Haley Dykes is a study in wonderful contradictions. Innocent yet worldly, serene yet longing, this singer-songwriter-mandolinist’s songs are steeped in old-timey simplicity and poignancy, but are also very much of their time, with catchy, radio-friendly melodies and even a bit of an edge. And they stay with you.
Dykes, daughter of fingerstyle master and signature Taylor clinician Doyle Dykes, carves a solid niche of her own with The Mystery of Her, an assured outing on which she exhibits a vocal, lyrical, and instrumental maturity that belie the facts that she’s only 24 and this is her solo debut.
Haley’s music has been fairly categorized as “newgrass”, a loosely defined amalgam of traditional bluegrass and modern pop-rock. But what sets Haley apart from some of her fellow pickers is her uncanny mastery of the “hook”. If she’s been influenced by Alison Krauss, Ricky Skaggs, and, of course, her father, she’s also absorbed the likes of John Mayer, Coldplay, U2, and Switchfoot.
Haley’s somber, haunting, but ultimately life-affirming songs, many of which reflect her profound Christian faith, are well-crafted, with sophisticated chord progressions, memorable choruses, and wonderful musicianship. Her mellifluent mandolin work shows that she’s inherited her dad’s innate string skill (he appears here, too, natch).
My favorite track is “Life”, which showcases Haley’s singing and picking prowess but also her beyond-her-years philosophy that, while life brings its share of sadness, “only peaceful joy remains.” Another favorite is “She’s Drifting Away”, a melodic, engaging mover that’s made for the road.
Haley can be forgiven if she reverts to a familiar two-chord, three-step progression several times, because The Mystery of Her boasts counterbalancing surprises, including “Forever and Always”, a superb love song that has a couple of UK-pop-influenced chord changes, and “Temporary One”, a spirited cover of the Christine McVie tune. Another unexpected pleasure is the country-swinger “Baby What You Do for Me”; if Haley hasn’t yet developed the vocal chops to absolutely nail it, it’s nonetheless a nice respite of playful humor in what otherwise is a set of serious songs.
Legitimate comparisons are already being made between Dykes and Krauss, but where Krauss’s voice is angelic/ethereal, Dykes’ singing is pretty but with a bit of attitude that should make her more accessible to an increasingly jaded mainstream pop audience. Based on this terrific record, whichever musical road Haley Dykes takes, I’ll be honored to ride along.
— Jamie Reno
Haley Dykes is a study in wonderful contradictions. Innocent yet worldly, serene yet longing, this singer-songwriter-mandolinist’s songs are steeped in old-timey simplicity and poignancy, but are also very much of their time, with catchy, radio-friendly melodies and even a bit of an edge. And they stay with you.