June 29, 2023 • 18 mins
Fresh off her awesome performances at Red Rocks and EDC Vegas, Hayla shares how they were.
Hayla also talks her smash “Where You Are” w John Summit and “I Found You” w Sub Focus, and how they were born. Plus why she chose the artist name ‘Hayla’.
Follow: @AmericasDance30 on all socials!
Count down the biggest dance songs in the country every week with Brian Fink on America’s Dance 30; listen on dance stations around the world!
AmericasDance30.com
Hayla also talks her smash “Where You Are” w John Summit and “I Found You” w Sub Focus, and how they were born. Plus why she chose the artist name ‘Hayla’.
Follow: @AmericasDance30 on all socials!
Count down the biggest dance songs in the country every week with Brian Fink on America’s Dance 30; listen on dance stations around the world!
AmericasDance30.com
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
(00:00):
Hala. On a scale of oneto a cat's life, how tired are
you right now? I would saylike a hoppy like six, I reckon
if a cat's life at nine,I would have say, like it was
tann I would have said, likemaybe like a steady seven. We were
just talking about how you literally justgot home from DC Vegas. I did.
(00:25):
Yeah, I got back yesterday afternoon, probably about three pm, maybe
something like that. So I'm yeah, I'm doing well. Thinking back to
last year doing DC Vegas for myfirst time, I still haven't recovered,
so I don't know. I don'tknow how you've recovered right now. Baraca,
Baraca, I think that's probably it. Really, you know that some
(00:46):
hope. Well, let's pray torecover. Dance counting down the biggest dance
songs in the country. This isAmerica's Dance thirty. Halo, Welcome back
(01:11):
to America's Dance thirty. Oh thankyou so much for having me again.
And I told you we are talkingbefore the interview that I love the blonde
highlights in their hair, and Ihad I had made the comment on America's
Dance thirty the first time you posted. I was like, I don't know
if this is Halo or not,but I think she has blond hair.
(01:32):
Now, yeah, I just didlook a little rogue from the X Men
thing. You know, it's notCoola Deville is. Yeah, I just
want to point that out. Ididn't. Now it looks good. I
might do the same thing next week. I should talking though, talk me
in the post absolutely Well. Beforewe talk all about your smash where you
(01:55):
are with John Summit, let's talkabout some of these shows you've been doing.
You and John were actually just atRed Rocks doing a show which was
incredible. Was that your first time? Yeah, you know, it's one
of those places that obviously I've nevereven been to as an audience member,
you know, so I know ofit in the UK. It's very iconic
as well. But that the scaleof it, I don't think it was
(02:19):
well, I don't think I couldreally and I still can't put into words
what that was like for the firsttime, seeing the size and the scale
and the scope of that stage,the backdrop, the surroundings was absolutely like
mesmerizing. Yeahh it really is mindblowing. I was there for my first
time ironically for K five, Ithink either earlier this year or last year,
(02:40):
and I was just blown away bythe atmosphere and everything. It's amazing,
isn't it? And I think wellalso as well at the sound,
because I didn't really know what toexpect, but because obviously the rocks probably
you know, keep it in ofit, I don't know, but the
sound was incredible as well. Andthat's what I was just going to ask
you, was it? I mean, obviously the reverb had to be insane
(03:01):
bouncing off of the rocks. Howdifferent was it? Do you know what
it was? It wasn't as badas I thought it would be. I
genuinely thought it would have been abit of like a spirally kind of sound,
you know, find a bit wishywashy, But it was, do
you know what it was? Itwas amazing And I really didn't expect that
either. And I'm not sure whetherthe body's helped, because I think is
it ten thousand? I couldn't eventell you, not even think it's something
(03:23):
around that. It's basically quite alot of faces to sort of be okay,
you know, before you go on. But it was. Yeah,
the sound was absolutely incredible, andI genuinely didn't expect it to be that
good. I've watched a lot ofspecials from people performing there and being in
the crowd. I remember just turningaround and so I got a couple of
(03:43):
different aspects. One, we werein the crowd and we were looking around
and that was just mind blowing.And then we went I don't know if
you did this. We went allthe way up to the top and we
were watching some of the show fromthe top and just seeing the backdrop of
the city behind it. I mean, it's just unbelievable. Yeah, because
it isn't it. I mean,obviously like the city over in the court,
(04:08):
obviously off to the side, becauseI went I actually went off on
a bit of a wander in theday, just whilst we were doing sound
check, and I made my wayup to the very back of the stage,
so I didn't see it when itwas actually playing Lives, so we
didn't get to see all the lightsof the city. But yeah, I
didn't know that you'd be able tosee that far. It's amazing. It's
such an amazing venue. I'm gladyou got to perform there. Looked incredible
(04:29):
And oh, this is kind ofour one year anniversary because we met for
the first time a year ago atDC Vegas, when you were there performing
for K five. Now you werejust there again performing with at Craize.
