Portland, OR’s Haley Heynderickx recently signed to Mama Bird Recording Co who will release her debut album I Need to Start a Garden on March 2nd. Haley co-produced the album with Zak Kimball, and she recorded it with Lily Breshears (electric bass, piano, backing vocals), Tim Sweeney (upright bass, electric bass), Phillip Rogers (drums & percussion, backing vocals), and Denzel Mendoza (trombone, backing vocals).
With two singles out to date, “Untitled God Song” and the doo wop-inspired “Oom Sha La La,” and both are truly excellent songs that have deservedly earned Haley a bit of hype. They sound a bit like Angel Olsen, but more because they likely share some of the same classic influences than because she’s trying to emulate Angel’s music. Haley has been talking about influences in an interview with Stephen Deusner for Stereogum’s ‘Artist to Watch’
I was definitely fascinated by Jimi Hendrix growing up. It totally could have been the last name, but I love the confidence he exudes when he plays. To be honest, thought, I got way more into the finger style guitar. Once I learned how to play “Blackbird,” I was sold on the Beatles. As a songwriter, I feel like I was more influenced by Dylan than anyone else. And the older I get, the more I find these shy lady songwriters who disappeared for some reason or another and then came back. Like Vashti Bunyan or Connie Converse. They showed me that there are secrets in the way you write and play guitar, when you give listeners just enough. I try to be very secretive and sneaky about what I steal. My favorite type of stealing is when you don’t even know you’re stealing. You just digest your favorite things. If I share something with my band and no one can figure out where it’s from, including me, then we keep going. I just write songs in my bedroom and then throw them at my band the way a little kid throws spaghetti at a wall. I feel very lucky to work with people who are really passionate about music. They kick my butt and teach me a lot.
Haley also recorded one of the new album’s songs, “The Bug Collector,” for an entry to NPR’s Tiny Desk Contest, which won over NPR’s Bob Boilen.
The Fat Angel Sings 