Hailaker album artwork.
"Hailaker" is a made up word by British musicians Jemima Coulter and Ed Tullett. They say they use the word as a moniker for their deeply personal collective, which also includes Portland-based visual artist Mike Roth plus Ali Lacey of Novo Amor, as anything widely used just wouldn't feel right.
This sense of private intimacy is evident when you hear Hailaker's music; rustic folk with an experimental and melodic edge. The band quietly released a couple of tracks at the end of 2018 and today, via The FADER, are sharing two more. "Coma/Smoke" tackles the painful process of ending a relationship while the gorgeous "I Could Be Back" is about the push-and-pull of personal growth. Both tracks will feature on Hailaker's self-titled debut album, released on April 26 via Lowswimmer.
Speaking about the album, Hailaker's Jemima told The FADER: “This record is the narrative of mine and Ed’s friendship first and foremost, since it meant we went from being strangers to spending weeks writing together. We see Hailaker as a fluid project, with no restrictions on output or contribution; perhaps one notable commonality is to make music that’s melodic in all aspects, rich and interesting. The artwork, made by Mike Roth, is an integral part of it. He brings something tangible to Hailaker and we’re continually inspired and amazed by his ideas.”