Interview with Hae.zy

Introduce yourself!

Hey, my name is Hae.zy and I’m an artist/musician from Boston, now residing in LA. I’ve been singing and writing music for most of my life and have a calling and love to connect with people all over the world through music. 

Your EP, Love letter, comes out on April 28, 2021.  Can you introduce this EP?  What inspired it?  What is it about? And sonically, what is its sound? 

Love Letter is my love letter to the world, about Love. Love is the highest frequency to ever exist and through music’s direct connection to our hearts, I’m confident that these songs and messages will be delivered well. 

Each song was created through life experiences, whether it’s my own personal stories or it’s the stories of others, they were meant to be told. Sonically, every song is different in their own way but definitely have their own vibe and aesthetic. It’s kinda like opening doors to rooms in a house, each room has their own feel, smell and decoration. The whole album was inspired by jazz, R&B, soul, rock, reggae, and pop. 

The track “Mong (dreams)” on this new EP is set to have a music video released in May, and the song comes from a very personal place.  Can you talk a bit about the inspiration behind this song?

This is my mother’s pregnancy dream story while she was cooking me up in her belly. She told me this story not too long ago and I had to include it in the EP because it served as such a huge affirmation to my purpose. I hope this song connects families and loved ones together and encourages us to fill our own cups up with love so that we can all pour onto others. 

As a female Korean-American artist - how has your cultural identity affected your creative upbringing?  Your music? Your career?  

My family had always recognized the special gifts I was given at a young age so the support was solid in going into music as my career. Although, how I wanted to live out that journey was tough to stand firm in during my younger days. 

From middle to high school, I was pressured to audition for many singing competitions and Kpop music label competitions. But the standard in raising a performer rather than an artist was something I was never interested in nor good at. Performing comes naturally when I’m feeling the most creative, inspired and in my power. So earning the respect as an artist rather than a performer was my priority—this took years of education and eventually establishing my own brand to find freedom myself. 

Where do you find inspiration for your music?  

I find it through stories, life experiences and human emotions. These things exist and they’re all real. I want to tell stories through music about what we go through, what we feel and how we all can relate and connect with one another. Going through life, we may be alone but it doesn’t have to be lonely. 

How has this time of COVID-19 affected you and your music/career?  How have you been coping? 

I believe that this pandemic was the greatest thing to ever happen. Ever since I graduated college, I had tunnel vision on releasing this EP and working full time in making art + music. But while working 12-14 hours everyday and then coping with that every day hustle had me growing further away from my purpose. Through divine timing and the grace of God, I was finally able to finish this EP and release it to the world. Wishes granted. 

What does self care mean to you?  How do you take care of yourself? 

Self care to me is loving God. And God is within me all around me, therefore I love myself and that rotation continues. I can be a control freak sometimes and that can cause me to block my own blessings. So making sure that I stay in alignment and let Spirit take the driver’s seat of my life allows the blessings to flow into me and onto others. 

Is there anything you wish you knew when you began pursuing music?  Any piece of advice you have for others pursuing their musical dreams? 

That none of this matters. We’re all here for a reason and once our life purpose is fulfilled and we find peace within ourselves, our souls go on another journey. So say things with your chest and do things with integrity but don’t be attached to the worldly things, because it doesn’t matter anyways. 

Here are some rapid-fire questions: 

Your go-to coffee shop order? 

Hot/Iced coffee (depending on weather) with oat milk and 3 raw sugars. 

Any special or secret skills (i.e. wiggling your ears, etc.)? 

My intuition. It’s not a special skill but it helps me dodge bullets and stanky energies. 

Music you’re listening to right now? 

“Grounded” by Ari Lennox

Ultimate comfort food?

Sushi

What has been the highlight of your day today? 

Full moon in Scorpio. I’ve been going through it today. 

What is upcoming for you and your work?

I’m plotting the next full album, filled with funk and jazzy beats. The next album is going to be filled with good vibes, dance tracks and soul. 

Hae.zy is a Korean-American independent artist from Boston, MA. She debuted in 2018 with her first single, “The Morning After”, recorded at the Berklee College of Music Studios. Hae.zy’s unique style explores several genres including jazz, pop, R&B, soul, and neo-soul, contributing to her authentic sound. Inspired by musical influences like Erykah Badu, Jhene Aiko, SZA, Ari Lennox, Amy Winehouse, Hae.zy’s music has an eclectic vibe, marrying futuristic melodies with a poetic lyrical style. Hae.zy passionately represents her Asian American roots, hoping to connect to her audience not only by expressing her eccentric sense of empathy in her music, but by speaking on important cultural matters.  

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