Hailey Knox's musical origin story began around the age of seven when she started to learn guitar before moving onto testing the waters with GarageBand a decate later.
Sharing her debut EP 'For The Best' last month, the New York born / Los Angeles raised artist is currently finding herself working to stay present. Marking the closing of a chapter is how Knox sees this body of work - taking its own form out in the world for people to listen to and connect to in their own ways.
COUP DE MAIN: What is your songwriting process like? Does it always come before the production side of things?
HAILEY KNOX: It’s different every time. I do find myself drawn to melody more, and I usually let the feeling of the music lead me to what I want to say.
CDM: You've said that the EP is "about accepting what is. Reflections on when love hurts, growing together and apart, closing chapters, and starting new ones" - do you find yourself looking more towards the future or the past nowadays?
HAILEY: Neither. I’m trying to find ways to stay present!
CDM: If you could describe the EP in three words - what would they be?
HAILEY: Just the beginning.
CDM: 'For The Best' marks your debut EP and now that it has been released out into the world, do you find that you have a different relationship with it? Or do you feel just as connected to the person you were when you made it?
HAILEY: I’m still connected and it’s nice to have these songs out. Revisiting some of the stories in the songs wasn’t easy so it’s nice to close that chapter.
CDM: "Heaven made you an angel, compliments above / But the devil's working all angles, and I'm falling for the lust," is one of my favourite lyrics from the EP - what was running through your mind when you wrote the track 'Don't Matter'?
HAILEY: This song felt very free to write. I think I wasn’t thinking too deep about it, but the concept of that line is just wanting the shiny thing even if it pokes you.
CDM: Do you have a personal favourite song from the project?
HAILEY: One of my favourites is 'Don’t Matter'. It was one of the last songs I put on the project but I love the feeling of that one.
CDM: You've discussed in the past that the best thing to happen this year would be to collaborate with SZA - are you any closer to achieving this dream?
HAILEY: I hope so! Would still love to work with her. Just need to make the right song!
Hailey Knox's debut EP 'For The Best' is out now - watch a live performance of the project below: