Hailey Cramer

Hailey Cramer
She featured on the smash hit collaboration ‘Summer Days’ with rapper Pez, knocked audiences out performing with the likes of Michael Franti, 360 and Blue King Brown, all the while exploring and refining her own sound.

Named after the comet, which flew overhead as she was born, Hailey’s interest in music sprouted at a very young age. Infatuated with old school vocalists from her father’s vinyl collection, she developed a hobby of making mix-tapes to send to her Grandmother in Sri Lanka singing all her favorite songs and splicing in messages from her family as interludes. In these early stages as an audio documentarian, Hailey learnt how to reach out and connect through song.

Ten years later, with an established reputation for her vocal talents and tireless work ethic, Hailey was welcomed into the fold of illustrious roots music giants Blue King Brown. Through extensive touring to the US, Canada, Europe and the Caribbean playing a massive array of national and international festivals, Hailey has performed alongside the likes of Santana, Silverchair, Powderfinger, Ben Harper and The Black Eyed Peas. Throughout Blue King Brown’s hectic touring schedule, Hailey has seized every opportunity to develop. From attending industry forums at Austin Texas’ prestigious SXSW festival to performing onstage with Michael Franti to spending time in the studio with Jamaican producer royalty Bonsai, Hailey makes the most of her surroundings to expand her experience and develop her creativity.

Back in Australia, her 2008 collaboration with rapper Pez both as a co-writer and performer elevated Hailey’s career to new heights. The smash hit ‘The Festival Song’ gathered a national following, coming in at No. 7 in Triple J’s Hottest 100, No. 1 on the AIR 100% Indie Singles chart and No. 11 on the ARIA Australian Singles chart. Since then, she has toured extensively with Pez and also lent her vocal prowess to hip hop contemporaries 360 on his chart topping album ‘Falling and flying’ and Mantra’s ‘Speaking Volumes’ album.

Shaped by a wealth of performance experiences over and spurred on by encouragement from the artists she has been working with and supporting, Hailey was inspired to realize the contents of her own songbook, define her own voice and seek out potential collaborators for her latest and most exciting creative stage – Hailey Cramer the solo artist.

Working alongside Melbourne-based producer Dan West in his shipping container studio Tweak and Twang, the two established a set of compositional rules that they would abide by to help define a new sound - one that would allow Hailey's voice to be the central focus. For her debut EP, the duo has sculpted a remarkable sonic landscape in which Hailey’s soulful vocal prowess is supported by a minimal yet funky accompaniment. Vintage analogue synthesizers, percussive sounds sourced from the body and everyday objects and noise making toys gleaned from local flea markets all combine to celebrate the nuance and humanness of a live performance in an electronic music context.

Welcome to the sonic world of Hailey Cramer, where story becomes song, electronics become humanised and where trash is sometimes treasure.

Quotables
“Hailey Cramer can bring a raging crowd to an attentive silence in moments”
Carlo Santone, Blue King Brown

“Executed really nicely. Appreciate the restraint to keep it simple effective with the nodding beat and that great voice front and centre.”
Dave Ruby Howe, triple j

“There's such an awesome groove to this song. I love the electronic edge, and the rootsy vocals.”
Sarah Howells, triple j

"Hailey Cramer is an incredible vocalist full stop."
Natalie Pa'apa'a- Blue King Brown

There’s something genuinely attractive about independent women producing slick music with anti-misogynistic themes. The four-track EP is packed with soulful lyrics and vocals that rumble as a deep contralto or slide into a flawless, vibrato-laden soprano, conveying a raw emotional quality.
Pete Walsh – Offstreet Press

"As a performer Hailey Cramer oozes warmth and good vibes, but don't be fooled, her voice will bring goosebumps to your arms and transport you to a place not many singers in this country can bring you to".
James Mangohig (SIETTA/ DAMN MORODA)