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Hayles Sales talks about her latest projects in music and acting

Singer-songwriter and actress Hayley Sales chatted about her latest projects in the entertainment industry.

Hayley Sales
Hayley Sales. Photo Credit: George Holz
Hayley Sales. Photo Credit: George Holz

Singer-songwriter and actress Hayley Sales chatted about her latest projects in the entertainment industry.

She is a singer who has opened in concert for some of the biggest names (Rufus Wainwright, Gavin DeGraw, Jason Mraz, Bare Naked Ladies) in music today and she has a song and video coming out which she co-wrote with Sharon Stone.  

Sales is also currently seen as the leading lady in “Desperate Measures” opposite Bruce Willis (whom there is a lot of interest and intrigue in because of his unfortunate health situation) and in the rom-com film “Just For The Summer.”

She will also play a recurring role in the new limited AMC series, “Lucky Hank” opposite Bob Odenkirk (“Better Call Saul”).  

Can you tell us about your new song (that you co-wrote) with Sharon Stone and its music video?

At the time Sharon invited me to write with her, I was rattled by the insecurity of having just lost my record label that year, a label I had been with since I was a teenager. I was hoovering on the edge of being swallowed up in a swath of fake eyelashes, hair extensions and Hollywood’s blinding lights.

When I showed up at her house, I was a handful of nerves and excitement…I’d never done a co-write before and had no idea what to expect or how to even go about it. The second she walked into the room, all that went away. She was so warm and gracious, so absolutely unpretentious, and open.

We talked for quite a while, about absolutely anything and everything. We both resonated with the idea of unabashed romance…There’s such a courage required in letting yourself be vulnerable, letting yourself be truly in love.

We decided to dig in and see where that thread took us. Sharon sat down on the couch, notebook in hand, and I slipped off my flip flops and settled in front of the gorgeous grand piano in her living room. Never before just began to unfold between us. It was really magical. Very quickly, I could sense we were onto something special.

I was blown away by Sharon’s ability to weave words around a melody. The lyrics and music somehow seemed to hum at the same frequency.  I can’t quite describe it, and it definitely doesn’t always happen with co-writes, but it did with us. 

What inspires you as a musician and actress each day?

Romance.

How was your experience in “Corrective Measures”?

Working on Corrective Measures was one of the most inspiring acting experiences I’ve ever had. The director, the crew, the cast…everything about it was amazing. We were allowed, as actors, to experiment, improve and let the story take on a life of its own which is truly a dream come true. You forget your being filmed and the story jumps off the page and into your heart. 

And Bruce Willis? He was truly one of the kindest and warmest people I’ve ever worked with. I, of course, was nervous on our first day of filming together. He stopped what he was doing when I entered the sound stage, walked up to me, introduced himself and from that moment on, made a point of making me feel at ease. And then, of course, there’s his talent, his genius. Being allowed to act alongside him taught me more than a decade of acting classes.

My acting coach once told me that the key to truly enveloping the character you are asked to become, is to put the spotlight on the person in front of you. Study the movements of their eyes.

Watch the way their hands brush the fleck of dust off their shirt.  Become so fascinated with every little thing about them that you are entirely present and removed from your own self-awareness. I mention that because, with Bruce, it was so easy to lose myself into the scene. He was so real. So magnetic.

I’m truly heartbroken to hear about his health. He’s one of the greats and I will treasure everything he taught me for the rest of my career. 

Also, can you tell us more about the rom-com “Just For The Summer”?

I grew up on rom-coms. All of them from “The Princess Bride” to “His Girl Friday.”  So being asked to carry the lead in a romantic comedy was a dream come true. Brant Daughterty and I became fast friends and had blast filming together. We filmed the entire movie in three weeks in Vancouver, BC.

The story follows my character, Pen, a struggling young writer, who returns to her hometown over the summer with intentions to finish her novel. As fate would have it, her high school sweet heart just so happens to be back in town as well and what follows is a hilarious series of comedic mishaps and serendipitous moments.

You are also playing a recurring role in “Lucky Hank”? (What was that like?)

“Lucky Hank” is a comedy-drama adapted from Richard Russo’s 1997 novel, Straight Man. Billed as a “midlife crisis tale” about a struggling Pennsylvania college and it’s anarchistic English department chairman, William Henry Devereaux Jr. (Odenkirk),

“Lucky Hank” is a show that really takes the time to dive into the lives of each character, into their struggles and internal battles, but always with a humorous undertone. I honestly couldn’t stop laughing on set.

