Thoughts on “Below the Salt” by Haley Blais from a Longtime Fan
When I was about seventeen, I stumbled upon a cover of the song “Tonight You Belong To Me” on YouTube. It’s a simple video, a girl playing a ukulele while singing and walking with her friend on the beach. I loved it, so I started watching more of her videos. She was from Canada, she had this cool apartment, she posted original songs and demos, she loved the movie E.T. just as much as I did, she felt like someone I could realistically see myself being friends with.
That girl’s name is Haley Blais, and here I am four years later writing a review on her debut album “Below The Salt”. So for me, this review is quite personal, but also one-sided because we have never met and she has no idea who I am. This album just feels special, since myself and many others saw this project come together through the alternate lens of her YouTube channel. But with all of that said, let’s get into the music!
“Below the Salt” is a tight debut album, clocking in at nine songs and thirty-four minutes, it’s a quick but fulfilling listen. The lead in track “Somebody Called While You Were Out” is jangly, catchy, and ideal for a pensive autumn stroll. Blais’s voice is a cross between the operatic qualities of Joni Mitchell and the earnesty of Jenny Lewis, and her vocal abilities really shine on the tracks
“Firestarter” and “Be Your Own Muse” both of which are the absolute highlights of the project. “Firestarter” is tucked perfectly in the middle of the tracklist and sweeps the listener into the last half of the album. The orchestration builds up to a beautiful crescendo in which Blais reaffirms that “this is not a love song” as the music swells. “Be Your Own Muse” is a fantastic piece that focuses on romantic disappointments and how inevitably “it’s a hit or a miss and you lose.” But ultimately, we have to be our own muses to get through moments of insecurity.
There are hints of influence from bands like Twin Peaks, especially in the final track “So Funny” where a jaunty piano seems to harmonize with Blais’s vocals. Overall, “Below The Salt” is a wonderful debut from Blais that confronts the awkwardness of love and the triumphs of growing up. There’s also an air of familiarity to the entire album, not in a way where it sounds derivative of someone else. Rather, it feels like the comfort and sage wisdom of an older sibling. Which might be what she’s going for since the cover of the album is a picture of Blais holding her young niece; as if she is bestowing on this youth all of the advice and experience she has into this album.
Every song blends and moves in a cohesive way, to a point where you can lose yourself in the album. Blais is also embarking on an interesting marketing technique for her album as well. The cover of the album features the endearing image of Blais with her niece, and every lyric video is a little different. They feature different musicians, comedians, YouTubers, and even Blais herself, all lip synching as her niece on the cover. My personal favorite is this one done by the world renowned comedian, Chris Fleming.
“Below The Salt” is the perfect album to assist in your musical transition from summer bops to autumn insight. Blais’s album is also ideal for those who love Phoebe Bridgers, Tennis (fun fact, they produced “Below the Salt”), and Sidney Gish.
I also want to round out this review by instilling the importance of supporting independent artists and bands, especially now in this new world of COVID-19. Spotify and Apple Music are wonderful entities that help make music relatively accessible to listeners, but are not the most ideal platforms that support musicians. Bandcamp has been doing Bandcamp Fridays since March of this year, where every first Friday of the month they waive their revenue share and all of the money a band or an artist makes on that day goes directly to them. They recently announced that they will be continuing to do this through the end of the year. If you have the funds, I highly encourage buying your favorite independent artist’s music or their merch.
You can keep up with Haley Blais, buy merch, and stream her album here.
