A Chat with Hallworth (16.04.21)
Influenced by the likes of Julia Michaels and Dizzy, UK-based singer-songwriter Hallworth has a laidback, intriguing and evocative sound. Scattering the charming melody with soaring vocals, this 24-year-old artist will easily win your heart. We speak with Hallworth about her debut single ‘Built To Last’, creative processes, discovering new music and favourite smells.
OSR: What drew you to music?
Hallworth: I started playing music at a really young age and then never really stopped. I learnt the violin from the age of 4 and then wrote my first song at the age of 9 which was called ‘Living in the Fast Lane’ about completely made-up experiences. Like most 9-year-olds, I didn’t have a lot of experiences to go on and from that point forward I was hooked.
OSR: What can you tell us about the single ‘Built To Last’?
Hallworth: I wrote ‘Built To Last’ at a time in my life when I was facing big changes. I had just graduated from university and was about to move back to London and I was really uncertain about what was next for me. I had a life that I really loved in Sheffield, but I knew that staying there any longer it wouldn’t be the same. This song is about coming to terms with that but being aware that my life would be good again and that I was the one in control of that.
OSR: What is your creative process?
Hallworth: I’m very much lyrics first when it comes to writing. I usually either feel something really intensely in the moment and write about it or I write notes in my phone of lyrics or lines I think would make a good song; then I come down to write, I have them to look back on. I usually write the whole thing sat at a piano or with a guitar, and then once it’s finished I take it to my lil bedroom and demo it and fill it out with how I want the production to sound. At that point with ‘Built To Last’, I took it to a producer to help me flesh it out into how it sounds today.
OSR: Did you experience any challenges during the writing and recording process for ‘Built To Last’?
Hallworth: as with most things in the past year, the pandemic really didn’t help, so after starting work on the track around November 2019 we had to wait a while to get vocals recorded once restrictions had lifted in the summer. Then we worked remotely to finetune it until I was happy with it sending over any additional parts by good ol’ WeTransfer.
OSR: What inspires you to make music?
Hallworth: I’ve always seen music and songwriting as a coping mechanism and a way of thinking through anything that happens in my life. I realised after writing for a while that I’d give myself advice about situations in songs and then not follow that advice. ? Retrospectively, it was really interesting to see how I had thought through all the possibilities and come to terms with things in writing the song.
OSR: If you could change one thing about ‘Built To Last’ what would it be?
Hallworth: I think I would have just liked to get it out sooner! I’ve been working on releasing new music for a really long time and whilst I think it was worth it to get it to a point I’m really happy with, I also wish that the pandemic hadn’t got in the way!
OSR: What is your earliest memory?
Hallworth: Slacking out of my violin lessons to blow my nose or go to the toilet even though I didn’t need to because I was too lazy to do any work. I think I’ve changed since then! I hope…
OSR: What do you hope people take from your music?
Hallworth: I hope that people connect with it and if they’re feeling similar emotions that, hopefully, it will give them some solace that they’re not alone in it. I think the biggest value I take from music is finding that artist or that song that really resonates with me and I’d love to be that artist for people.
OSR: What is your favourite smell?
Hallworth: This might sound a little bit weird but the smell of my dogs. I think they remind me of home, so their smell feels quite safe. Also, one of them is a puppy and it’s a widely recognised fact that puppies smell great, right?
OSR: What do you think is the best way to discover new music?
Hallworth: Pre-pandemic, I would say festivals and stumbling into a set by an artist you’ve never seen. I think there’s something really magical about seeing an artist live in their rawest form the first time you see them. I think it allows you to connect with them in a way that listening to music at home doesn’t. At the moment, I’d say recommendations from friends or shares they give on social media and, of course, blogs like this one!
OSR: Do you have future plans?
Hallworth: I do! I’m working on the next few singles at the moment and hoping to start gigging once things open up more, so stay tuned for more releases soon.
Thanks to Hallworth for speaking with us. For more from Hallworth check out her Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Soundcloud.
