Start Listening To: Lady Apple Tree

Echoes of Earth and heartfelt melodies: Lady Apple Tree's journey in music.

In the serene tapestry of Northern California's landscapes, where the countryside and simple country life provide a canvas of inspiration, Lady Apple Tree, the musical moniker of Haylie Hostetter, has emerged as a remarkable voice. With an upcoming debut self-titled EP on the horizon, Lady Apple Tree is poised to weave her melodies into the hearts of listeners, drawing from her profound connection to nature, love, and life's enduring mysteries. As she prepares to unveil the EP, she takes a moment to delve into the roots and stories that have shaped her artistic path.

For those unfamiliar with your music, can you tell us who you are, where you’re from and about the music you make? 

I go by Lady Apple Tree but my name is Haylie Hostetter. I'm from Northern California, between my mom’s house in Healdsburg and my dad’s in Santa Rosa. My music has a sound that is reminiscent of the countryside where I grew up. It draws from simple country life, melancholy lonely times, being in love, being without love, and from the natural forces of the world. I write and sing from my heart, wherever that is at the moment.

Congratulations on your upcoming debut self-titled EP Lady Apple Tree Can you tell us a bit about the inspiration behind the project and how it came to be?

Thank you! I’ve been songwriting for quite some time, but the birthplace of the EP is in the song “Lady Apple Tree,” which I wrote a few years ago. The rest of the project fell together after that, and I was able to record a small collection of songs.

The title track, ‘Lady Apple Tree’ was chosen as your moniker and represents femininity and the symbolism of knowledge and life. Could you delve into the creative process behind writing and recording this song?

I wrote “Lady Apple Tree” while spending time in my hometown and admiring the quiet scenery there. I've learned that when writing songs, some take a little work and elbow grease to finish, but some come out gracefully all at once. To me those are the most special. It feels like the stars align just for you at that moment, and you're connected to something bigger than yourself. “Lady Apple Tree” was the first song like that for me.  At the time, I was reading the book “Women Who Run With the Wolves” by Clarissa Pinkola Estes, where she mentioned farmers used to call their appletrees ‘ladies’ back in the day. I put the words together and thought “Lady Apple Tree” was not only catchy, but felt like a home where my songs could rest. It set a groundway for the path I’m currently on.

The EP was produced and recorded in an abandoned studio in Santa Monica Canyon. How did the unique setting influence the sound and atmosphere of the recordings?

I recorded the EP with my previous partner Will Worden about three years ago. His friend’s grandfather was a renowned composer by the name of Patrick Williams. Since he passed away, his studio nestled in the Santa Monica hills remained unused. Will took it upon himself to revive the space into working condition and it soon became magical. Fog rolled over the mountains and it was quiet except for the crickets at night. We had nowhere to be and all the time in the world to make it happen, which is a rare occurrence these days. With limited knowledge of the art of recording, there was a free and innocent quality that buzzed around my music. We were very lucky to have access to the studio for free, especially since there was no way we could afford it otherwise.

You've been involved in various musical projects before Lady Apple Tree. How has your previous experience shaped your approach to this new project, both musically and creatively?

My last project was with Worden, and was called “Will and Haylie.” This was a folk and country duet that quickly formed after Will and I first got together. I had just moved to LA and was living in a studio in Koreatown. Will came over a few times a week and we would spend hours sitting at the kitchen table playing music. It was so much fun and we had no motive other than to sing. We learned all the standards such as “I’ll Be Your Baby Tonight,” “Colors,” “Wildwood Flower,” “Hickory Wind,” and the like. We built up such a repertoire that we started playing Sunday’s at Monty Bar, and then later a full band at the Maui Sugar Mill with country musician Chad Watson. Will and I ended up recording and releasing our favorite songs under an album called “Will and Haylie Sing Folk.” This project was formative in my understanding of technical music. I learned how to harmonize and play rhythm guitar effectively, as well as how to perform in front of people. It was the perfect cocoon to hold me until I grew into myself as an artist.

The EP features collaborations with musicians like Will Worden and Hunter Watts. Can you talk about the collaborative process and how these musicians contributed to the overall sound of the EP?