How was that? It was amazingAnd again, you know, obviously I
was there last year, but it'sstill exactly the same way. It was
(04:53):
just absolutely incredible and seeing that manypeople, and I know the song that
I did is it's not yet released, so but I still wanted to get
people along. But it was.It was absolutely incredible and it was definitely
not lost on me the vastness ofthat festival. And I did actually get
lost at one point, so Igot to walk around, so I actually
(05:13):
went all the way through the festival, you know, as you do.
I got my steps right up.But it was amazing to actually get immersed
in the festival and see it alittle bit more and just kind of like
go to the different stages as well. But that stage I played at the
same stage as I did with KXfive, and a lot of memories came
flooding back, which was really nice. But we were saying that it's a
completely different vibe, or at leastfrom somebody who wasn't there, it looked
(05:39):
like a completely different vibe this yearfor you Yeah, yeah, I mean
it just felt I don't know,I'm not sure in a really good way.
It did have a bit of adifferent vibe, but it was it
was honestly, it was incredible,Like the atmosphere was amazing, and it
felt a bit more I mean withoutthe moving heads there. Obviously I was
on the DJ booth so I didn'thave to I didn't go through the track
(06:00):
this time, so I was definitelya lot less justifying. That's what it
was. Because when you performed withK five, if I remember, you
performed kind of in front of them, right, yes, whereas this with
that Craze, you were on theDJ rig with him, which looking out
from that high is just amazing.Yeah. I could definitely see a lot
(06:25):
further. Actually, now you sayit, Actually I could see over people
a lot more, Whereas before Iwas kind of not obviously person height,
you know, but I was ableto sort of see to a certain level,
and this time I think I did. Yeah, I was able to
pick people out further back. Itried not to dwell on it team because
I think I think if I did, I'd be like, oh no,
(06:46):
why is that a person singing?Yeah, I'd be like no the words,
even though the song's not released.But we don't even talk about that.
I mean, I don't ask fora lot. I don't think now.
I I've told everybody. When you'reon stage at a festival, looking
out on tens upon tens of thousandsof people is just so incredible. What's
(07:13):
it like when you're performing? Thefunniest thing is I know that when I've
basically got my first step and Iknow that I've got to take that step,
But just before that first step,I can feel all the boots of
flies, and my heart's kind ofdoing a bit of a weird backward beats
thing. And then as soon asI sort of hear the music, I
just think okay, and I kindof go off into like a little bit
of a like before. I don'tknow what it is. People call it
(07:34):
altered states, but it's like aperformance mode thing where I just feel like
quite calm. Really yeah, Iknow that sounds really weird, but I
do feel quite like okay, Andthen I get off and then the butterflies
come back and I'm like all right, Yeah. It's like it's like a
borderline out of body blackout experience.I mean, I'm they're still you know,
(07:57):
like I'm taking it all in andI'm really like looking into the people
in tuning into like whoever I'm djayingwith, and just the vibe of it.
And sometimes I actually only wear oneearboat so because I love to hear
the you know, the audience backand obviously the immediate surroundings of that sound
as well. Yeah, so I'mI'm there, but I'm like, oh,
I feel like a bit more zenthan I feel like I should be,
(08:20):
you know, which, I don'tknow whether that's a good thing.
Oh No, it's totally understandable,because like when I have to speak in
front of like five, ten,like fifty people, my anxiety is through
the roof because you know that thatsmall amount of people are literally staring at
you and listening to every single Ohmy god, my anxiety is building.
