Although well known for her lyric-containing songs, Haley has done instrumental music before: a couple tracks from her 2011 album, Golder, for instance, and predominately on her 2013 EP Wntr Snds. This year, however, Haley released Pleasureland, an album consisting entirely of instrumental music. "That's always something that I've always liked to do, but have never really committed to it as a full-on concept," Haley says. "Once I started shedding these songs a little bit, it made sense to me to work on that because I felt like I had writer's block or something, but this was so much more satisfying when I wasn't trying to say something with words. It was how I felt and what I connected to. So I felt like it was the honest thing to put my effort into."

On Saturday, Dec. 8, Haley will perform Pleasureland in its entirety at the Cedar Cultural Center in Minneapolis. Ahead of that show, Haley, together with bandmate Jeremy Ylvisaker, stopped at The Current to perform some music from the new album and to talk with Mary Lucia.

"I always want to challenge myself and try new things, because I get bored and I don't like making the same record," Haley says. "I think that's part of why I wanted to do this, because it is challenging."

Another challenge Haley has accepted since releasing Pleasureland has been introducing the music to her fans, who are accustomed to her lyrical music. "It's been really satisfying," Haley says, "and I feel like I'm getting the reaction that I wanted, which is that people go, 'What the hell?' followed by, 'Oh, I like this.'"

Now with a full-length of solid instrumentals under her belt, could a film-score commission be far behind? "I am fishing for that!" Haley acknowledges. "I don't want to be pigeonholed as one kind of artist. I've always been doing all kinds of different things, because it's boring to be the same."

Use the audio player above to listen to the complete session.

Songs Performed

"Give Yourself Away"
"Pig Latin"
"Credit Forever Part 2"
All songs from HALEY's 2018 album, Pleasureland, available on the Memphis Industries label.

Hosted by Mary Lucia
Produced by Derrick Stevens
Enginered by Michael DeMark
Visuals by Joshua Voelker
Web feature by Luke Taylor

External Link

HALEY - official site

Gallery

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