Transcending Ego & The Balance of All Things

An inspiring dive into the mind and music of Haf n’ haf, where passion, vulnerability, and the pursuit of balance meet.

What first drew you to music, and what pushed you to take it seriously as a career?

I’ve always been drawn to music & I question the humanity of anyone who claims otherwise. Rhythm is something we are all inherently exposed to as early as within the womb, in the form of our mother’s heartbeat. I like to think my love for music manifested before I even came online in my youth. I have my family to thank for my earliest impressions of whatever hip hop, house, reggae, country & pop they vibed out to back then.

I think what pushed me to take music seriously as a career was the feedback I received when I first began writing & performing as a youth. I started freestyling and eventually writing with my cousins to Limewire instrumentals. I wrote humorous diss tracks to make my boys laugh and love poems I gave out on Valentine’s Day to make the girlies swoon. I rapped my first original song to Swizz Beats & DMX’s “Get It On the Floor” in my grade school talent show in the 6th grade. I don’t remember it all in detail but I do recall the feeling it gave me. A feeling cathartic enough to think “oh word, so this is what I want to do for the rest of my life”.

How has making music influenced you personally and artistically?

Making music has already taught me countless lessons in this lifetime. For one, I learned that the more honest, vulnerable & authentic I am, the greater I feel. I first applied that to songwriting before realizing I can live that way in my day to day. It also taught me that I have the inherent ability to transmute my love, emotions, trauma & pain into creative expression. It taught me how to play, work & collaborate with others to create something special. Something that transcends ego. It taught me to believe in my purpose & trust my gut no matter what expectations others may have for me. It taught me that I can help uplift, inspire and connect with others through telling my story. I could go on forever but those are a few gems that initially came to mind.

Where do you find your greatest inspiration, and how does it show up in your sound and lyrics?

My greatest inspiration comes from my own human & spiritual experiences. The universe has provided me with life, love, mentors, heroes, villains, relationships, suffering, guidance, wins, losses and I channel it all through my music. My pen is as boundless as the dimensions of the universe we live within so I write about the good & evil, the ups & downs, highs & lows, the yin & yang & everyting in between as perceived through my individual lens.

What challenges have you faced balancing music with everyday life, and how do you keep it all together?

Maaaan, it can be a struggle. Especially when you realize you have to learn how to get by in a society predicated upon systems you may not even have control over. The biggest challenge for me personally has been finding ways to make enough loot to not simply survive, but thrive. It is no simple task for an artist who does not come from wealth to accumulate such. Especially when you mature beyond romanticizing that whole “starving artist” lifestyle. It can also sometimes be a struggle to maintain relationships with friends, families & lovers when you prioritize your music to obsessive levels of engagement. Regardless, I truly believe that once you wholeheartedly embrace whatever it is you are passionate about as your first love, everyting else in life just seems to fall into place.

Are there certain themes or emotions that are central to your music, and what do you hope listeners feel when they hear it?

My name is Haf n’ haf because I truly believe in the balance of all tings. There can be no happiness without sadness. No light without dark. No strength without weakness. It is so important to embrace it all as a whole and ride whatever waves God gives you. I love to infuse this ideology into as much of my music as possible. I also champion being authentic as you absolutely can. There is courage and perseverance to be found within vulnerability. Sometimes the statements we are most fearful to express are the ones that the world needs to hear. That being said, I hope listeners feel the entire spectrum of emotion when vibing out to my music. I want them to know that they are loved. That they are never truly alone. That their existence is sacred and something to be celebrated and explored to the fullest.

Is there any feedback or moment that’s stuck with you throughout your career?

Oh, plenty. One that stands out for me personally was the first time I was brought to a professional recording studio. It was the eighth grade and a very sweet coworker of my great Aunt’s named Michael took a chance on me. He saw how passionate I was about hip hop and invited me to experience what a studio session was like for the very first time. It was mighty intimidating being so young and tagging along to a studio full of adult men. I was surprised when they let me write and record over a couple beats they were working on. I remember the genuine surprise on these cats' faces when they realized my prepubescent ass actually had coherent bars and decent flows. I remember going back a few more times and recording what would be my first official releases on MySpace. It was such a impactful experience and I will forever be grateful to my aunt Pat & Michael for making it happen.

What’s next in your music journey, and what’s got you most excited about the future?

I currently have three projects in the works with three different producers from all over the world. One based in the US, one based in Russia & a team based in Germany. 20+ songs each with their own essence that I’ve been working on since 2021. Words can’t express how stoked I am to share these pieces with the general public and see where it takes me. Honestly all ego aside, I’m confident this new chapter of discography will bring me that much closer to a standard of creative excellence I have always strived for. I’m talking about life changing music here. Only time will tell though.

Beyond the sound, what message or legacy do you want your music to leave?

I strive to leave a legacy that champions spreading love, being genuine, reaching individuation, overcoming adversity, seeking enlightenment, becoming one with the universe & ultimately being close to God.

If you could give one piece of advice to someone starting out in music, what would it be based on your own experiences?

Aim to make the kind of music you personally enjoy, not the kind of music you think others want to hear.

Thank you for joining us on this journey with Haf n’ haf. To follow his latest releases and stay connected, find him on social media and check out his work as he continues to make waves in the music world!