Halladay Quist
<p>Halladay Quist outside her home in Creston.</p>
NAME: Halladay Quist
AGE: 29
HOMETOWN: Creston
EDUCATION: High school graduate, some college
INSTRUMENT(S): Piano, guitar, bass guitar, upright bass, banjo
CONTACT: www.halladayquist.com
Halladay Quist draws on her Montana roots to continually produce soulful music that travels the spectrum of female rock music to folk and bluegrass. Quist has experienced every type of music, from playing in a metal band in Seattle, to singing in a gospel choir in Austria, and everything in between.
Now, Quist is working on her first solo album, which she dubs a country collection, infused with bluegrass and folk music. However, she said she also draws on her rock background to add a female rock vibe to some of the songs.
“It’s a mesh of everything,” she said with a laugh. Quist said she draws inspiration from across the board, from bluegrass artists such as Willie Nelson, all the way to female rock artist Grace Slick.
Quist said she hopes the album, with 11 tracks already recorded, will be a cross-section of her favorite styles. She expects to release the album on Valentine’s Day.
This album is the singer/songwriter’s first solo venture, for which Quist said she is both excited and nervous.
“I’m very self-critical, so I haven’t put out much self-written music,” she said. “It’ll be wonderful to get feedback and see the response.”
—BL