Part of what sets a dance music act apart from others is the ability to include unique vocals in the music. What Haliene brings to life is just that, with a combination of dreamy, trance-like beats to set the pace with her ethereal vocals.
iHR: Tell us a bit about the collection: What inspired it? What concepts are you excited to bring to life?
HALIENE: This collection is inspired by much of the same ideas that inspired my debut album, Heavenly! I wear a lot of sparkly pieces onstage, and I’ve seen a lot of my fans embracing that same shine at my shows.
I get so many messages of fans asking me where I get my stage outfits (and the answer is savormeditation and scouring the internet, or I design/combine things myself), that I wanted to create a collection that both my fans and I could wear, that celebrated what I call the divine feminine. We went with the ethereal colors of white and iridescent pink/purple that to me represent that energy.
As a woman in an industry dominated by men, I have found an inspiring juxtaposition that there is power and strength in embracing the beauty of our feminine essence, and I wanted this collection to empower others to do the same. Like the lyrics in my song Glass Heart express, "we can be both breakable, beautiful and tough as diamonds at the same time."
The Butterfly aspect on the pink outfit was inspired by my songs "Butterfly" and "Metamorphosis." Sometimes in life, only after we have gone through the hardest challenges is when we find our true colors and are able to fly. I’ve found this to be true in my own life, and I hope anyone wearing this gorgeous fit can find their wings too.
iHR: What were some of the challenges you faced in creating this collection?
HALIENE: It was definitely challenging distilling the ethereal qualities of my lyrics and music into a piece of clothing. savormeditation and I worked hard on mood boards and fabric ideas for a year, and I’m so proud of what we were able to create together.
The pandemic has also added additional challenges [like] backlogging the supply chain, so it takes a long time to design and launch a new product. We’ve had this issue with my merch too, and many artists are still struggling with the effects of the pandemic.
iHR: I love the celestial look you were styled in for your Heavenly album cover. What did you look to for inspiration in creating that look?
HALIENE: The dress I’m wearing I made out of a shimmery blush and lavender fabric, a corset I hand painted gold, a random tulle skirt and a cropped rhinestone bra top. I found these incredible handmade crowns on Etsy from the Czech Republic, and I knew I wanted to create the image for Heavenly with one of them.
I wanted the look to have an effortless, flowing, fade-into-the-clouds feel, but to be structured and powerful as well… to be soft and yet somehow cut through the noise. On Heavenly I dive into some deep spiritual concepts and life experiences. The undertone of the album is always that pain is earthly, but we are Heavenly.
iHR: You're about to play a festival in your home state for the first time at Get Lucky, what is that like?
HALIENE: Get Lucky was insane! We battled a huge storm and the stage nearly got shut down, but
V2 was able to get everything back on track without a hitch! Core memories were definitely made. The Utah crowd was incredible, the kind of crowd you hope for. Even though I’ve gotten to play EDC Las Vegas, EDC Orlando, Dreamstate, EDC Mexico and so many more, playing a festival in my home state was a big moment for me personally. I got to debut my new single, "Hollow" on the day it came out, and despite the extreme weather my Aliens showed up in full force and the tent was packed corner to corner!
iHR: Favorite festival memory?
HALIENE: As a performer: playing my own set at EDC Las Vegas was surreal. I had attended for years and it was a big moment in my journey of being recognized as a solo, headlining artist.
As an attendee: One of the things I love about dance music culture is it’s unity, and taking care of one another. I remember losing my friends at a festival once, not being to reach them on my phone, and finding myself alone, scared and overwhelmed.
Another rave fam found me, and immediately invited me into their group. We watched Above & Beyond together on the main stage and, not even knowing my name they made me feel thought of, cared for, and part of their family. I don’t remember their names now, but they were not an anomaly. That’s the culture of PLUR as it should be, to care for one another. I’ll never forget that moment.
IHR: If you created a piece of kandi right now, what would it say?
HALIENE: YOU ARE HEAVENLY
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