Think "The Civil Wars" meets "Aimee Mann". Haunting harmonies and eclectic soundscapes.
Azalea Bio
Getting to know Azalea's music is getting to know Benjamin & Mia Hackett, the husband & wife duo from Hamilton, Ontario. The way their voices blend together in song is a beautiful picture of how they come together in life. Before meeting one another, Benjamin & Mia worked hard at their craft but there was an element missing. It only took one songwriting session together to discover that they were in fact missing eachother. Apart, their efforts fell short of what they had hoped to express musically, but together their sound blossomed into something beautiful, the sound now known as Azalea.
For their latest release, "Inside Out", Azalea has streamlined their folk-tinged pop sound and crafted songs that tug on your heart's strings with haunting melodic & harmonic lines. Reminiscent of The Civil Wars, Ryan Adams, and Aimee Mann, "Inside Out" sheds light on Azalea's Alt-Country side. Benjamin & Mia wrote, arranged, produced and recorded the album in their Hamilton home. "Inside Out" was funded through indiegogo - a crowdsourcing platform. Below is an excerpt from their campaign pitch with some insight into the album:
"As artists it has always been our goal to release quality music that is culturally relevant and speaks to the heart. With this album, the same is true. However, we wanted to take things a step further and show our listeners more of ourselves than we ever have before. We want this album to take listeners on a journey beyond the routine of everyday life to the place that connects them with their emotions, beliefs, and values in a real way. This EP is not only a taste of things to come from Azalea, but also a window into our life of faith."
"As working musicians we get to function in many arenas, from feature concerts and wedding ceremonies to backyard birthday parties and restaurant entertainment. We even have the honor of leading worship at many congregations across the Greater Toronto Area - a facet of our work that is very close to our hearts. With this album we have done our best to incorporate an original worship song and some inspirational numbers that reference our faith along side other songs that reflect Azalea's roots and shed light on our future direction. We've put our hearts and souls into these songs and we hope you'll join us on this journey..."
To experience the new material live, check Azalea's event calendar for their next concert. Their performances feature a beautiful blend of intimate & reflective pieces, and upbeat numbers that feature exciting live looping. Their chemistry is undeniably adorable - Azalea's "cute factor" has become a distinguishing feature that transcends their live performances and is echoed in their lyrics and musical arrangements.
In late 2012 Azalea released "At the End of This Year...", their "holiday single". Unlike all their other music, this song is only available for digital download on iTunes and CD Baby.
Azalea's 2010 release, "Coffee & Kisses EP, has been featured in many prominent music magazines and has had a great response from college radio across Ontario. The album was also nominated and placed in the top three finalists for Recording of the Year, Rock Recording of the Year, Instrumentalist of the Year, and Producer of the Year at the 2010 Durham Region Music Awards.
Years before anyone knew Benjamin & Mia Hackett as Azalea, they performed, travelled and even recorded an album under the moniker Benjamin & Mia.
2007's "Carousel of Life" was their first attempt at writing and recording together. It is the root of their love for one another and their "DIY" musician life. This first album is what thrust them into the life they know, love, and hope to express in song, to each of their listeners.
Azalea's music can be purchased on iTunes, CD Baby, and their concerts. You can catch Azalea at one of their many shows throughout Ontario. Whatever the setting, you'll find them be genuine, joyful, and full of life - always looking for their next adventure.