(08:43):
But anyways, when you're in frontof like twenty thirty, forty fifty thousand
people, it's a blur at thatpoint, and so it's a lot more
calming, as weird as it is. Yeah, in a strange way,
I think it's kind of like Idon't know what it is that just sort
of go, well, I'm hereand all the butterflies that have after like
(09:03):
maybe the first sentence a kind ofall good, and I'm like, just
go into going you know what you'redoing, You're all good, you know,
so in a really normal way.I suppose maybe that's kind of what's
going on. You know. I'mjust kind of like, oh, self
soothing with the music, you know. Yeah, it's totally the same on
my end as an MC. OnceI get past that first announcement, I'm
(09:24):
fine, But it's that lead upto Okay, is the mic gonna sound
right? Is it going to beloud enough? Am I gonna say the
right thing? You know? Onceyou get past all of that overthinking,
you're good to go. Yeah.I think that's what it is, and
I definitely think that after I've finishedit, though, I do end up
getting the anxiety back and I'm like, was that okay? Oh my god?
(09:46):
If you lived in the UK,we would be total BFFs because we're
the same person. Oh my god, let's talk about your smash where you
are with John's Summit? How wasthis song? Bo Warren? It is
so amazing? Well, I meanit was really helped by the fact I
supposed that, well, the connectionreally helped by the fact that John did
(10:07):
the remix for Escape. The KXfive remix, basically, the top line
didn't exist. It was written justafter Escape, and we sort of had
the top line and we just thought, you know what, I wonder if
you'd be interested, because he obviouslyliked the vibe of Escape, so we
collectively sort of sent it over andjust saw, we'll see if he likes
it. You know, I don'tknow, but he got back to us
(10:28):
pretty much straight away and had anidea, had a vibe, and it's
probably the quickest turnaround of a track. Yeah, from like sending to kind
of getting this sort of near releaseready version. Yeah, yeah, that
is amazing. Now, speaking ofthe release version, I always love finding
out how many different versions there arefrom when it started to when it's finally
(10:52):
released with all the tweaking. Now, obviously I don't think you saw all
the versions that John might have done, but from the singer I'm writer aspect
of it were there are a lotof versions of the song. You know,
I think we probably only had maybeabout three or four something like that.
But what it was really was morekind of getting like edits to the
sound that he wanted to create fromthe track, you know, so it
(11:13):
was kind of getting that vibe right, making sure that I suppose like the
rise and fall of it. Iknow I was going to do some more
ablems on it at some point,so I recorded a few more, but
then we just thought, you knowwhat, less is more, so we
ended up leaving it like that.But I think, genuinely, I think
it was probably honestly about three orfour that I saw John. If he
was, you know, we'd probablytell you something totally differently, be like
you can't even believe what's so funnyabout you? Mentioning that he got back
(11:37):
to you right away. I rememberspeaking with Sophie Tucker about the song that
they did with John Summit, andthey said the same thing that like they
DMed him at like five am,and he got back to them like right
away. No way, where washe? I wonder, It's like,
how are you doing this? Yeah? I mean, you know, I
(11:58):
think it's like pure professionality. Ishe's everywhere all at once, all of
the time, isn't he? Youknow, So that's gonna catch up to
him. But we don't need totell him that now. Was this song
written by Haley Williams from Paramore,So there's been some confusion. I am
(12:18):
aware of my career, so canyou talk about this? So I don't
know if many people know, butmy actual name is Haley Williams, which
is confusing when you're doing show prepto find out who wrote the song and
you see that. Yeah, ifyou saw in the credits, like who
(12:39):
wrote this track and it says HayleyWilliams, You're like, oh my god
that one. I was like,wow, how did Paramore get into this?
