by Ben Boddez

The Vancouver-based indie-pop singer’s debut album leaves enough of an impression that you can already tell she’s well on her way to being a lot more than a permanent fixture in Canada’s indie music community. Blending together sunny guitar riffs, alt-rock energy, folksy backdrops and infectious pop melodies, Hailu’s work is bursting with personality, her soaring melodies equally jubilant and exasperated.

Primarily tackling a bad relationship, you can tell she shares a producer with Carly Rae Jepsen – she does it with a disguisedly upbeat fashion, with something more meaningful below the surface. It’s a cathartic release, moving forward with a smile.