- I'm really grateful for all of my fans
and all of their comments, especially on the music videos.
I love reading them.
People are funny as well.
Like, I'm like, always reading the comments,
and I'm like, "Aw," and then I'm always, like, laughing,
'cause I'm like, "Wow, that is a mood. I love that."
So, I just love their humor,
and I love when they support one another
and cheer each other on,
because our community needs support more than ever.
Because life is challenging,
and I'm so grateful to see my fans, kind of,
lift each other up, as well as, um,
feeling hopeful watching my music videos
as I continue to release them.
So far, you've heard "Found My Friends," "Chance,"
and my newest single.
I would describe this new era of Hayley Kiyoko,
sonically, has a little bit more weight to it.
It feels heavy, but it also paints a very cinematic picture.
As an artist, I feel like what inspires
your new era of music is just, like,
what you've been through and what you've overcome
or continued to overcome.
I think this new era of music definitely focuses on that,
and I'm so excited for you guys to hear it.
I think the most important thing that I'm hoping my fans
get from my music
is hope.
I think that's, like, the red thread
with everything that I do. I want them to feel hopeful
that they can succeed and that they can be happy
and that they can overcome challenges
and thrive and enjoy life.
And so many times, you don't feel that way.
And so, I'm hoping that my music and my storytelling
can, kind of, help them get through hard times.
Hey, I'm Hayley Kiyoko,
and these are the top five songs that shaped me.
The first song that shaped me as a person is
"Complicated" by Avril Lavigne.
You'll see a red thread throughout these songs
because they're all, like, kind of angsty.
I just felt like,
"Why'd you have to go to make things so complicated?"
Like, that's how I felt about all the women in my life
and people that I fell in love with.
That was, like,
just my thoughts exactly,
and I remember shopping at Hot Topic, and wearing a tie,
and having, like, buttons and, like, I just, like,
thought Avril Lavigne was so cool.
And I just remember when that song came out,
I play the drums and I used to play on the drums
and just, like, scream it
on the top of my lungs in my garage.
And it just brought so much support to me,
because I felt like she was expressing exactly how I felt
at that time in my life.
Another song that shaped me was
"Hide and Seek" by Imogen Heap.
She's, like, one of my favorite songwriters and creators.
I remember seeing her perform live.
She produces her own music,
and she creates these worlds visually,
when you listen to her music.
And I remember blasting that song in my bedroom,
and like, doing full-on, horrible, contemporary dance moves
to that song and just, like, being so in my feels,
and that song really comforted me
during really challenging times.
I think I'm definitely inspired by female artists
that have such a creative control over their artistry.
And I definitely feel like there are many artists,
like Imogen Heap, who inspire.
I would see her perform at the Wiltern
and I'd be like, "Oh, if she can do it, I can do it."
And I'm, you know, a firm believer in, like,
believing is seeing,
and that's what I'm trying to do with my art.
The third song that shaped me is "Crazy" by Gnarls Barkley.
I don't know if you're seeing a theme here,
but I was going through some things
and I just felt so crazy a lot of the times.
I think growing up, being in the closet,
struggling with my sexuality and accepting it.
I knew who I was, but I had a hard time
accepting who I was. Like, what's real and what's not real,
right? Like, am I making this up?
Does she actually like me?
Or am I just like making this all up in my head?
And I remember also blasting that song to, like, level 10,
driving down the PCH, and just being like,
"Am I crazy?" [Laughs]
I think the most the important thing to focus on
when you're, you know, writing music is, is this honest?
Is this truthful? Is this vulnerable?
Those are, like, kind of, the three things
that, kind of, go in your head.
And you're like, "What am I really trying to say?"
And, "Am I saying something that I feel
"really, really passionate about?"
And if that's the case,
then I think it might be a good song.
The fourth song that's shaped me is "Combat Baby" by Metric.
Emily Haines was also an idol for me.
I thought she was just such a rock star,
and I loved her lyrics and her storytelling.
I think that was, like, a big thing for me,
is, like, her lyrics were so visual.
I remember rocking out to that song, as well.
That was more just like a fun song,
and I just respected her as an artist so much.
And, you know, you always need a song that you could just,
like, headbang to and dance to,
and that just kind of helps you get through life as well.
I'm just very grateful that my art can help other people
because other people's art has helped me.
And so, I feel like I'm just doing what I'm supposed to do
by just, like, giving back to other, younger artists
and people who dream,
because I'm the biggest dreamer of all.
The last song that shaped me is "I Know" by Dionne Farris.
She's also an incredible songwriter,
and it's one of my favorite songs because,
like the songs I shared with you before, I felt crazy,
and, like, that song, the lyrics [were], like, confirmation
that, like, I know who I am. I know what I'm doing.
It kind of gave me confidence as opposed to,
like, validating my craziness, if that makes sense.
So, that was, like, a huge part of just,
like, my growth as just a person and loving myself more.
I don't know if I see parallels in the music
that I write now and the music
that shaped me growing up.
I think the parallels [are] just, like,
they were just who they were, unapologetically.
And I try to be that as well,
um, as an artist, and kind of own my differences.
And I feel like that's maybe the connection
between the music that's shaped me and who I am today.