I really learned a lot from working with Will. He has a unique sound that feels ‘off the cuff’ or spur of the moment, and I believe that contributed to the heartfelt sound of my EP. Will is a very talented guitarist and is always listening to and learning new music.  He has a keen sense for his sonic vision as a producer and pushed me to be better all the time. I always appreciated his dedication to the project. Since Will was my boyfriend at the time, the lines between personal and creative life were relatively blurred. This was good in a sense that we were constantly in the state of music making, but it sometimes created a competitive atmosphere between us. There’s something magnetic about making music and with the person you love; it can be inspired, or it can pull you apart. If we ever had a fight right before a show, it always ended up being one of our better performances. It was kind of our running joke, and I think it’s a good example of what it can look like to be in a band with your significant other. We had a lot of love for each other and passion for the music we were making- I'm super grateful and wish him well in his solo career.

Our friend Hunter Watts was generous enough to let us use his 5m tape machine and to man the soundboard. Watts is a great songwriter and has a real appreciation for gear. We loved having him in the sessions and his knowledge of sound. Overall we were all relatively novice when it came to recording, and I’m impressed at the finished product we were able to put together.

The EP artwork is visually striking. Can you share the story behind the artwork and how it connects to the themes and music on the EP?

The image of the EP cover was shot by local photographer Jacob Boll. He photographs many other artists in the area, and was introduced to me by my boyfriend Sam Burton. The three of us decided to spend time in Topanga and take some pictures for my EP cover. I used to live in the canyon and it reminds me of my home up in NorCal because of its beauty and spirit. Jacob was able to capture the whimsical and earthy tones that come out of my artistry in a way that felt natural. The design was put together by UK designer Ellen Foster Price. I asked her for something classic and she nailed it. I think the purple and pink combo is very feminine and beautiful, and the color blocking reminds me of Joan Baez, who was a huge inspiration for the music.

You'll be having an EP release show at Genghis Cohen in Los Angeles. What can fans expect from your live performances, and how do you plan to bring the songs from the EP to life on stage?

My live performances have evolved into a full band sound and features Sam Burton, Catfish Gallaher,  Noel Friesen, and Pierce Gibson. Fans can expect something exciting and sincere from the live act. For the release show we will be playing the songs off the EP true to nature. I won’t be changing much, but I’ll honor the songs in their current state and how they come to be with this formation.

As a singer-songwriter, how do you approach the process of crafting your songs? Are there any specific themes or messages you aim to convey through your music?

When it comes to songwriting, I never force a message to come out. Sometimes a song arrives unexpectedly, or I don’t understand what it means until years later. Other times when I’m more connected, it is effortless and consistent. It feels like something outside of myself, and I try not to control it lest suppress it. At the end of the day it is a process with myself and the world and I try to stay true to that the best I can.

‘Lady Apple Tree’ has a music video directed by Kate Bollinger. How did the collaboration come about, and what was the creative vision behind the video?

Making the music video was a lot of fun. Kate and I spent time by the river near my house in Altadena eating fruit and filming. The video was somewhat freestyle in the sense that our direction was to capture the feeling of femininity and a wandering lifestyle. Kate is a creative lady and a joy to work with.

What do you love right now?

I love my family, my partner, my friends, my home, and my bed. I love matcha, hot chips, sleeping in, Sunday’s, the farmers market, the river, the ocean, animals, fresh flowers, bad TV, summertime, pickles, cottage cheese, candles, cleaning, drawing, hiking, writing, singing, and laughing. I love skincare, a new haircut, a Bloody Mary, taking a bath, the moon, the sun, the rain, birthdays, rock climbing, the earth, the universe, and a lot more!

What do you hate right now?

I do think ‘hate’ is a strong word, but let’s be real we all feel it now and again. I hate traffic, I hate being away from my family, I hate when my loved ones go through hell, I hate when people I don’t know go through hell, I hate it when hurt people hurt people, I hate it when I’m waitressing and they seat a party of 25 people in my section right before closing, I hate that everything is so damn expensive, I’d say I hate struggling but I’ve also grown to love it, I hate politics, and I hate being ignored. I’m learning to accept!

Looking ahead, what are your aspirations and goals for the future of your music?

In my future I aspire to grow as an artist and a person. I want to get better at guitar, I want to learn piano, and I want to explore new sounds. I want to delve deeper into writing and discovering my authentic voice. Someday I want to get to a point where I can support myself financially with my music. I want to work with new people and collaborate on new things. I want to be as expressive as I can through my music.