The versatile bedroom-pop singer Haley Blais returns with her dreamy and confessional new single, Matchmaker.

Haley Blais is a Vancouver-based singer-songwriter that has been releasing music since 2014. Her first EP, Late Bloomer, dedicates itself to the passing of her dog. She explores themes of absence through hauntingly beautiful lyrics, a heaviness that is perfectly juxtaposed against soft instrumentation.
She followed up with her next EP Zero Charisma in 2016, releasing five tracks that were in high demand from fans. The demos selected for the album illustrate her versatile ability at composing music, yet never straying from the vulnerable themes always present in her lyrics. Later that year, Haley released Let Yourself Go, another five-track EP. With full sincerity, Haley captures adolescence in all its embarrassing glory, with musical arrangements that offer a comforting refuge to nostalgia. Each song sounds like a teenage memory, painting a smile on your face in much the same way. Haley’s next and biggest project was her debut album, Below The Salt. The highly anticipated 2020 release brought together nine tracks, that add to the timeline of her life Blais has created through music. Brimming with intimacy, her talent for sharing personal experiences whilst being relatable to an audience is one that shines through this release. 

Whilst creating her music, Blais continued to upload to her Youtube Channel, a platform that allows the singer to share parts of her life through a lighter and more comedic lens. Offering glimpses of her life through charmingly witty vlogs, the singer also uploads music videos to accompany her releases onto the channel. It’s clear that Haley’s talents extend way beyond her vast musical capabilities, and her ability to humour an audience whilst still having her music understood and valued is a craft she has perfected. In 2022, Haley returned to the music scene with the single Coolest fucking bitch in town. The song’s frankness is gloriously refreshing, with the familiar vulnerability that has previously made her music act as a cathartic experience. Shortly followed by her second single of the year, Survivors Guilt, it’s easy to see how the songs together have reached well over three million streams. Her newest single Matchmaker is the third release towards her upcoming album, with an instantly catchy yet original feel that will undoubtedly be in the soundtrack of this summer.

1883 catches up with Haley ahead of her London tour date to discuss the latest single, musical graveyards and her love for British crowds. 

Photo by Caity Krone

How is the UK tour going?

So good! It is the first time ever playing outside our continent, so it’s the furthest show I’ve ever played. It has been some of the best shows ever – like, ever! I just feel like since we haven’t played out here, everyone who’s been wanting to see me has been waiting for like 10 years, maybe as long as that, so it’s great turnout. And the crowd participation is unparalleled!

Oh wow, how so?

People knowing the songs for one! And singing along. It’s so cool, really gratifying. Beautiful. 

Are you doing any tourist-y stuff in your free time between shows?

We’re trying. We only had a couple of free days off. We were pretty tourist-y when we went over to Dublin, but it’s kind of hard. You think you have a full day, but then you realise you have soundcheck at four. 

You’ve got to put in the grind, be a girl boss.

Yes – exactly that!

Have you got any pre/post-show rituals going on?

I’m trying to warm up more, I didn’t used to warm up too much. Get into it, loosen it [laughs]. You know, there’s been so many shows when we just realize it’s time to play and just run-on stage. We should have done a little have a good show! Everybody, look into each other’s eyes! Feel the vibe. So, I’m trying to build a good healthy pre-show routine. But after? a couple of beers…

So Below The Salt was released during the pandemic – how does it feel to finally see fans reactions to the album in person, and in another country?

It’s crazy. It’s been the most participative here. People in North America, they get to see me live and I get to play a lot of new songs. So having people in the UK and Ireland really resonate with the old album more than I’ve seen – because that’s all they really have to work with – is really, really cool. For me I’m like I’ve moved on from that album! It’s been three years, who is she?! but they’re keeping it alive, which is awesome.

What are you most excited to perform?

Songs we always play in the live shows – because they’re my favourite – are Firestarter, Be Your Own Muse and Rob The Original. Three different vibes.

