Hayla at 45 East – Portland, OR 12/12/25 Live Review & Interview
Walking up to 45 East, the bass was already thumping through the pavement— low, insistent, impossible to ignore. Before even stepping inside, it was clear this wasn’t going to be a quiet night. I went in mostly blind; I wasn’t deeply familiar with Hayla’s solo work beforehand, and I wasn’t entirely sure what kind of crowd or atmosphere to expect. What I walked into was a full-bodied, immersive experience.
Inside, the venue was packed wall to wall. Club and dance attire filled the room as an opening DJ held the audience in a collective trance, bodies moving in unison as they waited for Hayla to take the stage. 45 East itself felt like part of the performance—lights pulsed across the stage while mesmerizing color displays rippled across the ceiling tiles, perfectly synchronized to the beat. It was the kind of space that feels alive, constantly shifting. I couldn’t help but think I would have absolutely adored this venue in my early twenties.
By the time Hayla emerged, the room was shoulder to shoulder. What struck me immediately was how deeply connected the crowd already was to her music. Nearly everyone around me knew every word, singing along at full volume, their voices lifting and colliding with Hayla’s own. Her voice—powerful, transcendent, and emotionally charged. The result was something special: deeply soulful lyrics layered over a driving, dance-forward sound.
There was a palpable emotional undercurrent beneath the movement; people dancing, yes, but also feeling. Hayla’s performance managed to balance catharsis and celebration, intimacy and release. It felt communal, almost sacred in a way, like a shared emotional exhale set to a pulse you could feel in your chest.
Hayla’s performance at 45 East was more than just a show—it was an emotional exchange between artist and audience, powered by vulnerability and connection. Walking in unfamiliar and leaving deeply impressed felt like the perfect arc for a night that pulsed long after the final song ended.
Interview with Hayla
Q:Your voice carries so much emotion. When you’re creating, how do you tap into that vulnerability while still protecting yourself?
A: Ah, thank you so much! That’s a great question. Before sessions I always feel what may be weighing heavily on my mind. I use writing and singing as a form of therapy and the subjects present themselves as I begin to piece a song together. I have had moments where songs have been extremely emotional to write and record but I can help myself by detaching into an altered state when recording so it doesn’t affect my performance as much. However, in live performance, if I come back to myself and I think about the meanings of some songs I have had to stop my voice from breaking. I want to write as authentically as possible and the sharing of emotion I hope helps people find solace and deeper connection.
Q: When you sit down to write, what usually comes first for you: lyrics, melody, or a feeling?
A: It really varies. I constantly write things on my phone and use my voice recorder so sometimes I turn up to a session with an idea already in place but sometimes it's completely from scratch. A lot of the time it’s a feeling. I think everyday presents itself differently and my mind is focussed differently so I draw upon whatever bubbles to the surface.
Q: Many of your songs feel deeply human and raw. Are there themes you find yourself returning to again and again?
A: Ah, thank you! I do find a few themes making their way back into my writing and a few new ones here and there too. I think yearning, lost love and heartbreak are quite common themes throughout my songs. I have had quite a lot of that over the years so I think that seems to come to the forefront of my writing. I do try to write happier songs every now and again… but melancholy is my favourite mood.
Q: You’ve collaborated across different genres and musical spaces. What do you look for in a collaboration, and how do you stay grounded in your own sound?
A: I think that thematically artists have to be into the ideas both are presenting. I also think personally I have to be into the music and likewise the collaborating artist has to like my sound and way of writing. I have been extremely fortunate to work with some incredible artists and collaborators over the years and have loved every second of it. Being able to give a part of myself by authentically singing and writing on a track I think really keeps me stay grounded in my own sound.
Q: Is there a song you’ve released that feels especially personal or transformative for you?
A: Ah there's too many to choose from. I think if you were to ask me even five years ago if I would be doing this as my career I may not have believed you. I have been in music for many years behind the scenes but I never had a solo project and was involved in other people's projects. Ever since I’ve been releasing my own music I seem to find more out about myself with each track. With each song comes a transformation - it feels ever evolving.
Q: How does performing live change the way you experience your own music?
A: Seeing and hearing people sing songs back to me as I’m performing is a feeling like no other. I think I’m always surprised when people know my solo works. I think it’s also incredible to see how songs resonate live when they have been created in an often tiny room in the middle of nowhere. Seeing and feeling the connection songs can create and have - makes me really tap into the emotions behind the tracks as I’m singing.
Q: What inspires you creatively outside of music?
A: Oo I love the ocean and getting outdoors. I also love travelling. It’s always so inspiring to see a new place and space.
Q: What have you learned about yourself through making and sharing your art?
A: I’m constantly learning new things about myself. I think I’m able to express myself better than I have been able to in the past. I also think I’m learning to get out of my own way. The “fear and do it anyway” aspect in my life is a lot more present. I’m still finding myself but slowly and I feel like I’m getting ever closer.
Q: As you look ahead, what excites you most about what you’re currently creating?
A: I’m very excited about the music I’ve been writing recently. I have been working on a new body of work and can't wait to share it. I have performed two unreleased tracks on my Fall Tour and it’s been amazing to see the response. It may be a little bit different to what you’ve heard in the past but I hope it will still have the same if not deeper connection.
Q: How do you hope listeners feel after spending time with your music?
A: I really hope listeners feel like they know me a bit better. I also really hope that whoever listens to my music feels less alone, seen and loved.
Music is an incredible tool of connection and I’ve loved seeing how it can really bring people together.
Q: Finally, what’s something you wish people understood about you or your work that doesn’t always come across at first glance?
A: Ahh I’ve said this a few times but I used to be an incredibly shy performer. I found it hard to sing in front of anyone. Slowly but surely I started to push myself out of my comfort zone and then subsequently found a new comfort zone in performance. For anyone who has struggled with this or is finding themselves stuck - one piece of wisdom I find comforting - there is only one of you in the world and your voice is valued and important. You are valued and important.