Interview with haloplus+

Deeply romantic yet slightly alien, haloplus+ push at the edges of distance and sincerity. The Copenhagen trio – Isa Ryong, Joakim Wei Bernild (First Hate/angel wei) and Stine Victoria – make songs that feel both escapist and confrontational, soundtracking the strange moods of everyday life.

Ahead of their show on December 3rd, we invited haloplus+ for a chat about inspiration, pop music, and art as escapism.

Gosia: If Born to Sing and Musicality were family members, what would they fight about, and what trait would they share?

haloplus+: Born to sing is the insecure and introverted teenager. Musicality is the bit older sibling that realized it’s not too serious and that everything is cool.

We think Born to sing would get mad at musicality for trying to get it out of it’s shell – and for being able to get into the clubs.

They share the belief that being yourself is the most important thing.

Photo: courtesy of haloplus+

G: In past interviews, you mentioned broad influences from art, design and fashion. What’s one specific influence, and how does it seep into your music?  

haloplus+: We’re as much influenced by daily life as by art, design, fashion and everything else and often times references show themselves after our songs are finished – we don’t reference things on a direct level, but rather let them come into the work subconsciously.

G: When you collaborate as haloplus+, how does it transform your individual identities? Do your characters sharpen or do you dissolve into the group persona? 

haloplus+: haloplus+ is a world we can enter together, that has some kind of ruleset. Generally we know when something is for the group, and if something is for solo-work. Also we find it easier to go into a specific persona when performing together vs. doing it alone.

G: Within the group, who’s the most likely to push the sound into something uncomfortable, and what drives that push?

haloplus+: We all kinda push the uncomfortable, but it is also a result of being three different artists working together. Something that makes one uncomfortable is the most natural to someone else. Often, something that, at first seemed challenging or uncomfortable, turns comfortable quite quickly.

What we still resist in pop music is more about the commercial and politics around the industry than the actual sound.

Photo: courtesy of haloplus+

G: Which part of pop music do you still resist – and what’s an aspect that you embraced even though it once embarrassed you?

haloplus+: What we still resist in pop music is more about the commercial and politics around the industry than the actual sound. We try to work in a sustainable way that doesn’t create too much pressure around the process.

Repetition in songwriting is something we are maybe still trying to embrace more.

G: What imagery or aesthetic are you secretly drawn to, but find too corny to tap into? 

haloplus+: Nothing.

Photo: courtesy of haloplus+

Instead of trying to escape reality, our music strives to be an integrated part of real life, defining it by affecting it’s surroundings – but maybe it can work as a soundtrack for somebody else to dream?

G: You’re part of this Copenhagen alt-scene, which is currently getting major global attention. When does this label feel honest, and when is it projected onto you?

haloplus+: Our part of the music scene in Copenhagen feels the same to us. Everyone has been making music, performing and touring for years. So it doesn’t feel like a new wave, just great musicians getting their credit!

It’s definitely a great scene, so that part is true.

G: Where does cynicism show up in your work, and where do you let yourself be vulnerable?

haloplus+: 😉

Photo: courtesy of haloplus+

G: When you think of your music as escapist, what part of real life are you trying to escape from?

haloplus+: Instead of trying to escape reality, our music strives to be an integrated part of real life, defining it by affecting it’s surroundings – but maybe it can work as a soundtrack for somebody else to dream?

Catch haloplus+ perform at nachbar on December 3rd.