Haux – Heavy
Woodson Black is the man behind the minimalist indie act Haux. After a number of single releases and EPs, the Massachusetts-based artist has announced his debut album Violence In A Quiet Mind will be out June 26th. From the upcoming release is his new single “Heavy”, a poignant and mesmerizing track about the loss of his aunt to an accidental overdose after years of pain from a brain tumour. Black has a strong relationship with his mother and her five sisters who collectively raised him.
He explains:
I feel like I was raised by each of them at different times in my life,” he says. “In writing the album, I found myself remembering that early period in my life and how important those women were to making me who I am…When I wrote this song I was thinking about my aunt and those last few months before she passed away. I kind of stepped into her shoes for a little bit and wrote it from her perspective, or at least what I imagined it to be“.
Although it took years to find the confidence as an artist to share his personal material, Black has used the cathartic qualities of songwriting to aid his depression and trauma. His soft, brooding vocals carry with it the darkness of his mind and the internal struggles. On the outside, “Heavy” is a delicate, lush piano ballad, but inside, there is weighted pain and sorrow. It’s a beautiful contrast that highlights music’s natural ability to connect the artist and the listener on such deep levels.
His haunting voice helps build perspective as he sings on the chorus: “Heavy as a heartbreak / heavy as a broken home / if you ever loved me, how come you never said so?”
Listen to the single here and head to his website to pre-order/pre-save Violence In A Quiet Mind.
You can hear “Heavy” and more on our Monthly Spotify playlist.
