag Shah

1993

Haley Blais: 
On herself, the role 
of nostalgia in creating, and her new single, 
“The Cabin”

We had the pleasure of having 
a lighthearted but contemplative conversation with Haley Blais, 
a Vancouver-based singer-songwriter. 
Haley began creating and releasing scream-into-your-pillow anthems from her bedroom in 2014 and released her debut album Below the Salt in 2020, which was produced by Tennis and Louise Burns, leading i-D to describe her as “Canada's nostalgia pop queen.” This year, Haley debuted her new single “Baby Teeth” which follows “Matchmaker,” and last year's “Coolest fucking bitch in town”. 
Her new album, “Wisecrack” is set 
to release September 15th.

1993

1
9
9
3

You’re a rare independent musician that got their start on YouTube that still remains semi-active on YouTube. It feels crazy but YouTube is the #1 music discovery platform on Earth, yet still feels slept on and misunderstood by most musicians and industry people. Why do you think that is?

H
A
L
E
Y

I don’t know but I do agree with you. One of the reasons I’m not as active 
on there as I was in the past is there’s this weird, unspoken connotation of being 
on YouTube - in that it “devalues” your legitimacy as an artist or musician. For some reason being a musician on YouTube can sometimes mean you’re not taken 
as seriously. I don’t know if that’s 
a universal truth but I definitely feel it and that’s one of the reasons I’ve stepped away from it. But I’m grateful for the platform 
because the reason I have an audience today is because of platforms like YouTube.

1
9
9
3

I think social media started as this honest thing that people posted their daily lives and happenings on, they’d gain new followers or views, and then it became engineered to “how do I get as many views 
as possible” even if it means stripping the authenticity of myself away which is where 
I think it may have become viewed with 
a certain sense of derision.

H
A
L
E
Y

And there’s something to be said – in the music realm specifically – about making a name for yourself based purely off organic growth. In society’s eyes, that seems more legitimate than the fact that 
I had subscribers that turned into concert goers.

1993

1
9
9
3

It does in a way, but it also feels impossible. I respect when a creative finds their unique approach to how they make 
stuff and sticks to it. Your YouTube videos, genuinely funny social captions, and everything is almost avant garde in a way 
that I wish more “content” was. Feel free 
to gate keep your secrets, but what’s been your secret to having this unique approach and having it actually work?

H
A
L
E
Y

I’ve always just kept it as authentic as possible and not thought about it too much. I’m not thinking about the algorithm, I’m just trying to be myself. I’ve also just been purposeful about not aggressively playing the game and leaning into viral trends. I’m sure they would be helpful 
for my career, but it does not seem 
as authentic and no shame to anyone 
who does it. But I find it important to try 
to be myself.

1
9
9
3

After collaborating with Tennis and others on recent music - what is your dream list of producers you’d want to work with?

H
A
L
E
Y

I feel like there’s a lot of musicians that I admire and I don’t know if they produce music but if they did, I think my dream would be to work with Sheryl Crow in any capacity. I have this playlist on Spotify called ‘Backseat of the Minivan’ and it’s all these songs that I’ve rediscovered that I listened to growing up. I’m listening to it and am like, how do I know every word 
to this LeAnn Rimes song?

1
9
9
3

What else were you listening 
to when you were growing up?

H
A
L
E
Y

It was a lot of what my parents were listening to, they were big influences on my musical taste. Growing up it was anything on the radio or what my Dad was listening to which were bands like The Stix, AC/DC, Led Zeppelin. Some of those songs bring me such nostalgia. And now that 
I understand music production, I realize how these songs transcended the idea 
of what a pop song could be.

1993

1
9
9
3

If you could create and appear at the festival of your dreams - where is it and who are you playing alongside?

H
A
L
E
Y

Personally, I wouldn’t want to travel too far so I’d say Vancouver or randomly, Omaha, Nebraska. And I have no idea why, it’s just the first city that came to my mind 
in the United States. The bill would probably include Liz Phair, Sheryl Crow, Dido – essentially a Lilith Fair revival but with a little more Des’ree vibe.

1
9
9
3

Did your parents play instruments growing up?

H
A
L
E
Y

My Dad’s an artist - he’s a graphic designer, painter and illustrator. And my Mom did sing when she was younger but she had a tracheostomy procedure so she’s unable to now but she is definitely where I get my musical sensibilities.

