Meet Haisem Khalfani | Songwriter, Multi-Instrumentalist

We had the good fortune of connecting with Haisem Khalfani and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Haisem, how do you think about risk?
I’m a firm believer in taking risks, especially when the risk involves betting on yourself. We have all heard that the comfort zone is often where dreams become stagnant, and I have always sort of taken that to mean that as artists we should absolutely be taking risks when it comes to our dreams and aspirations, because if were not than our options for ourselves become limited to what we know works. I would say the biggest risk I have taken in my career is going back to school to pursue a degree in music, something that was a huge financial risk. At the time I had no idea how I would pay for school, but just knew that I wanted to get a degree in jazz, even if it meant going into debt. I applied for some grants and scholarships, and to between those and working, I was able to get my way through school, which helped my career in more ways than I can list.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
My music is really a biography of my collective experiences through life. Music is how I make sense of myself, and the world around me. I feel like what sets me apart musically, is that in my best moments, I am truly being myself and exploring what I feel called to explore. I feel like growing up with foreign parents I always had a very world encompassing view of music, and the more I grow musically the more I seek to explore the ways in which I can convey that diversity.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
One of my favorite things to do is to just cruise around LA listening to music, so I would start with a drive through the city, showing them some of my favorite places. On that drive, we would be stopping at some of my favorite taco spots and pulling over at some of my favorite parks to eat them, one of them being Echo Park Lake. I love the Highland Park scene because there’s lots of music and musicians, which makes it a great place to hang. Goldline bar in Highland Park would be a must for some great cocktails and music. After some drinks, games would definitely be in order, and for that I would go to Barcade in Highland Park, where I always have a good time, and met cool people in the process. Seeing live music in LA is also a must, and there are usually amazing shows every weekend under a company called Sofar Sounds, that puts on events for emerging artists. Last but not least, LA has tons of great hikes, and I would take them on one of my favorite, which is the Malibu Creek Canyon hike of Las Virgines Drive. Amazing views, and it’s so big that usually you’re able to find a portion of the hike to hang out for a while without seeing any other hikers.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
I would love to shout out my parents Jemila and Raphael. They are such a huge part of why I have been able to pursue what I truly love, and I can’t imagine my life without their support, love, and wisdom.

Instagram: haic_collective

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sKkuW90kaB0

Other: https://soundcloud.com/haisem-yojimbo-desmond/xmas-funk

Image Credits
Liam Hise0