Q&A: Hayley Siano Explores Nostalgia and Growth in Intimate New EP ‘A Little Meaning’
INTERVIEW
INTERVIEW
IN HER LATEST EP A LITTLE MEANING - singer-songwriter Hayley Siano dives deep into the delicate fabric of nostalgia, capturing the essence of personal memories and moments that have shaped her journey. Known for her introspective and evocative songwriting, Siano crafts a collection of songs that explore not just the happy memories, but the complex and bittersweet emotions tied to her past. As she describes, A Little Meaning isn’t just about reminiscing on the good times, but more about cherishing every fleeting moment, every passed note, and even the challenging experiences that molded her growth. With this EP, Siano offers listeners a reflective journey that honors her past and where she finds herself now in life—facing the duality of comfort and shame that often comes with remembering.
Throughout A Little Meaning, Siano taps into the universal longing to relive cherished memories and confront the experiences that brought her to where she is today. Departing slightly from her indie/pop roots, the project aims to offer an authentic and vulnerable listening experience, enhanced by the addition of violin and pedal steel instrumentation. Siano’s desire was to create a live-performance feel—intimate yet elevated, with each song reflecting a genuine connection to her past.
In our interview, Siano opens up about her creative process, revealing her intentional shift towards a more folk and country-inspired sound.
LUNA: Your EP, A Little Meaning, has been described as a deeply nostalgic collection of songs. Can you talk about what inspired you to create an EP focused on personal memories and moments from your past?
SIANO: I’ve always been hyper nostalgic. Not just reminiscing-on-the-good-times type of nostalgia, more like saving every piece of paper I’ve ever been given or written on and nurturing them like they have a soul. And from the souls of those archives, "A Little Meaning" was born. The things I would give anything to relive, the things I would give anything to change, and everything in between. These four songs represent the emotional rollercoaster of growing into everything these moments have shaped me into. First kisses, passed notes, my childhood bed, moving, meeting my ex's ex, a break-in, fear of what's to come, the duality of the comfort and shame that memories can evoke. This EP is staying up all night on my corded phone to divulge confessions to a best friend, it's learning to ride a bike, it's wondering what could be between me and every stranger I see, and it's really about honoring all those parts of myself as I find myself now "grown up".
LUNA: What elements of the recording process or musical approach did you experiment with that felt new or different from your previous work?
SIANO: For this project, I leaned a lot more into folk and country where previously I had stayed in mostly an indie/pop world. I wanted this EP to reflect an honest, vulnerable sound that wasn’t overly tuned or produced. I also had some incredible musicians add instrumentation like violin and pedal steel that was new for my sound. Ultimately my goal with these four songs is for the listener to feel like they’re listening to an intimate, elevated live performance.
LUNA: The EP was recorded during an all-nighter at Power Station in NYC. How did that intense experience of recording in one night influence the vibe and energy of the songs?
SIANO: My producer Sully is an engineer at Power Station, and he graciously allowed us to record one night until about 2 am. It was absolutely sick to be in that space, recording vocals in the same place as Whitney Houston and Freddie Mercury and playing the iconic Steinway grand piano. The energy was palpable. We made a lot of choices that I hadn’t thought of before that night, and Joe Holt who is on guitar and background vocals especially brought in a ton of ideas with the harmonies and guitar parts. It felt like a huge accomplishment to finish the bones of all four songs that night. I think it made the EP feel integrated and like one complete project.
LUNA: You've drawn comparisons to Brandi Carlile and Sara Bareilles, especially in your dynamic live performances. How do you bring that same energy into the studio when crafting more intimate songs like the ones on this EP?
SIANO: Both of those artists are huge inspirations to me - their voices, their mastery of their instruments, the way they craft lyrics and tell stories. When I’m in the studio, I focus on capturing that live energy by creating a space that feels intimate and raw. I often start with a simple arrangement, just my voice and piano, allowing the emotions to shine through without overproduction. I also bring in elements from my live performances, like spontaneity and a genuine connection to the audience, by experimenting with vocal takes and encouraging collaboration with musicians who bring their own energy to the mix. The goal is to make each song feel like it could come alive on stage, and it’s about staying true to the emotion and storytelling, whether in a live venue or a cozy studio.
LUNA: What’s your favorite track from the project?
SIANO: Damn, that’s a hard question. I love the violin in Hold It Against Me. But I think the harmonies in Just As Well make it my favorite, along with the pedal steel in it. They build in the bridge all the way to the end and I like how the phrase “just as well” becomes a mantra that serves as acceptance of uncertainty for all the many questions that song asks.
LUNA: You've spoken about turning to nature and your own inner fire to embrace your queer identity. How has your journey of self-discovery and identity exploration influenced the themes and messages in this EP?
SIANO: Turning to nature has provided me with a sense of grounding and connection. There’s something magical about the way the natural world reflects the fluidity of identity; just like rivers carve their own paths and flowers bloom in their own time, I’ve learned to embrace my own uniqueness and the beauty of my queer identity. Turning back to really look at my past and get in touch with my younger self gave me so much compassion for her. Little Hayley was deeply repressed, especially in her queerness. I now see my preoccupation with nostalgia as a means of connecting my past and present and giving my younger self access to the fullness of my life today.
LUNA: Your music often blends folk-pop elements with raw, open lyrics. What role do you think vulnerability plays in creating a deeper connection with your listeners, especially through this EP?
SIANO: The songs in this EP are the most vulnerable I’ve ever been with my music. I sing about worrying if I’ll ever be successful, if I’ll ever have a baby, about close ones struggling with depression, about a break in I experienced as a teenager, about not being able to move on, about feeling misunderstood. I simultaneously find it really challenging to write about these things and really freeing. Once I put it out there, it doesn’t hold the same power over me - it doesn’t scare me as much. And I really want people listening to these songs to feel some freedom in knowing that they’re not alone if they experience these feelings.
LUNA: Looking forward, how do you see this EP influencing your future work, both musically and personally?
SIANO: I hope that my future work builds on this intimate style and that I continue to lean into the folk genre. I really want to stay in the habit of centering my life experiences, especially the not so pleasant ones in my work. So I plan on writing more about my struggles with OCD, body image, leaving a cult, and exploring my queerness. And of course, collaborating with as many amazing musicians as I can along the way.