1
9
9
3

I’m always curious about that type 
of upbringing. I feel like children who grow up with parents who participate in the creative arts are raised in a certain way 
of how to think about the world around them. Do you feel like your parents were fostering creativity in you?

H
A
L
E
Y

I was never once told in my life that I have to go to college or university. And it wasn’t until high school when I saw people applying to colleges that I realized people work really hard to get into the university 
of their dreams, and academia is a huge pathway that people want or feel the need to take. My parents knew that I was going to be in music or something creative 
so they were always encouraging me to explore that further and do my own thing.

1
9
9
3

What are the biggest challenges for newer artists these days?

H
A
L
E
Y

Social platforms do allow discoverability which does make it easier but it is so concentrated and can be difficult to find the spotlight for yourself. For me personally, I’m finding the touring landscape for an independent artist 
is completely unrealistic financially, especially as a Canadian coming into the United States. Visa prices are astronomical even if it’s me playing a show for like $100. It’s thousands of dollars to make that journey - even if it’s Seattle which is an hour away.

1
9
9
3

Completely agree. I think it’s one 
of the most misunderstood aspects of the music industry. Going back 10 years, 
the solution was “music is free now but you can go on tour and all of your wildest dreams can come true.” And that is simply untrue. 
But that said, what are you most optimistic about? What’s exciting about being an artist right now?

H
A
L
E
Y

Funny enough, I’m touring more than I ever have before. In the past 6 months, I’ve had some of the most fulfilling shows of my career on tour but it’s also the most humbling experience when people don’t show up or you have a bad show - being on the road for me is when I grow 
the most as a musician, band leader, and person. You gain a lot of perspective.

1
9
9
3

Define a fulfilling show.

H
A
L
E
Y

Of course a sold out show is amazing, but it really comes down to the vibe of the crowd. For example, when you’re on a support tour where the crowd 
is there to see the headliner and not you, those shows are fun and unique but it’s 
a very different experience and the fans can be blank faced waiting for the main act to come on. And now being on the other side of that, and being the headliner of the show, seeing fans engage and sing along 
to every word of a song that I wrote, is shocking. It’s just exciting.

For me the audience participation, even 
if it’s just 10 people. If they are responding and engaging with me that’s when I have the most fun.


1
9
9
3

I have one last question about tour 
/ concert etiquette. With TikTok dominating so much of the culture now and hearing stories from people like Steve Lacy where the crowd he was playing for only knew the 25 seconds of the hit song that he has and he felt like that was all they were there for – 
have you noticed any significant shift in how audiences behave pre and post-pandemic?

H
A
L
E
Y

Maybe only positively. I know there’s a lot of dialogue around fans filming content just to post on their social media but I kind of love it to be honest. I know 
it can possibly take away from the experience of actually listening to the music but I love looking back at the videos that fans take and re-experiencing it through their eyes. I get crushed under the weight of my own nostalgia.

1
9
9
3

Talk about thrifting for a second. 
I saw you rock an impressive Bart Simpson “PIZZA” t-shirt in a recent ‘Tube. Would love to know the origin there and hear about some of your favorite deep cut thrift finds? I don’t recall Bart having an affinity for pizza.

1993
1993

H
A
L
E
Y

Any time we’re on tour we try to make time to do a little thrifting. Especially 
if we’re going from one city to another and we’re passing small towns that have thrift stores. My wardrobe is essentially thrifted, 
I don’t really buy new clothing. That pizza shirt you’re referring to is actually not thrifted, it’s the merch of a restaurant that my partner and I love. So if I'm not buying restaurant merch, friends’ bands’ merch, 
or winery merch, then it’s a thrift store.

1
9
9
3

Where else does your creativity 
spill into? Are there other things that you’re genuinely interested in?

H
A
L
E
Y

I’m really into fragrance and scent. My favorite sense is smell and what that can evoke. I said to someone recently, 
“in the same way that a scent of something can evoke a sense of nostalgia, I try to capture that in my music and songwriting. 
I think they both have the same essence.

1
9
9
3

We loved your music video for 
‘Baby Teeth’. The style of the music video feels like what made music videos cool 
in the first place. What went into the production and ideating behind that?

