Haley Sawtelle

Haley answers a few of our questions and lets us in on what inspires her.

MB: How did you discover your love for music?

HS: I’ve always gravitated towards music, but started diving deeper throughout my teenage years. That’s when I began to find solace through writing and creating music. I used it as a means to cope with personal hardships and overwhelming emotions, which remains my main focus today. 

MB: How would you describe the Nevada music scene?

HS: I find the Vegas music scene challenging, but beautiful. It is a transient city where people, spaces, and events come and go. But even with all of that change, you find your community full of love and support. Fergusons Downtown is one of my favorite places to perform, and with Bunkhouse and 11th Street Records right across the street, it’s a special and unique zone. I recently moved to Reno, am slowly exploring the scene here, and am excited to find my community!

 MB: What made you change from just guitar and vocals on Bloom to a full band on Sunlight for Stars?

HS: With Bloom as my first release, my main focus was to keep it simple and authentic. It’s an ode to where it all began, with just me and my guitar. The emphasis is on the lyrics and emotions behind the songs. With Sunlight for Stars, adding the full band was an exciting step forward. It was a passion project for me and my dear friend, and producer, Pablo Habitual. We met at an open mic in Vegas and he told me to let him know when I was ready to take my music to the next level. I wrote the lyrics and basic song structure for each of the tracks, much like Bloom, then Pablo stepped in to create the arrangements for the other instruments and musicians, resulting in a killer record. 

MB: What artist inspired (or inspires) you the most?

HS: I’m a big fan of Liza Anne, specifically her album The Colder Months. She has beautiful one-liners that cut so deep! I’m always looking to other women who are truly creating something of their own. Others who stand out are Haley Heynderickx, Laura Marling, and Maggie Rogers. 

 MB: What do you like to do in your free time outside of music?

HS: Everything! My creative pursuits extend far beyond my music. I enjoy making custom macrame pieces, pottery, and knitted goods. I’m also a big advocate for getting outside in nature. I took up snowboarding last winter and also enjoy rock climbing, hiking, camping and just being outside!

MB: What’s next for Haley Sawtelle?

HS: I’m still focused on promoting Sunlight for Stars to get the word out there. With that momentum, I’d love to travel to Mexico City to play some gigs with all the amazing musicians that made the record possible. I’d also be excited to take my music to the east coast. Beyond that, the plan is to continue creating collaborative albums, learning, and growing.

MB: Anything else you want to share that maybe I haven’t asked?

HS: Just a reminder that being an independent musician and putting out personal work takes so much time, energy, and resources. Never hesitate to reach out to a musician if you connect with what they are creating. Taking the time to send a message on social media, paying the $10 to download our music off our websites, and buying our merch, means so damn much to us. The human connection is what makes it all worth it. On that note, a big thank you to Kim at Music Babble for asking me to do this interview, it truly made my day! 

Thank you Haley for taking time to answer some of our questions! To check out some of Haley’s latest music, click a couple of the links below. Also, check out her website, haleysawtellemusic.com, and follow her musical journey on Instagram, @haleysawtellemusic.