Exclusive Interview: Pop Culturalist Chats with Echo Boomers’ Hayley Law

Hayley Law is a dynamic performer who shines in all facets of her career, whether that’s on screen in projects like Riverdale and Altered Carbon or through her music under the artist name Hayleau.

Currently, she can be seen starring opposite Patrick Schwarzenegger, Michael Shannon, and Alex Pettyfer in the must-see heist thriller, Echo Boomers. Based on a true story, the film follows five thieves who fight back at the system by stealing from Chicago’s richest for their own personal gain.

Hayley delivers a standout performance as Allie, a conflicted character who’s trying to find her voice and get out of her current situation.

Pop Culturalist had the pleasure of chatting with Hayley about Echo Boomers, making the transition from television to film, and her new single, “Dangerous.”

PC: What attracted you to Echo Boomers?
Hayley: When I first read the script, I thought it was a little crazy, but that it would be so fun to shoot. I knew that Michael Shannon was attached to the project and he’s my favorite actor. So, right away, I was excited to hopefully get to do something like this. I taped for it and the director gave me some notes. I taped two more times and got it! I was so excited.

PC: Throughout the film, your character struggles to find her place in the world. How did you prepare to tackle her arc?
Hayley: I feel like the situation that she’s in helped me make it more real. Ellis [Alex Pettyfer] is his own guy and the way that he behaves—she knows this isn’t right for her. Then, she sees Lance [Patrick Schwarzenegger] in this situation where he’s destroying his life, and she can relate to that. The entire cast was incredible in their scenes, which also made it feel real for me. There have been times in my life where I wasn’t sure if I was doing the right thing and wondering if it would work out. I brought that to Allie.

PC: Allie is the glue that holds everything together, which leads to a lot of really interesting dynamics within the group. Which of her relationships was your favorite to explore and why?
Hayley: Lance is a big reason why Allie doesn’t want to continue doing what she’s doing. Watching him take part in all of this is like watching herself spiral. He wanted to do something with his life that was legitimate and wholesome.

There’s a scene where she introduces Lance to her college friends, and they’re talking about their jobs. That was the moment when she realizes that Lance is a lot like her. I would have loved to see more of that and what they both wanted to do prior to this.

PC: All of these characters live in this gray area. How fun or challenging is that for you as an actress to play?
Hayley: It was super fun. These characters are loose cannons; you never really know what they’re going to do. It’s a fun place to play in scenes, and we got to be a bit adventurous with our choices.

PC: Seth Savoy is making his full-length directorial debut with Echo Boomers. What was it like collaboration like working with him?
Hayley: It was great! Seth’s super hands-on and he’s very open to trying new things. Everybody was really excited. Seth is so passionate about this movie and it was so fun to be on set every day with someone who loves, loves this movie. He wrote and directed it, and it’s super fun to work with someone like that.

PC: There’s a lot of really intense scenes within the film. Is there a particular one that you’re excited for your fans to see?
Hayley: That’s a tough one. It’s really empowering when she finds her voice and basically tells everyone to eff off at the end of the film—that’s one of my favorites for sure. It’s good to see her get out of this horrible position and terrible relationship and tell all these guys to eff off.

PC: You’re best known for your roles in Riverdale and Altered Carbon. What has the transition been like going from the small screen to the silver?
Hayley: It’s great. I love it! I love doing TV. What I love about film is that you get to live with this character for six weeks or whatever it is, and you’re telling their story from start to finish. I mean, there are a lot of movies that go on to have sequels and such, but you get an hour and a half or two hours to show this whole character’s life.

PC: With the film out now, what do you hope audiences take away?
Hayley: I hope they don’t do anything that the people in the film do—that’s for sure. [laughs] I would love for people to watch it and know that you don’t need to resort to that when you’re frustrated. I hope they see that so many people, especially right now with this pandemic, are in the same position.

PC: In addition to Echo Boomers, you have a new single out now. Tell us about “Dangerous” and the inspiration behind the song.
Hayley: I wrote “Dangerous” almost two years ago—it seems so long ago now. I wrote it when I first moved to LA. It was based off a minor experience; I took it and ran with it. When I first moved to LA, I didn’t want to get involved with anyone because I wanted to focus on my career and my life. Then, I met someone and was like, “Oh God. Here we go again.” I ran with that. Nothing happened with that person, but I met them, and I was like, “I got to write about this.”

PC: You’re a multifaceted artist. How challenging is it to balance your acting and music career?
Hayley: It was tough at first. When I was recording music, I was also doing Riverdale and Altered Carbon back to back. Those were long days, but it’s a bit easier now since the film industry has been halted. I record music at home or at a studio, which is like being in a closet, and I have time to do that. I love doing both. It was tough at the beginning, but I think I’m starting to find that balance.

Pop Culturalist Speed Round

PC: Guilty pleasure TV show?
Hayley: The Simpsons, Friends, Seinfeld, and The Office.

PC: Guilty pleasure movie?
Hayley: All the Harry Potter movies.

PC: Favorite book?
Hayley: I want to find a book that I can jump into like a sci-fi book, but I’ve been reading stuff like how to engineer music and how to use producing tools. [laughs] But, I did read Altered Carbon when I got cast. That was a deep dive when that happened.

PC: Favorite play or musical?
Hayley: This is going to sound so silly, but La La Land. The score is so beautiful. It was my favorite for years and years. I just watched Hamilton on Disney+ and that was amazing, too.

PC: A band or artist that fans would be surprised to learn is on your playlist?
Hayley: George Michael.

PC: An album that changed your life and why?
Hayley: Janet Jackson’s All for You. It made me want to create music.

PC: Who would play you in the story of your life?
Hayley: I would like it to be me ‘cause I need a job right now, but if it weren’t me, I’m going to pick this lovely actress named Sofia Bryant. She was in I Am Not Okay with This and we just did a film together.

To keep up with Hayley, follow her on Twitter, Instagram, and Spotify. Echo Boomers is available in theaters, On Demand, and Digital.

Photo Credit: Mary Peffer