H
A
L
E
Y

That song is really about being nostalgic for a time that you can’t have any more - in a way that we all have about being a kid in certain moments. So when I was talking to Shea who directed it, I was clear that I wanted to do something that evokes or looks like a memory - like this liminal space that you can’t quite make out - just like the way a memory makes you feel. You may not be able to totally picture it but 
it occupies the empty space of an emotion that was previously there, even if momentarily.

1993

1
9
9
3

Going back to another great song 
of yours, what does being the “baddest 
f-ing b-word in town” mean?

H
A
L
E
Y

It means that I’m content. I’m relaxed and content and that feels cool 
to me because it’s rare.

1
9
9
3

What does your songwriting process look like to you?

H
A
L
E
Y

I find it really hard for me to sit down and say to myself, “I’m going to write a song.” I’m trying to get better at that. 
In the past, I’m out walking and suddenly 
a full song will come to my head. And my experience in songwriting since I finished this last album, has been a lot of trial and error. It’s just hard for me to sit and write. My ideas can come at the most inopportune times. And usually my best songs can come from when I’m going through something, but maybe it’s a bit harder now because I’m content and happy.

1
9
9
3

Tell us about this upcoming 
album - Wisecrack and your new single 
‘The Cabin’.

H
A
L
E
Y

‘The Cabin’ is a sweaty, dehydrated memory of my summers spent at the cabin on the lake. It wasn’t our cabin — my dad’s brother’s wife’s cousin owned it — but it was ours. I had my first sips of beer, first almost kisses. It’s a fluffy recollection 
in real time. When the guitars break through with their overbearing distortion, I’m thrown back into reality.

I wrote half the album in a couple of months and the rest I wrote 6 months before we went to the studio - so like 2020 to early 2022 as the time range. Being alone during the pandemic gave me this quiet that allowed me to be introspective without realizing it. Looking back, I realize how personal these songs are. In ‘Baby Teeth’, 
I say the word Wisecrack and love the way it sounds. It’s like an onomatopoeia to me, 
it has this soft beginning and hard end - 
it feels connected to the music I’m making now where there’s this tongue-and-cheek element to it but it’s also serious.

Enjoy and check out Haley’s new music below:

 

Haley 
Blais

By Tony Hartman & Parag Shah

1993

Haley Blais: 
On herself, the role 
of nostalgia in creating, and her new single, 
“The Cabin”

We had the pleasure of having 
a lighthearted but contemplative conversation with Haley Blais, 
a Vancouver-based singer-songwriter. 
Haley began creating and releasing scream-into-your-pillow anthems from her bedroom in 2014 and released her debut album Below the Salt in 2020, which was produced by Tennis and Louise Burns, leading i-D to describe her as “Canada's nostalgia pop queen.” This year, Haley debuted her new single “Baby Teeth” which follows “Matchmaker,” and last year's “Coolest fucking bitch in town”. 
Her new album, “Wisecrack” is set 
to release September 15th.

1
9
9
3

You’re a rare independent musician that got their start on YouTube that still remains semi-active on YouTube. It feels crazy but YouTube is the #1 music discovery platform on Earth, yet still feels slept on and misunderstood by most musicians and industry people. Why do you think that is?

H
A
L
E
Y

I don’t know but I do agree with you. One of the reasons I’m not as active 
on there as I was in the past is there’s this weird, unspoken connotation of being 
on YouTube - in that it “devalues” your legitimacy as an artist or musician. For some reason being a musician on YouTube can sometimes mean you’re not taken 
as seriously. I don’t know if that’s 
a universal truth but I definitely feel it and that’s one of the reasons I’ve stepped away from it. But I’m grateful for the platform 
because the reason I have an audience today is because of platforms like YouTube.

1
9
9
3

I think social media started as this honest thing that people posted their daily lives and happenings on, they’d gain new followers or views, and then it became engineered to “how do I get as many views 
as possible” even if it means stripping the authenticity of myself away which is where 
I think it may have become viewed with 
a certain sense of derision.

H
A
L
E
Y

And there’s something to be said – in the music realm specifically – about making a name for yourself based purely off organic growth. In society’s eyes, that seems more legitimate than the fact that 
I had subscribers that turned into concert goers.

