Interview by Brooklyn Gibbs.

If you’re a fan of Peach PRC, Sydney musician Hayley Marshall is an artist you’ll want to keep on your radar!

Inspired by artists including Billy Joel, Green Day, Paramore, Led Zeppelin, and Miley Cyrus, Hayley draws upon her life experiences with mental illness, being a part of the LGBTQIA+ community, and living in the 21st century.

Hayley has just released her debut single, ‘Mania,’ - an electronic-pop track infused in edgy guitar riffs. Her debut tells the story of her own experience with Bipolar Disorder.

Futuremag Music caught up with Hayley following the release of her debut.

Huge congrats on releasing your debut single! That must be so exciting! How does it feel to have this out there?

Thank you! It feels great to finally have an official release to show people when they ask me what I do. The process was even more amazing than the end result though

Why is now the perfect time to release your debut?

I think before, I was honestly too concerned about the process of creating a song, such as content and finances. But for ‘Mania’, everything happened so quickly that I was able to release it before I was too concerned about how I would create it. 

I feel like your debut is the perfect time to share with people who you are as a creative artist and how you came to the point you are now. Do you mind sharing?

As an artist, I would consider myself to be fairly versatile. I’ve been inspired by a range of different genres including, jazz, hip hop and hard rock. I’ve also drawn on many different sources of inspiration, including dating as a queer person, academia, my friends, mental health, social issues such as capitalism, and books such as The Great Gatsby. I think I got to this point because I’m a chronic over-thinker. I overindulge in every experience I have, every little bit of information I find interesting. I live in this little bubble of introspection, so everything kind of gets mulled over extensively and then spat out in some sort of creative output. 

‘Mania’ reflects your own personal experience with Bipolar Disorder and the high periods that come with this diagnosis. What is your experience with this?

When I get manic, I tend to get a bit reckless, I have all of this energy, I’m super motivated, I don’t want to sleep at all, and life seems magical (like seeing through rose-coloured glasses). I don’t even realise I’m manic until after the fact, because my view of reality becomes so distorted, almost in the polar opposite way to depression. 

Bipolar Disorder is a common disorder and I’m sure there will be many people who listen to this track who may relate to it, or have seen a loved one experience this. What do you hope they take away from listening to this?

While studying psychology, I learned that bipolar disorder is one of the mental diagnoses associated with the highest rates of suicide, with studies showing up to 60% of people diagnosed with the disorder having attempted suicide, and up to 20% dying by suicide (twice as likely as depression). I am a part of those statistics. While, thankfully, mental illnesses such as anxiety and depression are becoming more understood by the general public, other mental illnesses such as bipolar disorder or autism are still very much stigmatised. When people listen to ‘Mania’ I want them to know they’re not alone, it’s not their fault life may feel like a crippling rollercoaster, and that they’re not crazy or unreliable just because they may have been diagnosed with bipolar. 

You’re giving me Peach PRC vibes, and she’s another Australian artist who has been very open about Bipolar Disorder and being queer through song. I love the musical representation of this mental health disorder. However, it can also be daunting to share something so personal, especially when it can sometimes be faced with negative stigma. How does it feel to share something so personal in a public form?

‘Mania’ was very much inspired by Peach! I honestly always overshare. All of my friends will agree when it comes to the most ‘embarrassing’ or traumatic stuff, I am concerningly open about it.  

What’s next for you in terms of any upcoming gigs or more music in the future?

I play one to three acoustic solo gigs every weekend, which people can investigate over on my Hayley Marshall Music social media accounts or my website. I also have something a bit rockier with some groovy people in the mix. Maybe an album or an EP if we stay focused enough. Hopefully, both some original and covers stuff there. 

Any other comments you would like to add about yourself or this release?

I am so thankful for the opportunities I have been given during the release of ‘Mania’. As a young girl I had always dreamed of doing what I am now. I’ve also met so many talented, inspiring people on the way and have been so amazed by the feedback thus far!