Haiden Henderson is thriving with his latest EP Tension

By Rebecca Sobrevilla

Haiden Henderson is an emerging pop-rock artist who has quickly built a striking artistic identity in the music scene. He has released two EPs and numerous singles that have earned him millions of streams and a wave of supporters. On August 1, he released his latest EP, Tension, which continues his streak of vulnerability and vibrant sounds in the best way possible. This release further proves he’s becoming one of the most exciting voices in modern pop-rock.

At a recent ˚1824 press conference, Henderson detailed his latest EP, upcoming tour, and more. 

Tension

Tension is a project that is really special to Henderson and stems directly from an abundance of personal experiences. He feels like he isn’t very imaginative, so all his songs truly reflect his situations: “I let the music come out of me, opposed to it being beat out of me.” He notes that this specific body of work is very centered on his experience with another person. The EP recounts his relationship with a close friend of many years, for whom he developed complicated feelings. He sustained emotions that represented the feeling of tension. With this inspiration, he aimed to translate that feeling into his art. 

Not only does he accurately portray this feeling in his latest tracks, but he drew more than just inspiration from this individual. He says, “I took direct words from our lives and put them into songs.” Henderson believes that he is often blinded by his experiences when writing. That notion is evident as he reveals having used their words in these songs to serve them back on a silver platter. 

Because of his full transparency in this record, he believes that it might ultimately lead to some troubles. People in his life would constantly advise him against releasing these songs because of how revealing they may be: “everybody in my life was saying ‘you can’t say that’.” At the end of the day, he didn’t want to hold himself back from telling his truth. He made a promise to always be as authentic as possible and honest with himself. Henderson imagines he will be proud of the project, no matter the repercussions he may face. 

Although this EP is a reflection of his own emotions, the themes of emotional conflict can mirror the audience's circumstances. He says, “By coincidence, the more specific shit I say, the more universal it is.” From the lyrics, music, and visuals, he wraps up the feeling of tension perfectly for audiences to relate to. He is particularly proud of his lyricism, which he describes as an “emotional puzzle.” Songs such as  “tension” and “sweet tooth” are examples of this. Notably impressive is the song “good TV”. In this track, he compares his situation to the “Truman Show”- one of his favorite films that he felt represented the narrative of his situation. He sensed that they lived in a “false world”, similar to the characters in the movie.

Aside from the lyricism, his sound has also matured from his previous singles and EPs. While his last project was very pop eccentric, he was looking to become edgier. Balancing his art between alternative and pop was the perfect combination of genres and ultimately made him the happiest. The infusion of these stylistic choices drew inspiration from artists he grew up listening to, such as Britney Spears, Arctic Monkeys, Justin Bieber, and Red Hot Chili Peppers. This vision continues with tracks on his EP like “sweat” and “AA”.

Graphic by Rebecca Sobrevilla

Fans and Upcoming Tour

Besides his passion for creating music, Henderson loves interacting with his fans. He feels that the artist-to-fan relationship is a two-way street. Connecting with fans online and in person makes the journey more meaningful to him. He adores seeing fan reactions, and their support is one of the biggest reasons why he continues on with his career. The connection with his fans further translates into his love for performing. He mentions that, “being on stage is my most honest self…that’s where I feel the most like me.” Henderson wants to be fully present while performing, so he always takes a moment for himself before shows to ensure he’s giving the best energy possible for his fans and himself. 

From this new era, he is looking forward to touring the most. He believes that his latest music was made for live shows and fans screaming the words alongside him. He is about to embark on The Tension Tour in cities across North America and Europe. Nearly the whole tour sold out in minutes and left him with loads of gratitude. He says, “It’s definitely something that changed my brain chemistry…I’m still in disbelief." He’s convinced that one person bought all the tickets to troll him or that no one will show up. Although it might be hard for him to believe his successes, there’s no doubt that the immense support he is receiving is real and truly deserved. 

This is only the beginning for Haiden Henderson. Catch him at a show near you and give his new EP Tension a listen!

Where to find Haiden Henderson: Instagram / TikTok / Spotify / Apple Music / YouTube