Photo Credit: Codi McIvor www.instagram.com/thisiscodi/
Hailey Benedict is a force to be reckoned with in the Canadian country music scene, winning awards such as the 2022 CCMA Interactive Artist of the Year and 2022 Country Music Alberta Horizon Female Artist of the Year. She's shared stages with Jason Aldean and Blue Rodeo, including performances at Nashville's Tootsie’s World Famous Orchid Lounge. Beyond music, Hailey is a vocal advocate for mental health and anti-bullying causes, honoured as a Global Woman of Vision award recipient. For an exclusive look into her journey and inspirations, check out our exclusive Q&A with her below.
What initially inspired you to pursue a career in music?
Although no one in my family was musical, music was always playing in our house growing up. I started singing lessons at age six and quickly fell in love with music's ability to tell stories and connect with others. It sounds crazy, but I felt in my heart from those very early days that it was something I wanted to do for the rest of my life.Can you share a memorable moment from your musical journey that has had a significant impact on you?
One of the most significant moments in my career was when I was 14 and sang my original song, "Clean Slate," at a Keith Urban concert in front of 20,000 people at Roger's Arena in Edmonton. My sister and I had made these guitar-shaped sparkly signs, and Keith ended up seeing from the crowd and pulled us both up. He asked me what I wanted to be when I grew up, to which I replied, "A singer-songwriter." The next thing I knew, Keith handed me a guitar, and I sang my original song up there! Keith also posted the moment online, where the video has amassed over 10 million views. It was a pivotal moment in my career, and it showed me that music as a career really was possible!What influences have shaped your style of music?
Over the years, I've had many influences that have shaped my style of music, and I genuinely listen to almost anything! I grew up listening to a lot of Taylor Swift, Keith Urban, and Dolly Parton, but I also had a bit of rock influence from my Dad and a pop influence from my Mom. I love experimenting with different sounds, and I think there are some elements from every genre that artists can learn and pull from. For country music in particular though, I feel that genre almost chose me in a way. The things I was writing and still write have naturally fallen into the country music genre, and I feel that the storytelling aspect of country music makes it so unique from other genre.If you could create a soundtrack for any historical event, which one would it be and why?
If I could create a soundtrack for any historical event, it would probably be the pandemic, and the soundtrack would probably include a lot of the music made during quarantine! I feel like we got such unique music during that era (as challenging as it was) because artists had to get creative with how they recorded the music, and we saw a lot deeper side to artists that we hadn't heard/seen before.If you could teleport to any concert in history, which one would you attend and why?
The opening night of Taylor Swift's Era's Tour! Although I did get to see it in Nashville in 2023, I would have loved to have been there the opening night when no one knew what the show looked or sounded like yet ( I did watch it from a grainy Tik Tok livestream opening night, haha but it isn't the same as being there in person!) I think that tour will be one of the most historic tours in history. It is such an incredible show.If you could collaborate with any artist, living or deceased, who would it be and why?
I'm a broken record with my Taylor Swift references here, but definitely Taylor Swift. She has been a huge role model for me growing up and pursuing a music career. Her songwriting and the way she can entertain a crown are truly unmatched. She also is an incredible and intelligent businesswoman. It would probably be the highlight of my career and life if I ever could collaborate with her, haha.What's the most memorable feedback or reaction you've received from a fan?
I played at an elementary school in Rimbey, Alberta, a few years ago. I got to perform for the kids and speak to them about my journey in music. After the show, I met the sweetest girl, Claire, and her family. Claire and her family have come to many shows since then. Most recently, they came to a show and gave me a book called "Because," a beautiful picture book showing how one piece of music can change many people's lives. Claire and her mom wrote a message inside saying how my music impacted her. It was one of the sweetest and most thoughtful gifts I have received from a fan, and it was a big reminder for me of how many lives can be impacted through music.What made you choose Plunge Audio IEMs for your performances?
So many of my trusted musician friends swore by Plunge Audio IEMS (especially the Universals) and raved about their greatness! It didn't take long for me to take the "plunge" myself, and boy, were they right! It has honestly changed the game for my shows. The precision of the sound is like no other; the IEMs are comfortable, stay in my ear and don't fall out, and by purchasing my pair, it supports a local Alberta business, too! My entire band has used them for our shows, and our confidence is much higher going out on stage knowing we have great-sounding and great-feeling IEMs.What specific features do you look for when choosing IEMs for your performances?
I definitely look for something that has precision in the audio and can clearly hear the separation in the mix. Also, with previous in-ears, I had trouble with comfort and getting the IEMs to stay in my ear. The comfort and the ability of the IEM to stay snug in the ear are essential to me. Plunge checks all those boxes for me!What advice would you give to other musicians who are considering using IEMs for the first time?
Although it can be an investment, getting an X32 system or having a go-to monitor sound tech makes a huge difference. I found that setting and saving our levels before the show allows us to get the best sound quality for our ears and makes our soundchecks run more smoothly.Follow Hailey's journey online:
Website | Instagram | TikTok