I mean, Haley, if you'reout there and you'd like to write
with me, Oh my gosh,I am totally down that. I love
that fellow Haley Williams is in theroom. Should it happen? Should it
not? Oh, she's actually backhere. Hold on, let me let
her in. Oh hello. Now, at what point did you decide to
(13:03):
go with Hala. I think itwas about probably about four years ago something
like that, because I started toget tagged in when I was kind of
his Haley Williams when I was whenI was my own name. Oh,
she was getting tagged in things.If I was on a radio show or
something, they tag her instead ofme, just because the research. You're
obviously fair enough. Just was like, oh, well that's yeah, and
(13:26):
just tagged the wrong person. SoI thought, this is suchually a bit
of a problem now, I thinkso. So I just thought, you
know, I'll use my nickname,which is Hala, and I was born
that really, but it was itwas one of those things. I just
thought, actually, she's getting taggedin things, and she probably I don't
know if she ever saw it.She probably didn't, but I don't want
to, you know, I don'twant it to be like who is this
persona? I completely understand that.Because I couldn't get Brian Fink on Instagram,
(13:52):
I had to do I am BrianFink because there's another Brian Fink who
got that first, and he wouldn'tgive it to me. I mean,
oh, we got into it.He actually blocked me. He oh,
Brian fig blocked me. What theheck is that? Oh? Another blocks
me? You know. So wheredid the nickname Hala come from? He
(14:18):
hala? Really? Well, itwas just one of those things, I
mean, like get called Hale's hHala. And then my mates when we
used to do like fans, we'ddo, you know, obviously cover trucks,
sometimes or whatever, and that wasone of them. And then yes,
that was borne out of the backof that. Well, I'm glad
you went with Hala. It standsout. It's perfect now I know you
(14:39):
Also, besides where you are,you just dropped the song with sub focus.
How did that song come together?Yeah? Well, actually that's something
I will be honest with something thatI didn't write that track. It was
a resing for me, which wasa pleasure and absolute honor as well to
be asked to try and replicate Becky'svoice or try oh so paramored in write
that one. No, she's noton that got a little bit, so
(15:03):
I need to kind of probably sayto her in here, like we need
to have a chat. Haley.So you mentioned Becky. Was that Becky
Hill? Becky Hill? Yeah,So originally I think she was going to
be the vocalist for it, butI think because of her release schedules,
they just thought, you know,maybe we'll find somebody else to sing the
track, and just so happened.They actually asked me and they were happy
with the job that I did.So so that was one out of that.
(15:26):
But it's nice because I haven't reallydone a lot of drum bass before
I had one out a couple ofyears ago. But it was really nice
that I was asked to do that, and I hopefully we'll be singing that
live at some point. That's soawesome. And that's crazy that it was
originally Becky Hill, because I rememberspeaking with a Lesso about words and his
(15:48):
number one was Zara Larson was originallysupposed to be Becky Hill as well,
but because of her release schedule.That's so much. It was everywhere as
well. I mean, I meanthat's for you guys. Yeah, I
know. I did message and Iwas like, thanks name. Now do
you know Becky? Yes, Well, we've only sort of met over the
(16:08):
last I think, well last summerreally all know. Was it last Christmas?
I was doing the Orchestra tour withPete Tongue and she's been a staple
on that tour for for years now, and I was fortunate enough to be
on the show at the same timeas her, so I did a little
guest slot and she was there,So I did. I met her a
few times and hopefully I'll meet up, you know, over the weekend potentially
(16:29):
as well. But yeah, Idon't know. I'd like to get to
know her little bit more. Butwe have done a few gigs together now,
which has been amazing. That's soawesome. Well, if you do
so yes weekend, tell her Isaid, Hi, give her my best.
Oh my god, I will,I will, I will definitely will
do. Yeah. Congratulations on allthe success with where you are with John's
summit. What is next for Hala? Oh? Well, I'm going to
(16:52):
be releasing some of my own materialactually, hopefully towards the end of the
year. I have been working behindthe scenes on like a little bit of
a body of work which I'm hopefullygoing to have together by maybe the end
of next year. But there area few singles that I'd like to release,
and I might have a few morefeatures here and there as well,
but I'm going to keep them silentfor now. But yeah, I mean
you already talked about it earlier.We're talking about that. Hello, you're
(17:18):
managering there rooms right now? Like, no cut this everybody can follow at
Hala sings on all socials, right, Yes, that's right, Yeah,
Hala. It is so awesome seeingyou again on our one year anniversary.
