A brand new addition to the resident ranks of Labyrinth this season, HAAi talks with us about social media, trolls and how she handles them.
“Hey, I listened to your boiler room set, it wasn’t very good.”
Some dance music enthusiasts might be shocked to see comments like this, others may agree. The majority that do often air their opinions through such modern day expressions as a comment, a like or if they’re feeling brave enough, they’ll slide into the DMs. However, all of this is done behind a computer screen far, far away from the people they are actually directing their verbal jabs at. Australia’s psyche-rock star, HAAi, is one artist who is all too familiar at being on the end of such online onslaughts.
The aforementioned quote is a direct message she received last year on Twitter, in which she responded humorously: “Thank you so much for your feedback. I’ll try so much harder next time.” This one tickled us…
When asked about the tweet, she explained: “It was a first… the weird thing about that was it was a direct message, so it wasn’t something he wanted everyone to see.” In reference to her response, she added “I felt it was a very mean, provocative and attacking thing, and that was why I put it online, more as a joke. I didn’t realise it was going to kick off and escalate the way that it did.” Following this transpiration of events, a wealth of industry names leapt to her defence solidifying an overwhelming community of support.
Online trolls are ruthless. Whether it be a direct message, a tweet or a comment on the RA section, many get a twisted thrill out of hating on the success of others. And this applies to almost any situation too. “It is mostly anything that is being filmed. People just love ripping DJs, they love it. I feel if you put yourself out to the public eye at anytime online, there’s always someone at a keyboard ready to verbally tear you apart.”
Explaining the reasoning behind her light-hearted responses, HAAi ch the criticism she receives is rarely ever constructive either. “I think the reason why I reply, and I always keep it jokes, is just to let people know that there is someone on the other end of it.” She then adds “I hate the idea that there’s someone out there that hates you and you can reach out to them and make it cool, that is the biggest victory.”
Real name Teneil Throssell, the Karratha native is a very friendly, resilient individual and appears adequately equipped in terms of emotionally-thick skin. “The more of a positive spin you can give it rather than being too aggressive and fighting fire with fire, then you are doing as much as you can.”
However, she acknowledges that in the present day and age, such a hurdle can appear more daunting to jump over than before. “Prior to the internet, people were doing it in conversation with each other. But now, people feel they have more power because they are behind a computer screen. You need to come armed heavily in terms of emotions to not let it get to you.”
Despite what can feel like a dark, lonely tunnel more many artists, the industry does offer a beam of light for those who venture down it far enough. Now well-versed in house, techno, disco and other unusual worldly sounds, the Australian heads up her own imprint, Coconut Beats, and holds down a residency at London venue, Phonox.
The attitude and perseverance that helped her establish and grow in those roles was the exact same attitude and perseverance that caught the attention of Knee Deep In Sound chief, Hot Since 82. Reflecting back upon their first meet at the DGTL afters in Amsterdam earlier this year, she exclaims: “I go into this room and watch Maurice Fulton play to about 5,000 people. It cleared out when I started to play, but Hot Since 82 was behind me for the entire set. Following this, he got in touch with my management and asked me to do a Labyrinth residency.”
Following a successful first summer at the cherries club last year, A Labyrinth Story wasted little time in locking in a 21-week residency for 2018. A captivating melange of house and techno, this concept is one that embraces all shades of new, old and Balearic styles. “Everyone who plays on the line-up tends to play into each other’s styles so as a complete experience, it all flows nicely together” says HAAi.
Friday nights at Pacha are all about “freedom of expression”, as explained to us in a recent interview by Daley himself. Therefore, the opportunity to paint such a canvas makes things even more appetising as a DJ. Taking us back to her debut appearance for Labyrinth back in July, HAAi smiles. “I enjoyed the whole performance, I really love warming up an room. It was quite nice seeing everyone come in, take to the dance floor and fill up the room. At the start of a night, I always play quite weird music and everyone seemed to be into it.”
Inspired by a definitive trip to Berlin over five years ago, HAAi has an infectious love for the weird and the wonderful. Offering an alternative route to your typical instant hits of gratification, she tends to opt for a more absorbing, slow release style making her performances indulge in more longer-lasting pleasures. Expertly loose and infectious in her approach, she says “they allow you to build real trust and lay down much more interesting trips.”
Such an approach is a constant that is also reflected within her work in the studio, her most recent EP titled ‘Motorik Voodoo Bush Doof Musik’ being the perfect example. Inspired by a type of remote Australian dance party called a bush doof, her latest work sees each track on the release visit a different place. She highlights the story behind the third track, ‘Growing Up With Muscle Cars’. “This is a track I made for my step-dad because he was a motor mechanic and he used to take me to the drag races. He restores old muscle cars so I grew up hearing these engines all the time.”
This progressive EP isn’t one necessarily for the dance floor either. “I don’t make dance floor music or techno like everyone else, so rather than trying to do that, I just went for the weirder route and made it more expressive.”
She also admitted it was produced with a transitional vision of her future plans – to one day become a live act. “There are some plans for next year and I have been in discussing with some of the artists I worked with on the EP about us all putting a live show together.”
Staying very unique and distinct about her journey through dance music so far, she passionately speaks: “I’d eventually like to have a live show consisting of a live drummer, a live vocalist and just have it be completely weird with techno aspects to it but it is still very much in its early stages. I just want to see how far I can push what I have visualised.”
As for now though, the mission for HAAi remains very simple and honest – to keep the people dancing. That mission continues tonight at Pacha for A Labyrinth Story.
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