1993

1
9
9
3

It does in a way, but it also feels impossible. I respect when a creative finds their unique approach to how they make 
stuff and sticks to it. Your YouTube videos, genuinely funny social captions, and everything is almost avant garde in a way 
that I wish more “content” was. Feel free 
to gate keep your secrets, but what’s been your secret to having this unique approach and having it actually work?

H
A
L
E
Y

I’ve always just kept it as authentic as possible and not thought about it too much. I’m not thinking about the algorithm, I’m just trying to be myself. I’ve also just been purposeful about not aggressively playing the game and leaning into viral trends. I’m sure they would be helpful 
for my career, but it does not seem 
as authentic and no shame to anyone 
who does it. But I find it important to try 
to be myself.

1
9
9
3

After collaborating with Tennis and others on recent music - what is your dream list of producers you’d want to work with?

H
A
L
E
Y

I feel like there’s a lot of musicians that I admire and I don’t know if they produce music but if they did, I think my dream would be to work with Sheryl Crow in any capacity. I have this playlist on Spotify called ‘Backseat of the Minivan’ and it’s all these songs that I’ve rediscovered that I listened to growing up. I’m listening to it and am like, how do I know every word 
to this LeAnn Rimes song?

1
9
9
3

What else were you listening 
to when you were growing up?

H
A
L
E
Y

It was a lot of what my parents were listening to, they were big influences on my musical taste. Growing up it was anything on the radio or what my Dad was listening to which were bands like The Stix, AC/DC, Led Zeppelin. Some of those songs bring me such nostalgia. And now that 
I understand music production, I realize how these songs transcended the idea 
of what a pop song could be.

1993

1
9
9
3

If you could create and appear at the festival of your dreams - where is it and who are you playing alongside?

H
A
L
E
Y

Personally, I wouldn’t want to travel too far so I’d say Vancouver or randomly, Omaha, Nebraska. And I have no idea why, it’s just the first city that came to my mind 
in the United States. The bill would probably include Liz Phair, Sheryl Crow, Dido – essentially a Lilith Fair revival but with a little more Des’ree vibe.

1
9
9
3

Did your parents play instruments growing up?

H
A
L
E
Y

My Dad’s an artist - he’s a graphic designer, painter and illustrator. And my Mom did sing when she was younger but she had a tracheostomy procedure so she’s unable to now but she is definitely where I get my musical sensibilities.

1
9
9
3

I’m always curious about that type 
of upbringing. I feel like children who grow up with parents who participate in the creative arts are raised in a certain way 
of how to think about the world around them. Do you feel like your parents were fostering creativity in you?

H
A
L
E
Y

I was never once told in my life that I have to go to college or university. And it wasn’t until high school when I saw people applying to colleges that I realized people work really hard to get into the university 
of their dreams, and academia is a huge pathway that people want or feel the need to take. My parents knew that I was going to be in music or something creative 
so they were always encouraging me to explore that further and do my own thing.

1
9
9
3

What are the biggest challenges for newer artists these days?

H
A
L
E
Y

Social platforms do allow discoverability which does make it easier but it is so concentrated and can be difficult to find the spotlight for yourself. For me personally, I’m finding the touring landscape for an independent artist 
is completely unrealistic financially, especially as a Canadian coming into the United States. Visa prices are astronomical even if it’s me playing a show for like $100. It’s thousands of dollars to make that journey - even if it’s Seattle which is an hour away.

1993

1
9
9
3

Completely agree. I think it’s one 
of the most misunderstood aspects of the music industry. Going back 10 years, 
the solution was “music is free now but you can go on tour and all of your wildest dreams can come true.” And that is simply untrue. 
But that said, what are you most optimistic about? What’s exciting about being an artist right now?

H
A
L
E
Y

Funny enough, I’m touring more than I ever have before. In the past 6 months, I’ve had some of the most fulfilling shows of my career on tour but it’s also the most humbling experience when people don’t show up or you have a bad show - being on the road for me is when I grow 
the most as a musician, band leader, and person. You gain a lot of perspective.

1
9
9
3

Define a fulfilling show.

H
A
L
E
Y

Of course a sold out show is amazing, but it really comes down to the vibe of the crowd. For example, when you’re on a support tour where the crowd 
is there to see the headliner and not you, those shows are fun and unique but it’s 
a very different experience and the fans can be blank faced waiting for the main act to come on. And now being on the other side of that, and being the headliner of the show, seeing fans engage and sing along 
to every word of a song that I wrote, is shocking. It’s just exciting.