I know this is horrible of me, but it's typical man, I didn't
(17:40):
get you anything for a one yearanniversary. I know, I know,
I know what you What a horribleway to the end the interview. Gift
Hala, congratulations, it's great seeingyou again. Thank you for your time
on America's Dan's thirty. Oh,thank you so much for having me.
Yeah. America's Dance thirty Counting downthe biggest dance songs in the country.
(18:04):
America's Dance thirty
Hala. On a scale of oneto a cat's life, how tired are
you right now? I would saylike a hoppy like six, I reckon
if a cat's life at nine,I would have say, like it was
tann I would have said, likemaybe like a steady seven. We were
just talking about how you literally justgot home from DC Vegas. I did.
(00:25):
Yeah, I got back yesterday afternoon, probably about three pm, maybe
something like that. So I'm yeah, I'm doing well. Thinking back to
last year doing DC Vegas for myfirst time, I still haven't recovered,
so I don't know. I don'tknow how you've recovered right now. Baraca,
Baraca, I think that's probably it. Really, you know that some
(00:46):
hope. Well, let's pray torecover. Dance counting down the biggest dance
songs in the country. This isAmerica's Dance thirty. Halo, Welcome back
(01:11):
to America's Dance thirty. Oh thankyou so much for having me again.
And I told you we are talkingbefore the interview that I love the blonde
highlights in their hair, and Ihad I had made the comment on America's
Dance thirty the first time you posted. I was like, I don't know
if this is Halo or not,but I think she has blond hair.
(01:32):
Now, yeah, I just didlook a little rogue from the X Men
thing. You know, it's notCoola Deville is. Yeah, I just
want to point that out. Ididn't. Now it looks good. I
might do the same thing next week. I should talking though, talk me
in the post absolutely Well. Beforewe talk all about your smash where you
(01:55):
are with John Summit, let's talkabout some of these shows you've been doing.
You and John were actually just atRed Rocks doing a show which was
incredible. Was that your first time? Yeah, you know, it's one
of those places that obviously I've nevereven been to as an audience member,
you know, so I know ofit in the UK. It's very iconic
as well. But that the scaleof it, I don't think it was
(02:19):
well, I don't think I couldreally and I still can't put into words
what that was like for the firsttime, seeing the size and the scale
and the scope of that stage,the backdrop, the surroundings was absolutely like
mesmerizing. Yeahh it really is mindblowing. I was there for my first
time ironically for K five, Ithink either earlier this year or last year,
(02:40):
and I was just blown away bythe atmosphere and everything. It's amazing,
isn't it? And I think wellalso as well at the sound,
because I didn't really know what toexpect, but because obviously the rocks probably
you know, keep it in ofit, I don't know, but the
sound was incredible as well. Andthat's what I was just going to ask
you, was it? I mean, obviously the reverb had to be insane
(03:01):
bouncing off of the rocks. Howdifferent was it? Do you know what
it was? It wasn't as badas I thought it would be. I
genuinely thought it would have been abit of like a spirally kind of sound,
you know, find a bit wishywashy, But it was, do
you know what it was? Itwas amazing And I really didn't expect that
either. And I'm not sure whetherthe body's helped, because I think is
it ten thousand? I couldn't eventell you, not even think it's something
(03:23):
around that. It's basically quite alot of faces to sort of be okay,
you know, before you go on. But it was. Yeah,
the sound was absolutely incredible, andI genuinely didn't expect it to be that
good. I've watched a lot ofspecials from people performing there and being in
the crowd. I remember just turningaround and so I got a couple of
(03:43):
different aspects. One, we werein the crowd and we were looking around
and that was just mind blowing.And then we went I don't know if
you did this. We went allthe way up to the top and we
were watching some of the show fromthe top and just seeing the backdrop of
the city behind it. I mean, it's just unbelievable. Yeah, because
it isn't it. I mean,obviously like the city over in the court,
(04:08):
obviously off to the side, becauseI went I actually went off on
a bit of a wander in theday, just whilst we were doing sound
check, and I made my wayup to the very back of the stage,
so I didn't see it when itwas actually playing Lives, so we
didn't get to see all the lightsof the city. But yeah, I
didn't know that you'd be able tosee that far. It's amazing. It's
such an amazing venue. I'm gladyou got to perform there. Looked incredible
(04:29):
And oh, this is kind ofour one year anniversary because we met for
the first time a year ago atDC Vegas, when you were there performing
for K five. Now you werejust there again performing with at Craize.
