HAAi x Community Bread III

For as long as we can remember, HAAi was always destined to be a renowned musician. It was never a hobby or a fleeting interest, or some sort of far fetched pipe dream. She lives and breathes music. And she was determined to share it with the world. A decade ago, HAAi fronted a number of bands in Sydney, most notably was Dark Bells, a psychedelic rock shoe-gazey band. She played the guitar and sang in a haunting, brooding but very pretty voice. It seems like quite the contrast to her energetic, uplifting DJ sets these days. But not really? We listened to her BBC Radio 1 Essential Mix of the Year (um… major!) again, and we can definitely hear hints of her psyc-rock influence, especially with the atmospheric, hypnotic electronica at the beginning of that set.

But how does one transition from rock band lead to DJ? It was her earlier years in London playing at this small Dalston bar. Her eclectic taste and natural talent for reading a crowd, eventually earned her a residency at Brixton nightclub Phonox London where she really unleashed playing anything from techno to Bruce Springsteen.Never subscribing to constantly changing trends in dance music.HAAi knows good music and she knows how to build tension & pause. Perhaps it’s her background in rock which makes her such a great DJ / producer. She already knows what sounds will steer the dancefloor a certain way. It’s no surprise then that her most recent EP ‘Head Above The Parakeet’ is not at all what we expected, but at the same time it’s so her. Shades of psychedelica, and even hazy shoe-gaze-eaque vocals make an appearance. It really is a gorgeous, experimental & even cinematic EP.

“‘Head Above The Parakeets’ is an obvious play on

words. To signify the feeling of risk, apprehension and being exposed in what you create” she states.
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[benmarshall]

Discovering HAAi via Essential Mix was a joy, as was, and still is, discovering and relistening to her online music and DJ work.

[wes]

absolute heaven to the ears , such a unique sound. Haai gets ye High alright 🕺💃🚀🔥 love it