Love is hard and Pittsburgh artist Halloway has been through it. Halloway’s new album, “Rhapsody” reads like a novel with each song pushing the tragic tale further while reminding us to love well and love gently.
Halloway recently spoke with WYEP's Joey Spehar.
What’s your musical history up to this point?
My first performance of original music happened in 2019 at the WYEP Singer-Songwriter Competition. Any performing before that happened while I was singing and playing instruments in choirs, concert bands, and musical theater throughout my school years.
In 2020 I started to teach myself how to produce my own music, and in 2021 I put out my first ever single “Start Again” under the name “Halloway.” Since 2021 I’ve been performing in the Pittsburgh area and put out two EP’s, “Rockabye” and “Ribbons.” This year I started performing with a full band and released my first full length album “Rhapsody” that I produced, mixed, and mastered entirely myself.
How do you describe your sound?
My sound definitely bounces around. I don’t like to box myself in, but I do regularly fall back into ethereal sounding melodies while honoring rock, folk, and pop themes. I’m inspired by artists like Maggie Rogers, Adele, Florence + the Machine, & Stevie Nicks.
Tell us more about the song "Patches." What inspired you to write it and what does it mean to you?
Patches is a chapter in the novel that is "Rhapsody," which is a story based on the passing of my friend I was quite in love with who became an addict leading to his passing. Patches is about navigating the love of a person who needs healing and not enabling; someone living a double life of “succumbing to addiction” and “trying to get better.”
I held myself as a “soft-place-to-land” playing doctor, therapist, and friend as he’d break off toxic relationships, “get clean,” and leave abusive situations. I’d hold him in my arms feeling his breaths wondering if it was going to be the last time; wanting more out of a precious love but refusing to go further until he was sober for a long while. Addiction is a disease that takes away rational thinking, and it would take him back to temporary highs, but I always stayed as the mender even when others didn’t want to associate themselves with the extremely stigmatized circumstances.
With perspective you realize that it’s a terribly sad song, but music has an incredible ability to suspend hope in time and I think of the song fondly. To me the song is a reminder that it’s important to love people well and gently even when it’s hard and the love of true friendship trumps any other kind.
What was the first album that really changed your life?
The first album that really changed my life was "Yeah So" by Slow Club — a band I discovered, funnily enough, from a Lays chip commercial that featured their song “Thinking, Drinking, Sinking, Feeling.” The album had high highs and low lows and captured a feeling in me where I felt extremely emotionally seen. With Slow Club being my comfort band, after the death of my friend I dove into their discography regularly replaying “When I Go,” “There’s No Good Way To Say I’m Leaving You,” “Sorry About the Doom,” “I Couldn’t say It To Your Face,” and many others. To know Slow Club is to know me in grief and otherwise.
Who are some other Pittsburgh artists you think more people should listen to?
I am constantly blown away by Pittsburgh talent and feel so lucky to be in this scene. Mirabelle Skipworth is working on a new album that I’m super excited for. Cameron Warren just released a song called “Falling for You” that I love. Treasure Treasure is a multi-talented force who is busy with upcoming concerts, and she’ll be performing as the lead in “Jesus Christ Superstar” at the Byham. I can’t wait to see it.”
Any other super interesting things about you we should know?
I am almost 100% self-taught with everything I do in music (other than the clarinet lol) I say this not as a brag, but to show that you really can do anything you put your mind to. Also, to honor his memory, it’s important to say that my friend who passed was also an incredible musician with an electric personality. I’m constantly reminded of him while supporting other artists in the Pittsburgh music scene thinking “Oh, this person would love him... I wish Dan was here to see this performance.” You never know what life will throw at you or when you’ll go so, teach yourself guitar, piano, or how to produce. Let yourself be bad at things, you might just get good!
