Los Angeles-based HÄANA is a one-woman orchestra, combining music + tech + art with Nordic/Icelandic influences set to a broken beat. Her original productions are like a dynamic filmscore. HÄANA counts Massive Attack, Björk, and Trentemøller as influences in crafting her sounds, featuring electronica influences, synthetic sonority, and vocal textures. The resulting sonic palate takes listeners on a journey whose destination is a crossroads between classical and contemporary, organic & man-made, familiar and mysterious. She studied contemporary improvisation at New England Conservatory (Boston, MA), and electronic music production at Dubspot (NYC). In addition to touring the globe with EDM festivals and as a guest artist for brands such as Intel and Ferrari, HÄANA has appeared at Gillette Stadium w/ Kanye West opening for the Rolling Stones, Madison Square Garden for MTV (w/ Kanye), Harvey Nichols Fashion Show (Dubai), Abu Dhabi 3-day NYE Fest (UAE), Alvin Ailey Gala, Obama's Inaugural Ball, Michael Jordan's Wedding, and the Boston Museum of Fine Arts.
“Sonic stardust.” (Vogue) "Rather breathtaking." (Clash) “Luminous frequencies & violin instrumentation tied with foreign Icelandic lyrical messages are found in her voice...” (Afro Monk) "It has the ability to seep into your soul in ways only orchestral & electronic music can.” (Infectious Magazine) “Majestic” (Nothing But Hope & Passion)
HÄANA is also deep in the yoga/music/meditation scene, and performs her original orchestral and intuitive scores at numerous yoga festivals and studios around the world, including US and Canadian Wanderlust Festivals, collaborating with lauded teachers Elena Brower, Seane Corn, Shiva Rea, Eoin Finn, Aarona Ganesan, Jill Knouse, and many others. She facilitates meditation experiences with her project DEEPSØNØS.
“[SALT]: A soundscape inhabited by the twin monsters of trip hop and orchestral rock; with the purest of vocals providing light at the darkest points of the song.”
“[Teardrop]: Remarkably stark fusion of the digital and the organic.”
“Sonic stardust.”
“If you don’t know who Häana is, you need to discover her. She was one of the most talented individuals I came across all weekend [at Lightning in a Bottle Festival]. Dressed in a black and gold dress, with a gold cage headpiece, Häana sings live, mixes live, and plays the violin live. Her nordic inspired tunes, combined with her ethereal voice and the twang of her violin create a uniquely magical sound. The beauty of her music is something that should not be overlooked and is something that everyone needs to experience at least once.”
“The most Buzz Bands-worthy artist I saw at this year’s Lightning in a Bottle.”
“The process of creation is akin to meditation.”
“Häana’s production on “Leya” is a powerful amalgam of cinematic bass music, nostalgic violin and vocal textures.”
“powerful presence”
“Her remix on the EP harnesses the polarity within the universe that we need to see more of...”
“Fresh and upcoming voice in the North American bass music scene.”
“Häana’s remix hit right around the chest cavity, dubstrings shaking into ribs and sternum until I find myself focused on imaginal realms.”
“Her sound brings you full circle, reminding you of the complex and developed creature you are while not letting you forget there is also a simplicity that lives and resides in us all.”
“When I first heard her music, it drew for me boundless cyber fantasy cityscapes nestled in grey-skied green foothills of Iceland, Northern Lights above.”
“Stark, snowy visions that allude to the Nordic and Icelandic melodies she grew up with, and incorporates very modern electronic effects, recalling the worldly ambient tones of groups like Sigur Rós and Massive Attack.”
“Luminous frequencies and violin instrumentation tied with foreign Icelandic lyrical messages are found in her voice.”
“It is a powerful and dynamic album that has the ability to seep into your soul in ways only orchestral and electronic music can.”
“Häana’s lyrics, captured in full by her gorgeous voice, are a mélange of “Icelandic, Roma-influenced, and partly invented” languages. The brooding, Massive Attack-esque mood of “The Finding” brings together Middle Eastern instrumentation and Eastern European melody.”
“Beautiful best describes her string portrayals, her emotional efforts, and her musical charisma. The skill involved in these mere five tracks is enough to fill many musical artists’ entire portfolios.”
“She opened with a long, pensive solo improvisation against an ambient electronic backing track, then the two-cello string quartet with drums delivered what might have been the most exhilarating song of the night, Meissner driving it with his dramatic cymbal splashes before it wound down with a fluttery unease.”
“A gorgeous ambient track.”
“Phavet is majestic and its layers are deep. Every listen will unearth new secrets.”
“It’s a slow-burn number that builds cautiously until its wires begin to fray.”
“The music ranges from minimal and ambient to more upbeat and dance-floor driven, while maintaining a palette of violin, cello, piano, and organic percussion as central elements.”