Have You Heard? Ep 4: Haley Davis Have You Heard?

Episode Notes
Trevor - Welcome back to Have you Heard, the podcast where we discuss underappreciated music from different genres, artists and eras. I'm your host, Trevor. In today's episode, we're going to be talking to Northwestern alum Haley Davis, whose album “Smiling Pains” came out in 2019. Hope you enjoy.
Haley - Hi there. 
T - Hi, how's it going? 
H - It’s going pretty well, how are you? 
T - I'm good. Thanks so much. 
H - Thank you for inviting me. 
T - So first, in our email, you said that you’re actually doing a global music program in Spain? Could you talk a little bit about that? And what's that like? 
H - Yes, it's been great. So far, I guess, the beginning of September was when the program started. But yeah, it's a… I’m getting a master's degree in global music business. So, it's kind of...there are like 40 kids in my program specifically. And it's cool. I mean, I'm getting to learn about different areas of the industry. I'm taking music business finance and a law class. So it's pretty comprehensive, but it's very interesting. And it's very international, there’s just people from all over the world in the program, which is really cool. And I'm enjoying it a lot so far. 
T - Yeah, that's great. Have you found that it's changed the way that you yourself create or even distribute your music?
H - I haven't really written too much since being here. But I think it's definitely... I mean, I've learned so much that I didn't know before, especially about music distribution and the law and copyrights. And where you can make money from your music. There might be a lot of self releasing artists who know about PROs and everything. But I didn't really know what a PRO was. And, you know, about publishing rights. And that being a way you can make revenue, so I've learned a lot. And I just haven't quite applied it yet, just because I've kind of been so focused on my studies.
T - How's the transition from going, I guess, undergrad to the master's program, you said, you haven't been able to write as much. How’s that affected you?
H - I guess I just, it wasn't as much to do with me being in the master's program. I just feel like, I go through phases where I don't write very much at all. And then phases where I knock out five songs in a couple of weeks. I think it's more about what I'm going through personally at the time. For me, it's like, that's kind of a therapeutic thing. But I do still want to be able to write and work with people here, because there are so many talented people. And I should take advantage of that opportunity while I'm here. But it's also about balancing time, which is just a lot, especially after the pandemic and everything I just feel like… It's weird to get back into the swing of things and have things be fast paced again, so… But it's good.
T - I definitely agree with that. I wanted to ask you a little bit about your process, which is something I always ask. I'm so fascinated with how they write music, or if they even go in with the intention of writing a song or an album. When do you think is the time that you write the best or the most? 
H - Oh gosh, I mean, it depends. Usually...it'll be you know, I think if I have a crush on someone, or maybe I've had a friend breakup – that's the worst thing – but it's really to process the emotions, I think, in terms of my relationships. It’s when it comes out the easiest. I wouldn't say they're always the best or anything, but I think that's when I find myself naturally writing the most. But I also write just lines at a time. I've got like, a big list of lyrics in my notes that are just one or two lines. And I've kept...I mean, a lot of them kept in there and they never turned into anything. I do a lot of  bit by bit writing, too. So, it really depends, and I don't write songs the same way. Anytime really. Sometimes it's lyrics first. Sometimes it's the melody. Other times you know, guitar, whatever, but it totally varies and tha