Exclusive Interview with HADEE.

HADEE. is a South Florida alt-pop/rock artist. Drawing inspiration from 80s synthpop comparable to Billy Idol, 1970s Bowie glam, and a touch of vintage cinema noir, HADEE. completes this fusion with a balanced blend of modernity comparable to The Killers, Two Door Cinema Club, Young The Giant, and Walk The Moon.

“KEROSENE” is the second release by HADEE, an alt-pop rock artist. The single, which was released on February 3, 2023, is influenced by synthesizers from the 1980s and explores wild romantic notions. At Alar Studios, the artist and the producers merged in-the-box techniques with analog equipment to produce the ideal balance of classic and contemporary ambience. Check out the song and the exclusive interview below:

1. Can you tell us a bit about where you come from and how it all got started?

HADEE.: I was initially raised in Broward County, FL, where I went to elementary school and then moved to Palm Beach County for middle school. I can’t honestly say that my location specifically influenced my music or fashion sense. As far as music taste, my dad definitely influenced me. The first two albums I remember listening to as a kid was Metallica’s Black album and U2’s All That You Can’t Leave Behind. He then gave me three front+back suitcases filled with cassettes he collected during his time in the Army. I still constantly get lost in the different albums I haven’t heard yet.

2. Did you have any formal training or are you self-taught?

HADEE.: Aside from a couple lessons I got to learn how to read music, all to no avail, I am self-taught. I think I speak for many musicians when I say that YouTube helped me a lot. I’ll still turn to YouTube if there’s something I don’t know.

3. Who were your first and strongest musical influences and why the name ‘HADEE.’?

HADEE.: The first album I purchased was The Offspring’s Ixnay On The Hombre. From getting more involved in music and growing as not only an audiophile but as a musician as well. I got into varying genres of music, from French Surf Rock to Goth/New Wave. I’m not too fond of silence, so I constantly have music playing wherever I go. I find there’s a soundtrack for every scene. Regarding building my image, the fashion of the late 1960s LA scene, early 1970s US and UK punk scene, and 80s glam rock era made an impression on me. Artists of this era would include the Sex Pistols, David Bowie, Billy Idol, T. Rex, Iggy Pop, and The Doors, to name a few. As far as I’m aware, my name is of Arabic background. It translates to “Guiding to the right.” As far as the pronunciation of it, I’ve heard everything possible, as you can imagine. I pronounce it as [Hadee]. I think it’s very interesting to study what names we were given. Subconsciously, I think we grow into them. This idea can connect to the concept of Nominative Determinism, which is basically a hypothesis that states people tend to connect to occupations that match their name. I think this makes my name more interesting, considering that, at least here in the states, it’s quite uncommon. This allows me the opportunity to use it, however, and as general as I’d like to. In addition, I’d like every listener/viewer who comes across my work to form their own definition of what it means to them. Hence, that’s why I choose to present it as more of a brand name rather than just an artist’s name.

4. What do you feel are the key elements in your music that should resonate with listeners, and how would you personally describe your sound?

HADEE.: I’d like to think that my sound stems from my environment and the musical influences I’ve gathered in my time here. I love everything from the 40s to 80s and then a good number of modern artists/bands as well. Depending on my day, my mood can range from Otis Redding to Arctic Monkeys. If I had to give a clearer answer, I try to find a medium between 80s synthpop, 70s Glam Rock, classic film noir, finished off with a balanced mix of modernity. Three words I would use to describe my music are: Eclectic, Alternative, and Classic. As far as key elements that contribute to this “sound”, it would mainly come from how I choose to arrange these tracks and the emotion I attempt to deliver in each piece, vocally and instrumentally-speaking.

5. Creative work in a studio or home environment, or interaction with a live audience? Which of these two options excites you most, and why?

HADEE.: I enjoy creating at home and then live performance are the two settings that I enjoy most. While I do enjoy the studio setting, there’s something about the original mental state of writing/ creating a song that is intoxicating. It’s that feeling when you don’t seem to have to try to do something, rather, it just happens and you want to make sure you contain it all before its gone. This process goes hand-in-hand with live performance since this serves as practice for how you wish to express or portray the lyrics.

6. What’s your view on the role and function of music as political, cultural, spiritual, and/or social vehicles – and do you try and afront any of these themes in your work, or are you purely interested in music as an expression of technical artistry, personal narrative, and entertainment?

HADEE.: It’s easy to get lost in the noise, especially when it’s as deafening as it is. While our mental health should precede everything else, the case may not always be realistic. I think we as people find ourselves in the most basic form when we face adversity. That’s where we find the strength to admit something may be wrong; the passion for expressing what we love or are fighting against; to find purpose in our otherwise repetitive day. This concept only becomes a barrier to progress when opposing views are met with disregard. However, it’s this allowance of chaos, ironically, that makes us human.

7. Do you feel that your music is giving you back just as much fulfillment as the amount of work you are putting into it or are you expecting something more, or different in the future?

HADEE.: Absolutely. Aside from music, I have aspirations in film, fashion, etc. When the time comes when I’ll further break into other industries, I plan to still keep my name how it is: HADEE.

8. Could you describe your creative processes? How do usually start, and go about shaping ideas into a completed song? Do you usually start with a tune, a beat, or a narrative in your head? And do you collaborate with others in this process?

HADEE.: While every song can be diferent, I’ll usually either create an instrumental foundation to build an arrangement on, or I will create a song around a line I really like that ends up being the cornerstone of a song, lyrically. In regards to the recording process of his new track, HADEE. elaborated, “This track was mainly recorded at Alar Studios, created by Alfredo “Alar on the Mix” Rivera. We combined in-the-box methods with analog gear to create the perfect blend of classic and modern. Just a few names of hardware we used on this track include a custom Signal Arts 47 that went into 2ubes VTS Preamp. I recorded the guitars with both my D’Angelico Premier DC and Deluxe LudLow through my Blackstar HT-60. I think we definitely found a sound that brought what we wanted out of ‘KEROSENE’. The drums were then recorded at Miami Beach Recording Studios (MBRS). Alfredo was also the session engineer for that too. As for assistant engineers, Alfredo had a few audio engineer students from Broward College come to the session to get an insight on the process. The track was then mastered by Shane Slack.”

9. What has been the most difcult thing you’ve had to endure in your life or music career so far?

HADEE.: This is something that I feel will always be evolving. All I really care about in regards to considering myself an artist is the connection I seek to build between my music and whoever chooses to give it a chance. I think that’s what any artist tries to find at the end of the day; for their work to speak for itself.

10. On the contrary, what would you consider a successful, proud or significant point in your life or music career so far?

HADEE.: Just a few weeks ago, we played Revolution Live for our first time. This was hosted by Black Market MIA and Emo Nite Miami. Mayday Parade and Boys Like Girls were special guests for the show. That one is definitely one for the books, and I could not be more grateful for that opportunity. I’m eagerly excited to see what comes next.