Technically speaking, The Belle Curves began as a creative reset.
After Delaney Hafener’s previous band fizzled out, she started over on her own, recording nearly everything herself. It worked for a while, but eventually she realized something was missing. Music, after all, is meant to be collaborative.
Today, The Belle Curves features a rotating cast of musicians along for the ride. Hafener remains at the center of it as its songwriter, producer and creative force. A longtime Star Trek fan, she compares the project to captaining a ship. The crew changes from album to album, but she is still the one charting the course.
A few years ago, Hafener settled in Troy. With its vibrant music scene, walkable downtown and supportive creative community, the city felt like the right fit. For a songwriter steering a multidimensional project, it was the perfect place to land.
Simply put, songwriting is how Hafener makes sense of the world around her. Whether she’s writing about life on the road, the end of a relationship or the questions that come with growing older, she balances introspection with optimism.
Through her music, critics hear echoes of Tom Petty, Jenny Lewis and The Breeders. The sounds remain distinctly her own though, grounded in sharp observation and an appreciation for the emotional weight of ordinary moments.
Drawing from Americana, indie rock and power pop, Hafener has built her own distinct youthful folk sound. Her voice is warm and inviting, but there is often a quiet tension underneath, giving even the most melodic moments an emotional edge.
You can hear it on Tides & Rain, The Belle Curves’ latest album. Most of the basic tracking for the 11-song record was completed in a garage studio, a fitting backdrop for an album built around change and community. Written during a period of major transition, the record embraces uncertainty rather than resisting it.
Its opening single, “I’ll Come Back Around,” captures this mentality beautifully. Rather than searching for definitive answers, the song accepts that life is always in motion. In many ways, it serves as the thesis of Tides & Rain: change is inevitable, but there is still beauty in continuing forward.
Catch a free performance by The Belle Curves at WEXT’s Local 518 Fest on July 25 at Music Haven in Schenectady.
Comments are closed.