Luck is when preparation meets opportunity. For HAYLA, the window to attack revealed itself at a peculiar moment.
The pillars of HAYLA's escape came at a time of great difficulty for most. The UK went in and out of lockdowns during the COVID-19 pandemic. During a government-approved relaxation in June 2020, HAYLA reunited with her writing partners Will Clarke, Eddie Jenkins, and EDM.com Class of 2024 star Camden Cox.
The situation was not fortuitous, but it encouraged HAYLA to write something that everyone could relate to: a song about escapism.
“It was a very emotional moment for everyone,” says HAYLA. EDM.com while talking about the release of his debut studio album, DARKNESS. “I hope a lot of people feel like they can connect with the message we convey. We also felt very strongly about how we were all being held up. “We didn’t have anywhere else we could go.”
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HAYLA etched her name in history by lending her powerful voice and songwriting skills to Kx5's debut single, “Escape.” It's not often that someone is on the ground floor of something new. Something big. HAYLA and her co-writers pitched the song to deadmau5 and Kaskade as the two pioneering producers prepared for a mysterious joint venture.
“Kx5 (the real project) was not yet in the world. It was a completely new collaboration between Kaskade and deadmau5,” says HAYLA. “It was absolutely incredible to be a part of that project. Given the time we were in, it's amazing how many people it has resonated with. “We all needed a little escape during lockdown.”
“The version you hear now, the music they added made it a masterpiece,” he adds. “I love what they did with the voices. Sending the vocals and getting a track like that was absolutely incredible.”
“Escape” put HAYLA on a collision course with a song of even broader impact. John Summit had recently put his artistic touch on an official remix of “Escape.” The direct line from Kx5 to Summit prompted HAYLA and her co-writers to reach out to him with a song called “Where You Are.”
“When 'Escape' happened, John did the remix,” HAYLA explains. “Virtually the same team got together again and wrote the first line of 'Where Are You.' We said, 'That's pretty interesting.' John is doing really well with the remix and people seemed to really like what we did there, so maybe he would like it. “We sent it.”
“Where You Are” exploded as arguably the biggest song of 2023, even eclipsing the wide reach of “Escape” the year before.
“It really was one of the quickest turnarounds I've ever had on a track,” says HAYLA.
HAYLA's rise was a collaborative effort, an axiom that rings true for anyone who has achieved it. No matter how prominent someone seems, there is always a base of support behind them. HAYLA and her co-writers, Kx5 and Summit, contributed crucial pieces to her acclaimed songs.
But now that HAYLA is here, it is firmly planted and bearing fruit.
“Over the years, I've found a lot of comfort in writing as a form of therapy, as a journal, and a license to experiment and try,” says HAYLA. “I feel like writing this, I hope it inspires people to feel, 'If I can do it, why can't the person listening to it, too?'”
His career is in full bloom after the release. DARKNESS and new collaborations with MEDUZA and Kygo. But if it all ended after the one-two punch of “Escape” and “Where You Are,” HAYLA could leave a permanent mark on music fans.
One of the great gifts of music is how it connects with experiences. Music and memories intertwine so deeply that they merge at the seams. No matter how hard you try, sometimes it is impossible to separate the song from the thought. “Escape” and “Where You Are” were electronic anthems for 2022 and 2023, songs with lasting popularity. Its overwhelming impacts mean HAYLA's voice is immortalized for as long as millions of memories live on.
“Because I am a music lover, I have songs that are an integral part of my life and highlights of my life. To hear those people my voice from other songs and that it has become part of their moments that they will remember forever and cherish, it's really nice to hear,” says HAYLA. “Honestly, I don't know if I really sat down and thought about it, but it's been amazing. “It means a lot.”
Fortunately, there is no need to reflect on what-ifs or hold on only to old memories. There are countless new ones to do. HAYLA and her intoxicating voice take center stage in her headlining debut at the Roxy Theater in Los Angeles on December 4. In the meantime, check out the full video interview below and find their new album on streaming platforms. here.
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