How was that? It was amazingAnd again, you know, obviously I
was there last year, but it'sstill exactly the same way. It was
(04:53):
just absolutely incredible and seeing that manypeople, and I know the song that
I did is it's not yet released, so but I still wanted to get
people along. But it was.It was absolutely incredible and it was definitely
not lost on me the vastness ofthat festival. And I did actually get
lost at one point, so Igot to walk around, so I actually
(05:13):
went all the way through the festival, you know, as you do.
I got my steps right up.But it was amazing to actually get immersed
in the festival and see it alittle bit more and just kind of like
go to the different stages as well. But that stage I played at the
same stage as I did with KXfive, and a lot of memories came
flooding back, which was really nice. But we were saying that it's a
completely different vibe, or at leastfrom somebody who wasn't there, it looked
(05:39):
like a completely different vibe this yearfor you Yeah, yeah, I mean
it just felt I don't know,I'm not sure in a really good way.
It did have a bit of adifferent vibe, but it was it
was honestly, it was incredible,Like the atmosphere was amazing, and it
felt a bit more I mean withoutthe moving heads there. Obviously I was
on the DJ booth so I didn'thave to I didn't go through the track
(06:00):
this time, so I was definitelya lot less justifying. That's what it
was. Because when you performed withK five, if I remember, you
performed kind of in front of them, right, yes, whereas this with
that Craze, you were on theDJ rig with him, which looking out
from that high is just amazing.Yeah. I could definitely see a lot
(06:25):
further. Actually, now you sayit, Actually I could see over people
a lot more, Whereas before Iwas kind of not obviously person height,
you know, but I was ableto sort of see to a certain level,
and this time I think I did. Yeah, I was able to
pick people out further back. Itried not to dwell on it team because
I think I think if I did, I'd be like, oh no,
(06:46):
why is that a person singing?Yeah, I'd be like no the words,
even though the song's not released.But we don't even talk about that.
I mean, I don't ask fora lot. I don't think now.
I I've told everybody. When you'reon stage at a festival, looking
out on tens upon tens of thousandsof people is just so incredible. What's
(07:13):
it like when you're performing? Thefunniest thing is I know that when I've
basically got my first step and Iknow that I've got to take that step,
But just before that first step,I can feel all the boots of
flies, and my heart's kind ofdoing a bit of a weird backward beats
thing. And then as soon asI sort of hear the music, I
just think okay, and I kindof go off into like a little bit
of a like before. I don'tknow what it is. People call it
(07:34):
altered states, but it's like aperformance mode thing where I just feel like
quite calm. Really yeah, Iknow that sounds really weird, but I
do feel quite like okay, Andthen I get off and then the butterflies
come back and I'm like all right, Yeah. It's like it's like a
borderline out of body blackout experience.I mean, I'm they're still you know,
(07:57):
like I'm taking it all in andI'm really like looking into the people
in tuning into like whoever I'm djayingwith, and just the vibe of it.
And sometimes I actually only wear oneearboat so because I love to hear
the you know, the audience backand obviously the immediate surroundings of that sound
as well. Yeah, so I'mI'm there, but I'm like, oh,
I feel like a bit more zenthan I feel like I should be,
(08:20):
you know, which, I don'tknow whether that's a good thing.
Oh No, it's totally understandable,because like when I have to speak in
front of like five, ten,like fifty people, my anxiety is through
the roof because you know that thatsmall amount of people are literally staring at
you and listening to every single Ohmy god, my anxiety is building.
