Project Description
Interview with
HANERI
(September 2020)
Interviewer – Dave Bruce
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Praise for HANERI:
“Haneri traverses the gap between eastern and western culture effortlessly” – Asian Pop Weekly
“Haneri’s vocals were both smooth and fluffy then you had the sublime lyrics” – Music is my Radar
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Have you always wanted to be a musician? When did you get the song writing bug?
Yes! I wanted to make music from the day I could talk, or so my mother says. I started writing poetry when I was very young and that lead to me trying to sing it out sometimes and truly it wasn’t till I had written my entire album and some years later did I realize I had become a songwriter.
How would you describe your sound? Why do you think people resonate with your music?
I would say my sound changes in different seasons. But I want to try as best as I can to always be honest in my music. I want to believe that people that listen to my music and have it speak to them is because we’re all going through something at some point and we don’t have to feel alone in it. We don’t have to feel like we can’t express ourselves or feel what it is we’re feeling – good or bad. I hope that’s why people resonate with my music :)
Which artist’s music and/or performance, past or present, inspires you today?
Wow I used to watch a lot of this Korean/Japanese artist BOA and of course Britney Spears, Adele, Sara Bareilles, Lady Gaga, Ariana Grande, Stevie Wonder, Celine Dion, John Mayer, Lukas Nelson. So so so many.
Your new single has just been released. Describe its origin and evolution.
It definitely was written from life experience. I feel like in dating, especially in the more recent times, it’s easy to confuse feelings for either a long term thing or a fun short term fling. And this song was about the lack of communication in the time where you’re not sure if everyone is having fun anymore and what that means. I wrote it with the incredible Benjamin Samama (Paul Van Dyk, DASCO) and Tim Randolph (Imagine Dragons) after a long road trip from San Francisco back to Los Angeles and the song evolved after my producer Drew OfThe Drew took it on and created what you hear today.
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Is there an EP or Album on the drawing board?
Yes!! ‘Y Didn’t You Say So’ is the second single leading up to my EP: MILLIONA that is slated for release end Nov 2020.
Any tours or events coming up soon? What are you looking forward to, and what can the fans expect?
I don’t think I can do any live shows or tour with the current pandemic situation. But I do spin Wednesday evenings on my twitch channel that I call “Haneri Music Night”
If you could perform with any music artist, Alive or Dead, who would you choose? And why?
Oh wow that’s a tough question. I want to say I would love to jam and/or perform with John Mayer, Sara Bareilles, Ariana Grande, Prince, Stevie Wonder. I’m sure there are more but these are off the top of my head.
Do you have any long-term aspirations as a music artist?
I’d just love to reach as many people as possible and bring joy and comfort to as many people as I can. The world can suck, life can suck. We all need a little music to get by.
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What is the best thing about performing to a live audience? What’s been the career highlight so far?
Performing to a live audience is so electric because there’s an exchange of vibrations, of feelings and emotions and real connections that are made at a live show. I’ll definitely say being able to perform at the SEA Games Opening Ceremony in 2015 to a HUGE audience was a career highlight, and so was being able to play at my two favorite venues in the States: Rockwood Music Hall in New York and The Hotel Cafe in Los Angeles.
Finally, a few questions for some quick answers –
FAVOURITE:
Album – Right now I will still listen to it front to back over and over again: Better Oblivion Community Center – Better Oblivion Community Center
Artist – Ariana Grande
Movie – Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind / How’s Moving Castle
Place to visit – Japan
Venue to play – The Hotel Cafe
Food – Fried Chicken
Drink – Water
Person in History – My mom
Tattoo – (If you don’t have one, what would you get?) I love all my tattoos :D
Thanks so much for having me!!! <3
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Check out HANERI below
Website – Facebook – Instagram
Twitter – Twitch
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HANERI
shares new single
“Y DIDN’T YOU SAY SO”
New EP MILLIONA out Worldwide Late November
Singapore-Australian funk infused-pop songstress Haneri (formerly Daphne Khoo) returns with a brand new boldly honest and upbeat single “Y Didn’t You Say So,” out TODAY. We haven’t been able to stop dancing and now we’re excited you can join us! “Y Didn’t You Say So” follows the release of “IDWLY”, released in January, both showcasing Haneri’s cheery dance driven new sound. “Y Didn’t You Say So” is a reflection on the ability to grow from past mistakes while learning to love and accept yourself for everything you are and can be. No more holding back, now is the time to be yourself and embrace every single moment of it.
Haneri is set to release another single this year (which we can’t wait to share), leading up to the release of her EP MILLIONA, due out late November. She aims to bring out her bold new self with MILLIONA. In her words, “Be you. Be weird. Be amazing”. Stay tuned for the upcoming music video for “Y Didn’t You Say So” out on September 22.
Haneri emerged on the scene in 2017, gracing the Spotify New Music Friday cover and charting at #9 in Singapore and 6 other countries with her first singles “Burning Up” and “Feel Alright”. She’s also seen success in the EDM world with her co-releases with DJ/Producer DASCO, Dash Berlin and more. Her latest tracks highlight Haneri’s gift of blending genres and expressive songwriting into lovable and highly addicting pop/funk/disco jams. All proving she really is an artist to have on your radar in 2020 and beyond.
Haneri on “Y Didn’t You Say So”: “‘Y Didn’t You Say So’ is my way of being fed up and frustrated, but also laughing off how men don’t know how to tell you what they want. It embraces my ability to ask a guy out ‘hey, what’s your name?’ which is something in the past I would never have done (I mean it’s something I still have to work on). But in finding that strength realizing that nothing in life needs to be taken too seriously and being confused and in like with someone is ok. I’m sure the ambiguity with dating these days is hella frustrating and this song is all about that giddy and nauseating time where no one knows if it’s for fun or for keeps. We’re all growing. So I thought why not grow up, and say it to him in a song.”
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