Exclusive Interview: Pop Culturalist Chats with Haven

The last time we spoke with singer-songwriter Haven, she was dropping her debut single. Since then, her rise to the top can only be described in one word: meteoric. We caught up with this Pop Culturalist fave to chat about the changing industry, her songwriting process, and her brand new single, “Sad & Successful.”

PC: Tell us about your new single “Sad & Successful.”
Haven: I’m really excited that it’s out! It’s probably the most personal song that I’ve written so far.

PC: What is your process like when you’re working on a new song, and has it changed throughout the years?
Haven: I originally started in country music; that process was very much my guitar, maybe a cowriter, and me. It was also very guitar-driven. Then I moved over into pop, and the process changed significantly in the last year or so. Now, I go into sessions with a producer and there’s a full track ready to go. They usually have different tracks and I go through them to see what I’m vibing with, what I’m liking, and what’s inspiring me on the day. Then I start writing.

It really depends on my mood, though. I wake up and I’m like, “How do I feel today? Do I want to write something happy, sassy, or sad?” It also depends on the vibe of the room and the cowriters there. But, usually I start with the music side and melodies and figure out how the music is feeling. Then, I’ll start writing lyrics over it, but it’s different every time. It’s a lot of fun.

PC: The music industry has evolved into a singles market. How has that impacted your approach to songwriting and the music that you release?
Haven: I don’t think it’s changed my approach to songwriting. I’m still writing what I want to write and what I love. I feel like mentally, I still write as if I’m writing for an album. So, when you’re releasing a few singles throughout the year, it still feels like it’s a cohesive project and not just random singles. I try to look at it as an EP or album even though we’re doing it in a singles route.

PC: Great answer! What is the process like deciding which songs will be released when?
Haven: It’s hard; we have hundreds of songs and we have to go through them. We keep a top 20 list and that always changes—I actually have to go through them again tomorrow and knock them out—but we keep a top 20 list and then I’m in sessions pretty much every day for the most part. We’re always beating out songs and all that stuff. We have our next few chosen for the rest of the year, which is nice. Now, I’m writing for 2021.

It’s really, really hard to pick singles. It’s a group effort. It’s mostly me and my manager sitting down, making lists, listening, and then seeing what we match up on and why we like this or that.

PC: You’ve had tons of success already in your career. When you look back, is there a particular moment that stands out to you?
Haven: I would say the coolest moment for me so far was when I did country. I did a lot of dates and I played the Iowa State Fair Grandstand. I’m from Iowa, so that’s always been my dream. I got to open for Lady Antebellum, and that moment was just the coolest and a huge goal of mine.

PC: What’s one thing that you know now that you wish you knew when you started your career?
Haven: That’s a good one. I mean there are so many things. I wish when I was younger, I would have understood patience more. When you’re young, you think you’re going to put music out there and it’ll all happen, but there’s a lot of hard work and patience that goes into building your craft, the project, and your team. Nobody wants to be patient; everyone wants everything now, but in this industry, you have to be patient.

Everything is a stepping stone and you can’t get ahead of yourself. If you want longevity, that’s the best thing you can do. You have to put in the work, write the music, take your time, do all the shows, and build that fan base from the bottom up—it’ll pay off in the long run.

To keep up with Haven, follow her on Twitter and Instagram. Pick up or stream “Sad & Successful.”

Photo Credit: Joshua Burch