Spotlight: HAVEN
Photographer: Joshua Burch.
Tearsheet By Emily McKenzie.
1. Tell us your name.
HAVEN.
2. Where do you live, and where did you grow up?
I live in Nashville but spend most of my time between LA & Nashville. I grew up in Moville, Iowa.
3. Profession?
Pop singer/songwriter.
Photographer: Storm Santos.
4. How did you discover you wanted to be in this profession?
Music was always something I loved since I can remember. My mom took me to my first concert to see Shania Twain when I was four years old, and I looked up at her and said, “I want to do that.” I’ve always had the dream of selling out stadiums. I bought a guitar with my birthday money when I was nine and started writing songs, but I didn’t start really pursuing music seriously until I was 12. I started fronting a band doing around 100 dates a year and traveling to Nashville to be in writing sessions every day and take meetings. Then, I homeschooled throughout all of high school so that I would be available to travel and pursue music as well. I lived in my band trailer at 15 with my mom so I could have the ability to tour and write in Nashville. Around the age of 19 I started traveling to Los Angeles to write for this pop project. I feel that I’ve always had the passion and dream to write and be an artist. It’s just been somethings that’s always been in me.
5. Who influenced your career most as you grew up?
I would say Shania Twain has been my biggest influence.
Photographer: Storm Santos.
6. You’ve toured with Hunter Hayes and Lady Antebellum to name a few. What were these experiences like?
It was a dream come true! I was personally a fan of both of them so to get to open for them was such a blessing.
7. What’s next for your career? Any new music coming out soon?
Yes! My next single RN was released on May 29th, and we’ll be releasing new music every six weeks. When it’s safe to do so I’ll be going on tour with Dinah Jane.
Photographer: Storm Santos
8. Most memorable moment from your career thus for?
Probably playing the Iowa State Fair Grandstand because as a kid growing up in Iowa that was like the biggest best stage to get to play on, so to get to do that was something I’ll never forget.
9. What do you to do in the future?
I want to tour and perform more. That is my favorite part of all of this.
10. What influenced your transition from country to pop?
Growing up in Moville, Iowa, the majority of the music I listened to was country music. I wasn’t exposed to much pop until I moved to Nashville actually. Once I started listening to more pop it opened up a whole new world of music and melodies for me. Over time I started writing more pop-leaning songs. I knew I wanted to do pop, but everyone around me was in the country music business so I felt lost. Last April my publishing company sent me on a writing trip to LA, and I did a week full of pop sessions. The pop melodies flowed out of me naturally, and I knew that’s the music I was supposed to be making, but I was in-between sonically. My publisher introduced me to my now manager, Brian Teefey, on that LA trip. He helped me make the pop transition and developed me as an artist. So now about a year and a half later, we’re releasing the music, and I couldn’t be more excited.
Photographer: Storm Santos
11. What has been the biggest challenge so far in your career?
I think learning to be patient has been the biggest challenge. You get into it and you want everything happens fast. You have to work hard, trust and enjoy the process.
12. Has music always had such an important role in your life?
Yes! Music has always been my safe haven. I got really sick when I was younger and my passion for music pulled me through. It’s healing, and it’s always been a part of me.
Photographer: Storm Santos
13. Where do you think you get your musical talent?
I think it is a gift from God and I hope to use it to the best of my ability. My mom won’t admit it but I think I got it from her side of the family mostly.
14. What are some of your passions beyond music?
I love athletics. I was involved in sports growing up so that will always be a passion of mine.
15. Website/Social Media
@Iamhavenmusic Instagram | Facebook | Twitter
Music: Spotify | Apple Music | Amazon Music
Check Out Haven, “Swimming In Your Feelings”
Article by Alison Hernon, Editor-In-Chief, PhotoBook Magazine.
Street Talk supports emerging artists who merit being discovered with skills such as dance, art, design, sculpture, architecture, fashion trends, shop the look and fine art photography.