Do you have an all-time favourite from that album? 

The first track, Someone Called While You Were Out. We’ve never played it live; we’ve never done anything with it. It’s in a music graveyard. She’s my little baby!

Your new single, Matchmaker, continues the very nostalgic, coming-of-age feel in your music. Can you tell me a little more about your experience writing the song?

All of the songs on my upcoming album were written on my childhood guitar from when I was 10, so they have this very nostalgic feel to me, personally. But that song is the first love song that I wrote from personal experience. It’s about being with somebody who has a totally different upbringing than you, and how that can have problems but still be okay. I really like it. I like that song! I’m so excited for people to hear it.

Your partner, Jake, is the star of your music video for Survivors Guilt and has also given a hand to helping create other wonderful videos in the past for you. The SG video really shares that nostalgic theme found in your music. How did you find the process of directing him and conceptualising the song?

So that video in particular is just a total rip-off of a Claire Denis film called “US go home,” where this character in it is just dancing in their room and smoking a cigarette.  We watched it together and thought that it is just such a great idea for a music video, someone experiencing the song in real time. I feel like a lot of music videos that I have done in the past tell a story or are about something that happens over the course of a period of time; or something meta and deep. What would happen if you just watched someone listening to the song as it’s playing? You’re listening, so are they. Just dance to it!

What was it like directing, as he is your partner too?

I just shouted shit at him. Yeah. He said, ‘I couldn’t hear you the whole time!’ so I am like ‘oh, so you directed it!’ [laughs]. 

I read a previous interview where you spoke about on influence or lack of from other artists, and how E.T. was a really significant catalyst – even inspiring songs like Rob The Original from your latest album. I wanted to ask what it is in that film to which you are so drawn?

That is a good question. I revisited that film when I moved out of my childhood home and lived on my own for the first time. I think that it resonated with me at that time in my life, because it is so obviously about growing up, divorced parents and trying to find yourself. I don’t know, it just it felt right watching this childhood movie at that specific time in my life. I think’s just like stuck with me that way. There’s nothing like too oh, the acting! Cinematography! Although they are pretty great too.

It’s sometimes nicer though to watch films about growing up as an adult, with a complete change of perspective!

Haley: It is totally different! if you haven’t, rewatch it. You will see everything is so different. As a kid I’m like Little alien guy! They’re buddies! But then you get to the scene where he’s dying… it is depressing. I read somewhere that it is about Stephen’s [laughs] – Mr Spielberg to you, Stephen to me – It is about the separation of his family, and that was happening in my life at the same time. It’s heavily influenced by divorce, loneliness, and our adolescence. 

Your single Coolest Bitch In Town also shares a lot of those themes and issues in its lyrics. How was it putting something very personal to you out into the world? 

Amazing. Hold me back – I will do it again. [laughs]. 

Do you have any dream artists to collaborate with?

Oooh, I love Angel Olsen! I love her vibe. I would love to tour with her and write and song with her. Adrianne Lenker. Joni Mitchell. Bruce Springsteen. 

Bruce is a different vibe in there!

Haley: True! but still this confessional, growing up, wide-space nostalgia. 

What is coming next for you, music wise?

We have the Matchmaker single coming out! A video with that, too. Also directed by Jake! It is about a relationship, so it’s all in this little love world. It’s disgusting. Then a new album dropping later this fall.

I want to end on a question completely unrelated to your music, but one that says a lot about a person and one I think you will enjoy– if the body and blood of Christ are represented as crackers and wine, what would represent yours?

[laughs] Oh, no! Everything is going through my head. For some reason I wanted to say grilled cheese, but I don’t know if that is true. Dawsons creek… sweatpants and slippers, and a bed. Actually no! I have got it, a pillow and a duvet. That is my body and my blood. 

Matchmaker is out now. Follow Haley Blais @hblaisauce

Interview  Lucy Crook

Photography Steph Verschuren