They would always leave the cameras rolling after the scenes would end and all I could do was try not to smile as the comedic geniuses around me improved. Every single person involved was hilarious and genuine.  

I feel so lucky to be a part of it. And Bob Odenkirk. What can I say? They say don’t meet your heroes but if your hero is Bob Odenkirk, meet him. He’s so natural. So unpretentious. Such an incredible human. I’m still pinching myself over the fact that I’m involved in such a profound project.

I think what I personally love most about the show is it’s tone, how it blends comedy and drama. It isn’t your typical sitcom. But it has elements of one. It’s real. Those make for the best stories, at least in my opinion.

You’re really able to get into the nitty gritty ups and downs of being human. My character, Missy Strogatz, is drawn into the faculties inner circle through a hilarious series of events. 

How does it feel to be an actress in the digital age? (Now with streaming and technology being so prevalent)

There are incredible benefits to being an entertainer in our era, but also drawbacks. There seems to be a tendency to favor quantity over quality and a tendency to favor technology over story.

Having said that, more stories are being told now than ever before and some of those stories are some of those stories are the best ever told on screen. And more than anything, I’m inspired to see how many women of all ages are breaking boundaries, proving agism is archaic and that beauty is beauty at all stages and ages of life.

I feel incredibly lucky to be a part of it all and to be a part of it all now. So much is shifting. It’s a great time to be an artist. 

What is your advice for young and aspiring entertainers?

It’s not going to be easy. There are going to be many reasons to give up. There are going to be hundreds of doors that slam in your face. And sometimes the rejection is going to get so thick, all that you can see plastered on your horizon is a big clump of failure and heartbreak.

At times, the doors will slam so loudly you can’t hear the voice inside anymore and you might even question why. I know I did. I know somedays I still do. But I genuinely hope you hear me when I say this: If you truly need to write, if you truly need to sing, if you truly need art to survive, let me be that person yelling out over all that rejection telling you to keep going. Don’t turn around.

It might not happen overnight and that’s okay. In some ways, now that I’m starting to climb my way out of the dark, murky little dwelling I’ve been wading in for years, I’m more grateful for the loss and rejection than the successes.

It forced me to develop grit. And it was one, maybe two voices that got me back on my feet, that convinced me to not give up. And if there is any way I can be one of those voices for you, telling you to be resilient, to dig in and keep going, then I feel as though my entire experience was worth it. So, dig deep.

Find whatever it is inside you that’s just aching to get out. There is no way you will fail. The art is worth it. People might not get it at once, and that’s okay. If you’re creating the music you need to hear, there will be many others who need to hear it too.

Just focus on the art. Keep your head down and keep going. If you work hard enough and are in it for the right reasons, your time is coming. And lastly, stay grateful. Stay grateful for everyone and every little thing that comes your way. Support is precious. Friendship is irreplaceable. And most important, stay in love with your art.

What does the word success mean to you?

The unbridled ability to do what I love, to be respected for it, and to do it with artistic integrity and freedom. Performing is everything to me. Being on stage…looking at the audience…and feeling as though somehow, if just for the moment, I’m not self-aware, I’m not even in myself, I’m swept away into the melody and into the eyes of those watching…it’s the most exhilarating feeling I’ve ever experienced.

I’ve reached my own definition of success the moment I step on stage, walk up to the mic, begin to sing the first note and joined by the swelling voices from thousands of people singing along. Just thinking about it makes me tear up. Starting at a very young age, I’ve had some very big dreams. And I’m not there yet.

I look forward to stepping into their reality. Having said that, I’ve also learned that success is nothing without gratitude. Even with an exorbitant amount of ambition and overdrive, I’ve had to take the long road. While it hasn’t always been easy, I wouldn’t change a thing.

I had to lose it all to really realize how hard I’d be willing to fight to get it back. I had to lose it all to realize just how much I used to take for granted. And I never will again. Gratitude and appreciation for those who support you and love you is everything.

To learn more about Hayley Sales, follow her on Instagram.

Markos Papadatos
Written By

Markos Papadatos is Digital Journal's Editor-at-Large for Music News. Papadatos is a Greek-American journalist and educator that has authored over 20,000 original articles over the past 18 years. He has interviewed some of the biggest names in music, entertainment, lifestyle, magic, and sports. He is a 16-time "Best of Long Island" winner, where for three consecutive years (2020, 2021, and 2022), he was honored as the "Best Long Island Personality" in Arts & Entertainment, an honor that has gone to Billy Joel six times.

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