"Ha Vay’s music resides in a dreamscape of majestic desert drives, velvety corners of parties, and dramatic one-night-tales."
When preparing for this interview, I fell in love with the colourful descriptions I found online describing Ha Vay's music. The smallest details inspire her... and as a fellow romantic, lover of Paris and Sophia Coppola fan, I was beyond excited to hear about the world through her eyes.
The pieces in the 'by Paloma' collection are created for the rituals and reveries of everyday life. And like talismans each design is considered in a feminine and dreamy way - to connect and draw the wearer to the beauty and adventure of everyday moments. In a similar way your work and lyrics talk about "glamorizing mundane experiences". Tell us more about this... Do you hope in a similar way that your songs open doors for listeners to see things in a new light?
I've always had the mindset that life is endlessly fascinating, no matter what. My experiences in small "boring" towns have been just as interesting as those in big cities because it's the drama of the human experience that is exciting, in my opinion. If you're open to it, you can find so much entertainment in so many normal things. Whether that's the drama of your coworkers, the comedy in small interactions, or even just your own thoughts. I think getting dressed up for each day, in some way, is such an important part of this for me so I love the vision behind your brand as well.
The pieces in the 'by Paloma' collection are created for the rituals and reveries of everyday life. And like talismans each design is considered in a feminine and dreamy way - to connect and draw the wearer to the beauty and adventure of everyday moments. In a similar way your work and lyrics talk about "glamorizing mundane experiences". Tell us more about this... Do you hope in a similar way that your songs open doors for listeners to see things in a new light?
I've always had the mindset that life is endlessly fascinating, no matter what. My experiences in small "boring" towns have been just as interesting as those in big cities because it's the drama of the human experience that is exciting, in my opinion. If you're open to it, you can find so much entertainment in so many normal things. Whether that's the drama of your coworkers, the comedy in small interactions, or even just your own thoughts. I think getting dressed up for each day, in some way, is such an important part of this for me so I love the vision behind your brand as well.
When creating, how do you find beauty in the mundane? Do you like to have a routine or is the process more spontaneous? Everything I do is incredibly spontaneous haha. Every good idea strikes me when it strikes me, and I can't control it. I get really swept up in things, so in that I also find a lot of beauty or interest in otherwise mundane experiences.
I also love how your vibe merges the soft aspects of femininity with bolder aspects. It can be easier for people to digest strong messages through dreamy/soft lyrics and looks. Is this a delicate balance for you? Does it come quite naturally? I really like the way you broke this down. The way I naturally look and present is very soft and feminine and I definitely think that has awarded me a privilege to address some of the darker aspects of femininity without being immediately pigeonholed and disregarded. Internally I have a lot of boldness and rage, so I've struggled a lot with the discrepancy between the way I look (and how society treats me because of it) and how I feel. More recently I've leaned into that soft image more, though, because it is very natural for me so I think the best way to convey my message is from that genuine vessel. That all being said, I think sometimes people can miss the point and not catch some of the satire and commentary I infuse into the music because a lot of people will look at the imagery and take it at face value.
What do you love about California in the summertime? I love the dry, hot weather. It's perfect for wearing dresses and being barefoot. The grass is all dead and we're not allowed to water anything because of the ongoing droughts so everything turns golden-colored and the sun stays out late for super long golden afternoons.
And finally how does the 'Marbella' dress feel on? It's so easy. Lightweight and flowy while still being flattering. It's so easy to throw on, but feels perfectly looks put-together.
Quick fire questions...
Fave band or musician of all time? Stevie Nicks and Lana Del Rey
Fave lyric/line you've heard? "don't be jerk / don't call me a taxi / sitting in your sweatshirt, crying in the backseat / ooh, i just wanna dance with you"
-Lana Del Rey "Happiness is a Butterfly"
Fave song? "Hasta la Raíz" by Natalia Lafourcade
Fave film? Pierrot le Fou
Fave flower? belladonna lily/naked lady flower