IN CONVERSATION WITH HAIDEN HENDERSON
interview by VERONICA TLAPANCO SZABÓ
With over 100 million global streams, sold-out shows across the US and Europe, and praise from the likes of Rolling Stone, PAPER, and Vogue, Haiden Henderson is redefining what it means to make pop music that truly bleeds. The rising alt-pop provocateur steps into a new era with his latest project, the ‘tension’ EP, a visceral and unfiltered collection that blurs the line between emotional catharsis and raw rock energy. Each track feels like an entry torn from his journal — unapologetic, painfully honest, and sonically explosive. From the viral single ‘lovesucker’ to the aching title track ‘tension’, Haiden delivers a coming-of-age soundtrack for a generation unafraid to feel everything all at once.
coat PHIX
top DIABOLO AMSTERDAM
shoes JIL SANDER
You’ve previously mentioned that every lyric on ‘tension’ comes directly from your life, how do you know when a real moment has become song-worthy?
When it rocks my world, it needs to be so visceral that it spills out of me. I really have to be forced to write something for me to like it.
Now if ‘killed the kid’ was your coming-of-age, and ‘lover boy’ your infatuation era, what does ‘tension’ say about who you are right now?
Each one of my projects is a snapshot of my life and they’re all centered around some kind of internal conflict. ‘tension’ as a project, documents the most explosive mistake I’ve made in my life. Which was falling for my best friend and losing her to those complicated feelings.
full look JIL SANDER
There’s a kind of irony in making “stadium-sized pop” about the most intimate moments, how do you balance that?
I’m just not good at writing anything that isn’t true, I lack imagination, so no matter what, my lyrics are going to be autobiographical. Plus I happen to like songs that get helplessly stuck in your head no matter the genre.
When it comes to “Haider Nation” what kind of emotional reaction do you hope to awaken in your listeners with this project?
I can’t say whether my songs will evoke new emotions for them, but I hope that if they’re feeling the way I did, they’ll feel a little less alone.
full look JIL SANDER
coat STYLIST’S OWN
shoes TALENT’S OWN
Thinking of ‘tension (heightened)’, what inspired the separate release for ‘chemicals’?
I had written ‘chemicals’ really early on but couldn’t find a place for it on the original tracklist. Then when my friend, MICO, came to me with a collaboration opportunity, I knew I wanted to stay in the ‘tension’ world a little longer. We dropped ‘parasite’ together as the leading single for this deluxe EP and then tacked on ‘chemicals’ for fun.
You’ve compared a past relationship to “trying to get sober while hanging out with your dealer every day,” how does that translate sonically?
There’s a kind of euphoria to addiction that keeps you coming back, but underneath lies a sinister and punishing reality and all the songs on this EP balance these candy-like melodies with darker, somewhat alternative soundscapes. The guitars, drums, and synths carry a brutalistic, industrial edge, on top of a delicate pop melody.
full look JIL SANDER
coat STYLIST’S OWN
shoes TALENT’S OWN
The cover of ‘tension’ captures that sort of dizzying feeling of falling in love and holding on to something that no longer serves you, how did the shot come to life?
One of my favorite paintings of all time is called “The Kiss” by artist Guatav Klimt. My mom had a replica of it hanging up in our living room growing up. Then my favorite photo of all time is an ad for the brand 55DSL from 2006 and is known as “The Kiss of Death” by Stefan Ruiz. I wanted to combine the intimacy of that painting with the death defying stakes of my favorite photo so I commissioned a group of VFX artists to build a 3D render of my favorite street corner in New York to composite a studio shot into.
Still on the imagery can you tell us more about the stylistic elements present in the ‘tension’ music video? Are there any references to watch out for?
Everything you see in the ‘tension’ music video is intentional, the outfit that the girl is wearing, the fact that she’s the singer, the bright red phone that I use, the RC car, even the sandwich that I’m eating… It’s random to everyone except the person that the song is about.
pants THE KOOPLES
belt TALENT’S OWN
‘lips’ is such a tactile track, you can almost feel it. How do you go about writing from that embodied perspective?
It started out as something that sort of just made me laugh and was prompted by the relentless comments I get about how big my lips are on the internet. Then, after I fell for my friend, she made a flirty comment about them too, and suddenly the song became about our banter and hidden longing.
Lastly, do you have any heartbreak cures or advice for anyone who might be going through a similar situation?
Absolutely not but if you find something please let me know.
coat PHIX
top DIABOLO AMSTERDAM
TEAM CREDITS:
talent HAIDEN HENDERSON
photography DANIEL SARS
styling TOMMY DRIESSEN
photography assistant NADIA DEKKER
editor TIMOTEJ LETONJA
interview VERONICA TLAPANCO SZABÓ
