What's on What's Good: Exclusive Interview with Halston Dare

Rising Pop Singer Halston Dare Interview

Today on What On What’s Good with Host Jovin Tardif, I am here with Rising Pop Singer Halston Dare. Alt-pop singer Halston Dare released her new single “Teach Em” on August 28th. “Teach Em” was written by Darewith Tushar Apte (Demi Lovato’s “Sober”), Whitney Phillips (Ariana Grande and Justin Bieber’s “Stuck with U”), and Michelle Buzz (Katy Perry’s “Never Really Over”) with Apte and Buzz producing. Halston‘s break up anthem “Replace You” was released in April. The music video and song combined have received about 500,000 combined streams and views. Another music video by Halston Dare is ‘Something Special’. In our interview, topics include favourite artists, auditions, writing music, and much more.

Rising Pop Singer Halston Dare “Teach Em,” “Replace You”, “Something Special”

1. You listened to multiple genres of music growing up? Can you tell us about a few of your favourite artists and why?

One of my favorite things to do on a relaxing day is listening to 50s and 60s music like Elvis Presley, The Foundations, and The Inkspots. It’s so calming and relaxing. I also have another side. My love for rock and 70s and 80s music like Phil Collins and the Eagles and Mötley Crüe. In addition, I listen to pop music as the genre is completely glued to my soul. I think the people who inspired me the most were Katy Perry, Julia Michaels, Sasha Sloan, Miley Cyrus, Ariana Grande, Dua Lipa, and Lennon Stella!

2. Could you describe your audition when you sang Whitney Houston’s “I Have Nothing” in front of 5,000 people? How did it feel before, during, and after the performance?

Oh my goodness I can’t believe you even know about that! That was one crazy week. The audition was absolutely insane and I was so nervous because I had never been on stage before. I remember my dad and I had gone to New York for a father-daughter trip. We went to Bloomingdale’s and found this gorgeous gray silver beaded dress. We picked it out together for me to wear for the performance. He influenced me to sing “I Have Nothing” by Whitney Houston because it is such a great song. I went up on stage and started talking and I said “hello everybody” before I could even get around the curtain corner. I sang that song as strong and as best as I could and it was a beautiful memory. I realize that I actually discovered that I have stage fright after I get off the stage. I don’t know how else to explain it; I don’t really get nervous before I get on stage but the moment I’m done singing and I’m walking off stage I become paralyzed and I’m not able to walk it’s the craziest thing ever. You could let me perform in front of 30,000 people and I would be fine but if you put me in front of two or five, I don’t know if I could do it!! LOL

Rising Pop Singer Halston Dare “Teach Em,” “Replace You”, “Something Special”

3. Any advice about writing music? How would you describe your sound?

I don’t really have any advice about writing music as I feel being a Songwriter is second nature for that writer. What I like to do is write about the experiences and feelings that I have or have gone through because I’m sure that there’s somebody else out there in the world that is feeling or has felt the same way that I did or have as well. I like to describe myself as an edgy, alternative pop!

4. Can you tell the story behind the song “Replace You.” Describe what it was like writing and creating the song/music video.

“Replace You” is about an argument that I had with my boyfriend. He made me feel like I wasn’t important. My producer Michelle and I created the song and we knew that it was going to be very special. It’s honestly one of my most favorite songs I’ve ever done despite my new song “Teach Em!” Making the music video, even though I didn’t get to do everything that I wanted to because of COVID, it was still a lot of fun and I’m very proud of everything that we were able to accomplish!

Rising Pop Singer Halston Dare “Teach Em,” “Replace You”, “Something Special”

5. Your new single “Teach Em” is a direct sequel to “Replace You”. “Teach Em” is available on August 28th. Can you tell us a bit about the song? Who helped out on the track?

You can expect a fun dance radio song from my next single. I am so proud of the helpers for the track that included Michelle Buzz, Tushar Apte, Whitney Phillips. “Teach Em’s” melody is so fun and so unique and the post-chorus run that I created in the studio is one of the most beautiful, coolest things I feel I’ve ever created before in my artistry!

Rising Pop Singer Halston Dare “Teach Em,” “Replace You”, “Something Special”

6. Tell us about your sports background?

Oh, brother! I used to travel with competitive basketball, I ran track, played volleyball, and was a cheerleader for a minute. I really wanted to play softball for the longest time ever but the middle school that I went to was too small to make up a girls’ team. I also almost had the opportunity to play on the boy’s football and boy’s lacrosse team however my dad would not let me because I am a girl and they were afraid of me getting “hurt “ lol. I have always had a huge liking for sports and my favorite sports to watch are basketball and football. Go patriots and GS warriors!!