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Haley Bonar Bio

"In tow with Bonar is Big Star, her marvelous 2008 record that's often credited with dragging her from the role of talented Midwest gem to that of nationally respected artist."
-The Portland Mercury

"Her performative intrigue made her the dominant singer-songwriter in the cities, if not the state."
-City Pages Blogs

"Haley Bonar dazzles Walker Sculpture Garden"
-Mpls City Pages Slide Show

"Bonar and Bird stun the State Theatre."
-Minneapolis City Pages

"More crucially, she possesses a voice that's ideal for conveying mixed emotions about romance, fame, life, what have you: On 'Arms a Harm' and opener 'Green Eyed Boy', she sounds freshly bruised and tender, but sings forcefully rather than quietly. Tempering that vulnerability is a natural wryness on 'Better Half' and the country-tinged stand-out 'Highway 16'. She never sounds better than at the end of opener 'Green Eyed Boy', singing wordlessly but emphatically as the song crashes around her."
-Pitchfork

"Best one yet from the young indie-folk starlet. Where her ice-queen voice was the selling point on previous outings, her more mature (but no less bleeding-hearted) writing style and the semi-polished, Tchad Blake-mixed arrangements are equally big stars here."
-Minneapolis Star-Tribune

"Haley Bonar, playing behind the stirring new Big Star, rediscovers the pure emotion of unadorned singer-songwriter folk."
-Time Out New York

"In short, Big Star is the work of a songwriter who is constantly evolving and becoming more comfortable with her own triumphs and hang-ups, coming to terms with the successes and setbacks of her own musical history … [it] is the soundtrack to Haley Bonar coming out on top.
-Minneapolis City Pages

"...Minneapolis-based Haley Bonar's 'Big Star', seems to lament the desire to reach for fame."
-NPR "Morning Edition"

"To be releasing a third full-length album at the age of 25 is a feat. To do so as the songwriter, guitarist, Rhodes pianist and producer? Well, that's another sort of feat entirely. For those keen on sniffing out the Next Big Things, be well advised of Bonar. With Neko Case , Feist and Cat Power all finding national fame, there's little to indicate Minnesota's adopted daughter can't arrive at the same sort of success and become, well, a pretty big star."
-Minnesota Daily

"Bonar sings pretty melodies as vehicles for tough-minded sentiments; she also plays most of the instruments and produced. In that regard, Big Star is exquisitely jaded—a concept album about how much the music business sucks. On "Queen of Everything," she sounds much older than her years"
-Stephen M. Deusner

"She wrote the most fetching, poetic and sophisticated songs of her career for Big Star, and her lamb-to-lion vocal talents rose to the occasion."
-Minneapolis Star-Tribune

"I could listen to Haley Bonar sing anything. It helps that her songs are usually well-crafted, and that the production is meticulous, but for me, it's all about the voice. It's light without being weak, airy without being empty. There are years in there, experiences you don't, and never will, know about."
-music.for-robots.com

"If you wish Jenny Lewis would have continued on with the alt-country direction of Rabbit Fur Coat, fear not...Haley Bonar is here to pick up the slack. At times reminding me of a mix of Lewis and Nicole Atkins, Haley's new album Big Star (out June 10th) is perfect summer music."
-quarterlifeparty.blogspot.com

"She has the emotion of Cat Power, the charm and wit of Feist, and the indie-cred of Kimya Dawson (toured and sung with Andrew Bird)."
-staergetaleht.blogspot.com

"her voice and supporting instruments create an atmosphere that just flows, I think the production is a strong-point on this one."
-hotbiscuits.wordpress.com

“sun-blissed, tingling tunes that mellow you out and coerce you to drop what you are doing and relax”
-http://rcrdlbl.com

"to watch Bonar perform is haunting and humbling; rarely is it so keenly obvious that an artist is doing precisely what they were born to do. Sleepy but never sedate, Bonar's set was as simple and as perfect as a pocketwatch, and as intimate as a lullaby"
-Minneapolis City Pages

Recent interview on What to Wear During An Orange Alert