Who would you put on the Mount Rushmore of legendary trance vocalists? Richard Bedford? Stine Grove? Tiff Lacey? These singers and countless others have helped define trance music for decades- lending their angelic voices to help bring real emotion to the melodic side of electronic dance. This year has seen the rise of a new name: HALIENE. And she’s taking the trance world by storm.
We were able to get a quick chat with the singer/songwriter from Los Angeles at Dreamstate Socal over the weekend. It didn’t take long to notice her personality, her spirit, is as amazing as her voice! Before bursting onto the scene in 2015, she attended music festivals, and its here where she discovered community. “People are my heart,” she confessed. [pullquote]”You can befriend a perfect stranger at a trance festival, dance with them the whole night, and create a really amazing friendship just through the music”.[/pullquote]
At Dreamstate, she gave back to the community she holds close to her heart by organizing a fan meet-up. Held under a forest of pink and blue fluorescent trees, she hugged, sang, traded kandi, and talked with EVERY single person that was dying to meet her. At one point, Saving Light played on the nearby main stage, causing everyone to jump and celebrate with joy- HALIENE included! After the final fan picture was taken, HALIENE used one word to describe her 2017: “insane.”
Over the past two years, HALIENE has worked with some of the best in dance music and this year might be her most successful yet. It starts with the aforementioned Saving Light. A collaboration with Gareth Emery and Standerwick released in January, the emotional ballad quickly shot up the trance music charts. At one point it found itself atop Beatport’s Top 100 singles chart- the first time in five years that a trance song was #1. Eleven months later, Saving Light is still featured in sets, continues to receive fresh remixes, and is a strong favorite to win the celebrated A State of Trance Tune of the Year competition. There are few vocal trance anthems that stand the test of time, but this song is poised to do just that.
Following Saving Light’s release, HALIENE went on to do features for trance heavyweights like Ferry Corsten, ATB, and Aly & Fila. She even dipped into the chaotic world of hardstyle, recently teaming up with Da Tweekaz for a smashing remake of Evanescene‘s hit Bring Me To Life.
The momentum train moving full speed ahead, HALIENE has no plans to slow down heading into the new year. Currently, a solo single is in the works, amongst other projects. One of her aspirations? Collaborating with the godfather of trance himself, Armin van Buuren. “I just recently met him for the first time and it turns out he had already heard of me! So send your prayers,” she excitedly said. Also floated: the idea of performing at Resolution next month in Seattle, alongside Ferry Corsten. “I’ll talk to Ferry,” she smiles.
Citing Ella Fitzgerald and Delirium as some of her inspirations, her musical interest is “all over the place”- talent, and career interests knowing no bounds. Who would you like to see Haliene collaborate with next? Let us know in the comments below!
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