For me the audience participation, even 
if it’s just 10 people. If they are responding and engaging with me that’s when I have the most fun.


1
9
9
3

I have one last question about tour 
/ concert etiquette. With TikTok dominating so much of the culture now and hearing stories from people like Steve Lacy where the crowd he was playing for only knew the 25 seconds of the hit song that he has and he felt like that was all they were there for – 
have you noticed any significant shift in how audiences behave pre and post-pandemic?

H
A
L
E
Y

Maybe only positively. I know there’s a lot of dialogue around fans filming content just to post on their social media but I kind of love it to be honest. I know 
it can possibly take away from the experience of actually listening to the music but I love looking back at the videos that fans take and re-experiencing it through their eyes. I get crushed under the weight of my own nostalgia.

1
9
9
3

Talk about thrifting for a second. 
I saw you rock an impressive Bart Simpson “PIZZA” t-shirt in a recent ‘Tube. Would love to know the origin there and hear about some of your favorite deep cut thrift finds? I don’t recall Bart having an affinity for pizza.

1993
1993

H
A
L
E
Y

Any time we’re on tour we try to make time to do a little thrifting. Especially 
if we’re going from one city to another and we’re passing small towns that have thrift stores. My wardrobe is essentially thrifted, 
I don’t really buy new clothing. That pizza shirt you’re referring to is actually not thrifted, it’s the merch of a restaurant that my partner and I love. So if I'm not buying restaurant merch, friends’ bands’ merch, 
or winery merch, then it’s a thrift store.

1
9
9
3

Where else does your creativity 
spill into? Are there other things that you’re genuinely interested in?

H
A
L
E
Y

I’m really into fragrance and scent. My favorite sense is smell and what that can evoke. I said to someone recently, 
“in the same way that a scent of something can evoke a sense of nostalgia, I try to capture that in my music and songwriting. 
I think they both have the same essence.

1
9
9
3

We loved your music video for 
‘Baby Teeth’. The style of the music video feels like what made music videos cool 
in the first place. What went into the production and ideating behind that?

H
A
L
E
Y

That song is really about being nostalgic for a time that you can’t have any more - in a way that we all have about being a kid in certain moments. So when I was talking to Shea who directed it, I was clear that I wanted to do something that evokes or looks like a memory - like this liminal space that you can’t quite make out - just like the way a memory makes you feel. You may not be able to totally picture it but 
it occupies the empty space of an emotion that was previously there, even if momentarily.

1993

1
9
9
3

Going back to another great song 
of yours, what does being the “baddest 
f-ing b-word in town” mean?

H
A
L
E
Y

It means that I’m content. I’m relaxed and content and that feels cool 
to me because it’s rare.

1
9
9
3

What does your songwriting process look like to you?

H
A
L
E
Y

I find it really hard for me to sit down and say to myself, “I’m going to write a song.” I’m trying to get better at that. 
In the past, I’m out walking and suddenly 
a full song will come to my head. And my experience in songwriting since I finished this last album, has been a lot of trial and error. It’s just hard for me to sit and write. My ideas can come at the most inopportune times. And usually my best songs can come from when I’m going through something, but maybe it’s a bit harder now because I’m content and happy.

1
9
9
3

Tell us about this upcoming 
album - Wisecrack and your new single 
‘The Cabin’.

H
A
L
E
Y

‘The Cabin’ is a sweaty, dehydrated memory of my summers spent at the cabin on the lake. It wasn’t our cabin — my dad’s brother’s wife’s cousin owned it — but it was ours. I had my first sips of beer, first almost kisses. It’s a fluffy recollection 
in real time. When the guitars break through with their overbearing distortion, I’m thrown back into reality.

I wrote half the album in a couple of months and the rest I wrote 6 months before we went to the studio - so like 2020 to early 2022 as the time range. Being alone during the pandemic gave me this quiet that allowed me to be introspective without realizing it. Looking back, I realize how personal these songs are. In ‘Baby Teeth’, 
I say the word Wisecrack and love the way it sounds. It’s like an onomatopoeia to me, 
it has this soft beginning and hard end - 
it feels connected to the music I’m making now where there’s this tongue-and-cheek element to it but it’s also serious.

Enjoy and check out Haley’s new music below: