“We aren’t trembling school boys uncertain of how to get our fans off, we already know what makes them purr.”

Steve Haley lead singer, Haley.


Ok, so when you look at these guys you may notice the overt sexuality teeming from their pensive stares. Or maybe that’s just me and you see a couple of hard-edged indie guys looking back at you. Whatever the case, this band has some tricks up their sleeves, like they can kill it. On a sub-zero night in the streets of Philadelphia, Steve Haley, lead vocals and guitar of Haley, had some time to chat with BettyLife.com.

The music of Haley is described by Steve as “a cross between metal, punk, rock, and horror”. If that sounds like an oxymoron then try imagining the genre as a freight train headed your way without any brakes. The band is relatively nascent, having formed in the summer of 2008.

The name “Haley” came to Steve Haley after a conversation with Mitch Hug, yes, that is his real name, the band’s bass player. “After Trashlight Vision I was trying to decide between the Steve Haley Solo Projector and creating a band. I decided to go with a band. The name was eluding me and one night I was talking with Mitch about it. I didn’t want to come off cocky but he suggested Haley and from then on that was what we went with.”

Members of Haley hail from different parts of the States and met while playing in other bands. “Stripes and I met while touring together in Europe with our former bands, Trashlight Vision and BlitzKid. And Mitch and I knew each other from previous bands Nympho Clepto and Boxer. We all seemed to be interconnected throughout the years and it was only natural that we ended up playing together.”

The band Haley has an unquestionably distinct voice, a blend between heavy metal and rock n’ roll interspersed with just the right amount of punk. Haley himself has been fine-tuning his sound from a young age.

Haley’s inspirations with music started with The Stooges, Iggy Pop, David Bowie, and the Sex Pistols. “As I grew older, I started identifying more with rebel rock. I was able to channel my energy and rage gained from being a shy kid into something powerful and loud. I discovered an outlet to express my pain and conveniently mask it behind thrashing guitar leads and progressive choruses. I could lose myself in playing and become someone different.”

Bringing this energy to the table was something all band members could relate to, “As a band, we all have personal narratives from childhood and adulthood that fuel our songwriting. Everyone has a story to tell. We just find ways to connect with our audience and let them know we feel the same thing they do. Love, pain, regret, sorrow—we have all been there, some of us are still fighting these demons and will be for a long time.”

Music has always been a passion for Haley who has been playing the guitar since an early age. “Music was my retreat from reality. My mother played the piano and I remember singing songs with her as a child. It was a natural progression for me to pick up the guitar. I started playing guitar around 12. It was magic. The guitar was a meatier, more intense emotional release.”

According to Haley, “the band works together to bring in songs or ideas and then we each add our own voices to the songs. It most definitely is a joint effort. Stripes’ (drummer) voice is present on all the tracks. And Mitch lends vocal support to balance the harmony between me and Stripes. The inspiration for the lyrics come from our collective experiences.”

Being a little older in a youth-dominated market has its advantages. “I think at my level and within Haley it has more advantages for us. We offer the bad boy attitude and image with a twist-- experience. We understand the nature of the beast. You have to be willing to risk it all to make it, and we know some of the best shortcuts, which make our journey a little less bumpy than most bands’. I think our experience makes us a little sexier to our fans. We aren’t trembling school boys uncertain of how to get our fans off, we already know what makes them purr.”

Future plans for Haley include a summer European tour to follow the East Coast support for their newly released self-titled, full-length album.

Soon you’ll be able to pick up Haley on iTunes but until then, mail order through Myspace or hit them up for an autographed copy at their shows.