BEN: Let’s talk about the new record, “Feels Like Freedom,” how did the album come together? Share some details and discuss some of the songs on the album.
SH: “Feels Like Freedom” the new album releases January 17, 2022. I started writing this track when I was on the Legendary Rhythm and Blues cruise to the Caribbean. It was so inspiring to be surrounded by great blues music 20 hours a day. The lyrics and melody came to me, Wow this feels like freedom, “No work, all play…feel the vibe of the beautiful breeze, takes me where the happy people go!” So, when you listen to this song, have your favorite drink in hand and just enjoy the vibe. When my band performs, the fan favorite is always “Dirty Dog”. They jump on the dance floor and sing the chorus with me! This song has a lot of my personality in it, deals with a stressful situation with my sense of humor. “Love Me Right” is a bluesy ballad written to inspire other single parents. If you can’t love me right, if you can’t find the time, cut me loose. This lyric comes from a place of raising two children and choosing to deal with being lonely instead of being played. When we play this song live, single Moms have come up to me with tears in their eyes and say that the song make them feel empowered. No one is really writing much about the struggles of doing your absolute best for your kids no matter what life brings your way.
BEN: You recently competed in, and won, your area’s IBC, and now head to Memphis in May (postponed from this January due to Covid concerns) to compete. Discuss how that all came together.
SH: My band is honored to represent Southern California as a regional winner of the International Blues Challenge for 2022! We have had so much loving support from the Santa Clarita Valley Blues Society, many of the members will come to Memphis to cheer us on May 6-9, 2022. It’s expensive to take a band to Memphis so the blues society is doing fundraisers to offset the cost of flights and hotels. Beale Street will be open all night until 3am with great blues music from every venue from Rum Boogie to BB Kings, we will be playing our show each evening then jamming until 3am with musicians from around the world. Also just found out we’ll be performing at the Woodystock Blues Festival in Bullhead City, Arizona, near Laughlin, Nevada at the Colorado River, on Saturday, April 9.
BEN: What’s it like maintaining a career in the corporate world, and one in the music industry, as well?
SH: Many musicians are struggling with being out of work during the pandemic. Southern California people are resilient because many of them participate in “the industry” which has ups and downs. Some of the restaurant owners and wineries have kept us playing at least once a month by doing outdoor events safely. People need to feel some freedom, to have a meal, to hear live music to keep their sanity! Some of my band members rely solely on music to pay their bills. So we tried to keep things going as much as we safely could. I have always had a lot of energy and a strong mid-western work ethic so was lucky to have a dual career. In addition to being a band leader, I also manage an innovative consumer products company. My style is very collaborative and inclusive, because I enjoy working with creative people and helping them become their best.
BEN: What’s your blueprint for the next 3-5 years, how you’d like your career to progress?
SH: Our plans for the future are underway! We just released a video on YouTube for our first single “Never Sleep Your Way to the Middle” a true story of an office romance and some cheeky advice to women. https://youtu.be/7lnWBALVKXg. The band is planning working on a new CD already-we go back into the studio this month. The next CD has some inspirational blues anthems, we feel like we have survived some rough times, it’s time to celebrate friendship, family and lift people up! We are working on booking some tours on the East Coast and internationally.
BEN: How can people keep up with the latest Sandy Haley Band happenings?
SH: Best way to keep in touch is https://www.sandyhaleymusic.com and our Facebook is very active https://www.facebook.com/sandyhaleyband as well as our YouTube channel @SandyHaleyBand https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YpsUZOlIfSI Thank you so much for keeping the blues alive on Blues-E-News! We look forward to meeting you online and in person!