(08:43):
But anyways, when you're in frontof like twenty thirty, forty fifty thousand
people, it's a blur at thatpoint, and so it's a lot more
calming, as weird as it is. Yeah, in a strange way,
I think it's kind of like Idon't know what it is that just sort
of go, well, I'm hereand all the butterflies that have after like
(09:03):
maybe the first sentence a kind ofall good, and I'm like, just
go into going you know what you'redoing, You're all good, you know,
so in a really normal way.I suppose maybe that's kind of what's
going on. You know. I'mjust kind of like, oh, self
soothing with the music, you know. Yeah, it's totally the same on
my end as an MC. OnceI get past that first announcement, I'm
(09:24):
fine, But it's that lead upto Okay, is the mic gonna sound
right? Is it going to beloud enough? Am I gonna say the
right thing? You know? Onceyou get past all of that overthinking,
you're good to go. Yeah.I think that's what it is, and
I definitely think that after I've finishedit, though, I do end up
getting the anxiety back and I'm like, was that okay? Oh my god?
(09:46):
If you lived in the UK,we would be total BFFs because we're
the same person. Oh my god, let's talk about your smash where you
are with John's Summit? How wasthis song? Bo Warren? It is
so amazing? Well, I meanit was really helped by the fact I
supposed that, well, the connectionreally helped by the fact that John did
(10:07):
the remix for Escape. The KXfive remix, basically, the top line
didn't exist. It was written justafter Escape, and we sort of had
the top line and we just thought, you know what, I wonder if
you'd be interested, because he obviouslyliked the vibe of Escape, so we
collectively sort of sent it over andjust saw, we'll see if he likes
it. You know, I don'tknow, but he got back to us
(10:28):
pretty much straight away and had anidea, had a vibe, and it's
probably the quickest turnaround of a track. Yeah, from like sending to kind
of getting this sort of near releaseready version. Yeah, yeah, that
is amazing. Now, speaking ofthe release version, I always love finding
out how many different versions there arefrom when it started to when it's finally
(10:52):
released with all the tweaking. Now, obviously I don't think you saw all
the versions that John might have done, but from the singer I'm writer aspect
of it were there are a lotof versions of the song. You know,
I think we probably only had maybeabout three or four something like that.
But what it was really was morekind of getting like edits to the
sound that he wanted to create fromthe track, you know, so it
(11:13):
was kind of getting that vibe right, making sure that I suppose like the
rise and fall of it. Iknow I was going to do some more
ablems on it at some point,so I recorded a few more, but
then we just thought, you knowwhat, less is more, so we
ended up leaving it like that.But I think, genuinely, I think
it was probably honestly about three orfour that I saw John. If he
was, you know, we'd probablytell you something totally differently, be like
you can't even believe what's so funnyabout you? Mentioning that he got back
(11:37):
to you right away. I rememberspeaking with Sophie Tucker about the song that
they did with John Summit, andthey said the same thing that like they
DMed him at like five am,and he got back to them like right
away. No way, where washe? I wonder, It's like,
how are you doing this? Yeah? I mean, you know, I
(11:58):
think it's like pure professionality. Ishe's everywhere all at once, all of
the time, isn't he? Youknow, So that's gonna catch up to
him. But we don't need totell him that now. Was this song
written by Haley Williams from Paramore,So there's been some confusion. I am
(12:18):
aware of my career, so canyou talk about this? So I don't
know if many people know, butmy actual name is Haley Williams, which
is confusing when you're doing show prepto find out who wrote the song and
you see that. Yeah, ifyou saw in the credits, like who
(12:39):
wrote this track and it says HayleyWilliams, You're like, oh my god
that one. I was like,wow, how did Paramore get into this?
