Little Girls, Big Voices
Written by Jessica Bebenek
http://www.unchartedsounds.com/magazine.php
I’d heard the girls’ music before I saw them walk into the bar, so needless to say, I was shocked. Jennifer Bryan, standing 5’2”, and Monica Julie, an even smaller 5’0”, belt out big numbers in their acoustic pop/rock duo Hayley Stark. Both girls sing and play acoustic guitar, writing and performing their songs with a passion that really stands out in the crowded music industry. As a small band trying to make it in Toronto, the two have been touring the area’s festivals and intimate venues as of late. But the pair didn’t start out with their current sound.
“I had moved to Toronto and I was auditioning [as a guitarist] for an all-girl hard-rock band called Spankdriven. When I got to the audition, Monica was there and she had just become their drummer” Jennifer explains, with Monica adding, “as soon as I saw her play – I didn’t know her name, I didn’t know who she was – I was like, “I need to know her and she needs to be in my band.” The two worked together in several metal and hard-rock bands, but found themselves always being the sole songwriters. The finally settled down together as the acoustic duo Hayley Star, though they still retain the influence of their metal past.
“If it’s a good song, you can strip it down and play it on acoustic guitars and it’ll always be a good song” says Monica, and the girls do have plans to amp-up some of their current songs (such as “Skirt is on Fire”) with bass and drums in the near future.
Get Over It, which follows the band’s first self-title EP, is inspired by “our break away from metal, “ explains Monica. “It is a break away from our past and coming into our own…sure there are obstacles in life, but you’ve got to get over it, keep pushing.” The band’s name, which I was admittedly confused over at first, represents this message. It stems from the move Hard Candy, in which a young girl lures a pedophile and “goes vigilante….not that we support that!” they explain, laughing. “[It shows that] what you see on the outside isn’t necessarily what’s on the inside,” reflecting the girls themselves. The two manage to write songs that are simultaneously catchy and compelling – as Monica describes, “We’re just trying to write songs that are Jen and I.”
When it came time for their performance, the girls put on a great show. Even better live, their strong voices filled up the intimate venue, capturing the crowd’s attention. The two were relaxed in the spotlight and even got the crowd clapping along with them during “Still Pick You Up” – one of my favourites. They seemed like they were really having fun on stage and that’s what makes for a great performance. It’s clear they’re doing what they love.
When asked what’s next for Hayley Stark, Monica responded without hesitation, All the way to the top, baby!” The girls plan to release a three song EP in the future, adding drums and bass. They want to “fill out the songs so we can play some bigger gigs”, explains Jennifer, “get some more fans and more exposure.” It seems as though the girls are getting a little nostalgic for their metal roots and plan to return somewhat, but with their talented song-writing abilities, they can’t go wrong. They also plan to tour around Ontario this summer, hitting-up some of the folk and acoustic festivals up north. They’ll also be playing small (usually free) shows around Toronto while working on the album, so check their MySpace for dates. With their efforts to get their name out there and their ever-evolving sound, I look forward to seeing what these two will be up to next. Their songs have definite radio potential and it’s only a matter of time before you hear more from them. Keep your eye on these two – they’re going places.