Powerhouse singer and acclaimed songwriter HAYLA is set to headline the Great American Music Hall on Thursday, February 20, in support of her debut solo album DUSK. Known for her collaborations on dance anthems like John Summit’s “Where You Are”, deadmau5 x Kaskade’s “Escape”, and KYGO’s “Without You”, HAYLA has become one of dance music’s most recognizable voices.
With DUSK, she steps into the spotlight, exploring themes of love, loss, and self-worth across 10 captivating tracks. The iconic Great American Music Hall, known for its intimate, historic setting, will provide the perfect backdrop for HAYLA’s powerful vocals and emotional performance.
Ahead of the show, we caught up with HAYLA to talk about her journey, the new album, and what fans can expect from her live performance.
You’re bringing DUSK to life at the iconic Great American Music Hall on February 20. What can fans expect from this show that they haven’t seen before?
I’m so excited to get on the road and share DUSK live! Singing live is my favorite thing to do and where I feel most myself. I’ve been fortunate enough to share the stage with some incredible artists, but for my show, it’s just me and the music. I will be performing a mixture of tracks from my debut album DUSK and some of my collaborations so there’s a little something for everybody.
The Great American Music Hall has been a launching pad for some legendary artists (Dua Lipa, Billie Eilish). Does performing in such a historic venue change how you approach a live set?
I’m looking forward to playing the Great American Music Hall and knowing so many historical musical events have taken place in this venue makes it all the more exciting. We have tried to take the audience on a journey with the flow of the set. I hope that everyone will leave this venue feeling like they’ve connected through music.
Your music thrives in massive festival settings, but this is a more intimate space. How do you translate the energy of a dancefloor anthem to a venue like this?
We have brought our own production to submerge the audience in light and sound – bringing the club inside theatres and music halls. Being in a more intimate space I think adds to the connection between myself and the audience. I hope that when people leave the show they feel like they know me better.
DUSK is deeply personal, tackling themes of love, loss, and self-worth. Will the live show lean into those emotions, or are you reimagining the songs for the stage?
I will be falling deeper into those emotions. I think performing the tracks live always adds more depth to the meaning and feeling behind each track. There are a few moments in this set that have been extended upon with a mixture of original works and remixes allowing the listener to feel a range of emotion and movement.
You’ve worked with some of the biggest names in dance music—John Summit, Deadmau5, Kaskade, Kygo, and now Meduza. Have those collaborations influenced how you craft your solo performances?
After working with so many different artists within the dance music space it’s made me and my team think about stage production a lot more than we would have done if I hadn’t shared some of the stages I have. We wanted to bring a level of artistry when it came to dressing and lighting the stage. It’s been so inspiring to see what scene different artists choose to get to each space. I have thoroughly enjoyed the process and will enjoy it progressing as we go.
The title track of DUSK is completely self-produced—a bold statement. Will you be performing it live, and if so, how do you plan to bring its surreal textures to the stage?
This is the only track from the album that I haven’t chosen to perform live. There is a plan however in the future to try and reproduce this track live. So watch this space …
Your voice is one of the most recognizable in dance music right now. How do you keep it in peak shape while juggling recording, performing, and touring?
Ah, thank you! I have several things I do. I try and stay hydrated and drink a lot of herbal tea. There’s also a range of vocal exercises that I do to open up my vocal range before a show. I’ve been sober for about a year and a half and I’ve found since taking this route (and because I’m not out as late as I used to be) that my vocal health has been a lot better. I do try and stay away from loud environments when I’m not performing. Speaking over loud music seems to be the one thing that vocally takes a toll on me and causes vocal fatigue.
With this show being such a big moment for you as a solo artist, do you have any pre-show rituals to get in the right headspace before stepping on stage?
I actually don’t. I have some large costumes so just before I go on I probably need about half an hour to make sure the corsets aren’t too tight but just tight enough and just have a breather on my own before I get out on stage. This is not a good tip for anyone, so yeah don’t try this at home, but I sing with chewing gum in my mouth. Always have and always will. It’s my hydration without having to think about needing water ha. So every gig I make sure I have chewing gum in my bag … it’s probably a bit of an anxiety thing too. I think it’s my sort of safety blanket.
San Francisco has such a deep history in electronic and dance music. Are there any artists or moments from the city’s scene that have inspired you?
There are so many incredible electronic artists from the San Francisco area it’s hard to choose. One artist I have always loved is DJ Shadow. Endtroducing is one of my favorite albums of all time. I love how there is such a great mixture of hip-hop and trip-hop styles and genres side by side in this body of work. Another dance artist I’ve always loved is Illenium who also blends style and genre. It’s inspiring to see how artists can play in different genre fields and I have tried to implement this within my debut album DUSK.
HAYLA is coming to the Great American Music Hall on Thursday, February 20
