Today we’d like to introduce you to Anna (Haløver) Mezentseva.
Anna, can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
I was born and raised in a small town called Barnaul, in the heart of Siberia, Russia. I have always loved writing songs, singing and performing but the older I got the more scared I was of pursuing this dream. The reason for it being that it was hard for me to relate to anyone around me because my parents are not musicians and my friends were into different things like I.T., languages, math, engineering, etc., and I really wanted to fit in. That’s why instead of pursuing my music dream I chose to study linguistics for five years. But as much as I tried to convince myself that singing and writing was just a hobby and that I had to focus on getting a “real” job, music was following me everywhere. At college, I met people that were into music as much as I was and we started playing shows, recording songs and videos. And that’s when I realized that there was nothing in the world that I wanted to do more than music. One of these people I met told me about this incredible music school in Boston, Berklee College of Music, so I applied and to my surprise, I was accepted.
At that time, my parents were going through a difficult divorce and financial difficulties. It was nearly impossible for me to go because my family was falling apart but I decided to pursue my passion despite everything and it was totally worth it! In Berklee, I learned from the best teachers and got to write, perform and record with some of the most amazing and inspiring musicians in the world, which made me into the musician I am right now.
While studying in Boston I went to Los Angeles as a tourist and fell in love with the passion inside the city. It felt like everyone was trying to achieve something big. It was a no brainer; I left Berklee and came straight to L.A to pursue my career.
Has it been a smooth road?
Moving to Los Angeles and trying to survive the first year was probably one of the hardest times for me. Also, when I moved to Los Angeles it marked four years since the last time I saw my family, which was incredibly hard to deal with. I’m grateful for social media and video calling apps but sometimes you just need a physical touch from people you love and trust the most; it can heal any anxiety and depression.
Even though there have been lots of obstacles, I think they shaped me into a better person and the artist that I am today. It has also made my songs deeper and more meaningful. That’s why I’m extremely grateful for everything that has led me to this day.
We’d love to hear more about your work and what you are currently focused on. What else should we know?
I’m a singer, songwriter and I play the piano. Haløver is not just me it’s also Jiroe who co-writes with me and produces every song. I met Jiroe back in Berklee College of Music and we clicked right away. Jiroe always had a particular sound in mind with a specific tone of voice and I was looking for someone who would respect my ideas and make them sound modern and at the same time unique. We created this urban/hip-hop sound with hints of soul and R&B that is, in my opinion, very captivating and refreshing. Lyrics-wise, we always try to think of a story and then turn it into a song and if possible, film a music video.
Our last single, that I’m very proud of, is called “Let Me Out” and it was inspired by a Netflix TV series called “You”. It is about a girl who keeps stalking a guy that she is obsessed with. At first, she is just following him around and fantasizing about them being together but after some time she realizes that it’s not enough and she wants to “own” this person. She traps him inside where he can’t go anywhere or talk to anyone and just enjoys having him only for herself.
Is our city a good place to do what you do?
I think that Los Angeles is the capital of the film and music industry. I don’t think you can find so many different styles of music co-existing anywhere else. I remember someone telling me to not go to L.A. right away and to take my time. I was very nervous about it but I felt like I was ready. It wasn’t easy at first but I watched others and learned from their experience as well as from my own mistakes. In my opinion, unless you get out of your comfort zone – nothing will change. And by sitting and waiting for a better time to do what you always wanted to do, you will feel safe and comfortable, but you’ll be far away from your dreams.
Contact Info:
- Email: [email protected]
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thisishalover/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thisishalover
- Other: https://open.spotify.com/artist/11mLdjCvnuNKdUlxXd0saH?si=Wx7iDfhOQVacUAW1aw3gRg
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