Pop singer Haven is quickly becoming a big name in the music industry. She has been touring the nation since age 15 with major country acts Thomas Rhett, Lady Antebellum, Toby Keith and Hunter Hayes. Haven is kicked off 2020 with the recent release of her 2nd single “Be With You.” You may have even heard the song on Selena Gomez’s Instagram! Haven has also been added as an Opening Act on all North American dates of the Dinah Jane World.
Young Entertainment Mag: How did you first get involved in music?
Haven: Music has always been something I’ve loved ever since I can remember. My mom took me to my first concert to see Shania Twain when I was 4 years old and I looked up at her and said, “I want to do that”. I’ve always had the dream of selling out stadiums. I bought a guitar with my birthday money when I was 9 and started writing, but I didn’t start really pursuing music seriously until I was 12.
I started fronting a band doing around 100 dates a year, traveling to Nashville to be in writing sessions every day and take meetings. Then, I homeschooled all of high school so that I would be available to travel and pursue music as well. I lived in my band trailer at 15 with my mom so I could have the ability to tour and write in Nashville. At around the age of 19 I started traveling to Los Angeles to write for this pop project. I feel like naturally I’ve always had the passion and dream to write and be an artist. It’s just been something that’s always been in me.
YEM: How would you describe your sound? How did you find your sound?
Haven: My musical inspiration comes from a mix of Bazzi, Shania Twain and Julia Michaels. I grew up on Shania Twain, so it has a flavor of the confidence she had in a lot of her music. Also I love the conversational and vulnerable lyrics from Julia Michaels and the production style of Bazzi. I try to take pieces of what inspire me and make me excited as a listener and incorporate that into what I create.
Photo Credit: Storm Santos
YEM: What does the name Haven mean to you?
Haven: It’s kind of a long story, but I became very sick when I was younger and during that time period was when I really became drawn to doing music. So for me, music was a safe HAVEN during that difficult time period. I just felt like Haven was the perfect fit and I really loved the name.
YEM: How did you decide that Haven was what you wanted to be known by?
Haven: Honestly, no other name really came close to it. I will say it was difficult really locking a name in though, because it’s what I will be called for the rest of my musical journey, which was kind of a big decision haha, but I’m happy with Haven 🙂
YEM: You just released your newest single “Be With You.” Tell us about the song.
Haven: The process for writing “Be With You” was super rare. I was in a session and we had already written 2 songs that day. We had 30 minutes left and figured we’d try to knock out one more idea before I left. We ended up writing the whole song in 20 minutes. It literally felt like “Be With You” fell out of the sky. We wrote it faster than we could type it. That almost never happens but it’s so cool when it does.
Photo Credit: Storm Santos
YEM: Selena Gomez even posted about your new song on her Instagram! How long have you known Selena?
Haven: Yes!! She has been so kind and welcoming to me. My manager Brian Teefey is her step-dad so I met her through him. So so thankful for her kindness and support. She is THE BEST!
YEM: Any chance you and Selena will collaborate on a song one day?
Haven: That would be a dream come true 🙂 I LOVE her!! She’s such a big inspiration to me!
YEM: You’ll soon be going on tour with Dinah Jane and Agnez Mo! What are you most excited about going on tour?
Haven: Oh my gosh!! I’m SO EXCITED for tour!! I’m most excited to meet fans, play new music and see how people react to it. Going to be SO MUCH FUN!! All the songs I’m playing will be released this year. Follow me on Instagram to keep up with everything. @Iamhavenmusic 🙂
Editor’s Note: The Dinah Jane World Tour has currently been postponed due to the COVID-19 outbreak.