I mean, Haley, if you'reout there and you'd like to write
with me, Oh my gosh,I am totally down that. I love
that fellow Haley Williams is in theroom. Should it happen? Should it
not? Oh, she's actually backhere. Hold on, let me let
her in. Oh hello. Now, at what point did you decide to
(13:03):
go with Hala. I think itwas about probably about four years ago something
like that, because I started toget tagged in when I was kind of
his Haley Williams when I was whenI was my own name. Oh,
she was getting tagged in things.If I was on a radio show or
something, they tag her instead ofme, just because the research. You're
obviously fair enough. Just was like, oh, well that's yeah, and
(13:26):
just tagged the wrong person. SoI thought, this is suchually a bit
of a problem now, I thinkso. So I just thought, you
know, I'll use my nickname,which is Hala, and I was born
that really, but it was itwas one of those things. I just
thought, actually, she's getting taggedin things, and she probably I don't
know if she ever saw it.She probably didn't, but I don't want
to, you know, I don'twant it to be like who is this
persona? I completely understand that.Because I couldn't get Brian Fink on Instagram,
(13:52):
I had to do I am BrianFink because there's another Brian Fink who
got that first, and he wouldn'tgive it to me. I mean,
oh, we got into it.He actually blocked me. He oh,
Brian fig blocked me. What theheck is that? Oh? Another blocks
me? You know. So wheredid the nickname Hala come from? He
(14:18):
hala? Really? Well, itwas just one of those things, I
mean, like get called Hale's hHala. And then my mates when we
used to do like fans, we'ddo, you know, obviously cover trucks,
sometimes or whatever, and that wasone of them. And then yes,
that was borne out of the backof that. Well, I'm glad
you went with Hala. It standsout. It's perfect now I know you
(14:39):
Also, besides where you are,you just dropped the song with sub focus.
How did that song come together?Yeah? Well, actually that's something
I will be honest with something thatI didn't write that track. It was
a resing for me, which wasa pleasure and absolute honor as well to
be asked to try and replicate Becky'svoice or try oh so paramored in write
that one. No, she's noton that got a little bit, so
(15:03):
I need to kind of probably sayto her in here, like we need
to have a chat. Haley.So you mentioned Becky. Was that Becky
Hill? Becky Hill? Yeah,So originally I think she was going to
be the vocalist for it, butI think because of her release schedules,
they just thought, you know,maybe we'll find somebody else to sing the
track, and just so happened.They actually asked me and they were happy
with the job that I did.So so that was one out of that.
(15:26):
But it's nice because I haven't reallydone a lot of drum bass before
I had one out a couple ofyears ago. But it was really nice
that I was asked to do that, and I hopefully we'll be singing that
live at some point. That's soawesome. And that's crazy that it was
originally Becky Hill, because I rememberspeaking with a Lesso about words and his
(15:48):
number one was Zara Larson was originallysupposed to be Becky Hill as well,
but because of her release schedule.That's so much. It was everywhere as
well. I mean, I meanthat's for you guys. Yeah, I
know. I did message and Iwas like, thanks name. Now do
you know Becky? Yes, Well, we've only sort of met over the
(16:08):
last I think, well last summerreally all know. Was it last Christmas?
I was doing the Orchestra tour withPete Tongue and she's been a staple
on that tour for for years now, and I was fortunate enough to be
on the show at the same timeas her, so I did a little
guest slot and she was there,So I did. I met her a
few times and hopefully I'll meet up, you know, over the weekend potentially
(16:29):
as well. But yeah, Idon't know. I'd like to get to
know her little bit more. Butwe have done a few gigs together now,
which has been amazing. That's soawesome. Well, if you do
so yes weekend, tell her Isaid, Hi, give her my best.
Oh my god, I will,I will, I will definitely will
do. Yeah. Congratulations on allthe success with where you are with John's
summit. What is next for Hala? Oh? Well, I'm going to
(16:52):
be releasing some of my own materialactually, hopefully towards the end of the
year. I have been working behindthe scenes on like a little bit of
a body of work which I'm hopefullygoing to have together by maybe the end
of next year. But there area few singles that I'd like to release,
and I might have a few morefeatures here and there as well,
but I'm going to keep them silentfor now. But yeah, I mean
you already talked about it earlier.We're talking about that. Hello, you're
(17:18):
managering there rooms right now? Like, no cut this everybody can follow at
Hala sings on all socials, right, Yes, that's right, Yeah,
Hala. It is so awesome seeingyou again on our one year anniversary.
I know this is horrible of me, but it's typical man, I didn't
(17:40):
get you anything for a one yearanniversary. I know, I know,
I know what you What a horribleway to the end the interview. Gift
Hala, congratulations, it's great seeingyou again. Thank you for your time
on America's Dan's thirty. Oh,thank you so much for having me.
Yeah. America's Dance thirty Counting downthe biggest dance songs in the country.
(18:04):
America's Dance thirty
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