Montreal’s music scene thrives on its rich diversity, and singer-songwriter HAWA B (Nadia Baldé) stands out as one of its most intriguing voices. With her debut album Better Sad Than Sorry, released earlier this month, HAWA B has completed a trilogy exploring sadness, which began with her EPs Sad in a Good Way (2022) and Sadder But Better (2024). Her fusion of soul, jazz, and alternative rock crafts a soundscape that feels both fresh and deeply rooted in emotional authenticity.
Sitting down with HAWA B, her energy is calm yet thoughtful. “I’m quite happy,” she says of the album’s release. “I try not to get too excited just so I don’t get too much of a big down. But I’m happy, yeah.”
The title of the album, Better Sad Than Sorry, hints at HAWA B’s introspective artistry. She embraces sadness not as a weight but as a creative catalyst. “Everyone gets sad at some point, and it’s seen a lot as a negative thing because it’s not fun to be sad,” she explains. “But I think it’s good to make beautiful things out of sadness. It’s a way to accept these bad feelings that are just as important as being happy.”
This outlook permeates her music, creating a collection that feels both personal and universally relatable. The themes of sadness, she notes, stem from her early influences, particularly classic soul. “My dad listened a lot to Aretha Franklin, Stevie Wonder, and Ray Charles,” she recalls. “Sad music is what sparkled the most things in me when I was younger. I think that’s why it stayed.”
Listening to Better Sad Than Sorry is a journey through diverse genres, each track offering something unexpected. “I listened to a lot of R&B growing up—Aretha Franklin, Christina Aguilera, all the divas. I think it made me want to sing as well,” she says. But her influences are far-reaching. “In high school, I got into Pink Floyd and Led Zeppelin. Later, I studied music and jazz. I listened to all kinds of jazz singers and got really into harmony and classical music.”
This eclectic mix translates into an album where mellow, R&B-tinged moments coexist with tracks that channel the aggression of alternative rock. “I think I want to channel all of it when I create,” she admits
HAWA B credits Félix Petit, who co-produced the album, with helping refine her sound. “When I brought him the first song, I thought all of my sounds were kind of basic. But he used the drums that I brought and made it sound good with just a few touches. It gave me a lot of confidence doing my own production.”
HAWA B’s love for music started early. “When I was four years old, I used to sing the songs I listened to, put on high heels, and sing in my living room,” she remembers. By the age of 13, she had written her first song and performed it at a local festival. “It was a pop rock band. That wasn’t necessarily my choice of music, but I was just happy to make music at all.”
Her current live shows, she says, are where she feels most alive. “I’d rather play all the time. That’s the part I like the most,” she says. Her next Montreal show, on November 29th at La Sotterranea as part of the Festival Triste, promises to be her biggest yet. “For the launch, we’re having a sad party,” she says with a grin, adding that she’ll be joined by her full band and some special guests.
When asked how she describes her music, HAWA B pauses before offering, “Alternative soul.” It’s a phrase she feels encapsulates her genre-blending style. “I often tell people that I’m somewhere between Beyoncé and Radiohead in terms of influence.”
And if someone asked her to play one song that represents her? “It depends on the person’s vibe,” she says. “If it’s someone doing small talk with me on an airplane, I’d probably go with something easier like ‘Better Sad Than Sorry.’ But if it’s someone more introspective, I’d go with ‘Follow.’ It really depends on people’s vibe.”
HAWA B is deeply connected to the Montreal music scene, having collaborated with artists like Dominique Fils-Aimé and Clay and Friends. “I’ve sung with so many Montreal artists that are so important to the scene. I feel like I’m getting there with my music, too,” she says.
Among her close collaborators is her boyfriend, Emil, who often contributes synth sounds to her projects. “Sometimes I hear something he’s working on, and I’m like, ‘Oh, I like this sound. May I steal it from you?’” she jokes.
As Better Sad Than Sorry continues to gain traction, HAWA B is already thinking about what’s next. “I’m gonna compose some more music and have a few songs with other artists that are in the works,” she says. “But I’ll finish the launch first and then get back to it.”
Despite the album’s focus on sadness, HAWA B insists she isn’t tied to one emotion. “Maybe next I’ll move on to… I don’t know, I guess happy. I like being happy,” she says with a laugh. “But music is therapy. Maybe I’ll get angry.”
Better Sad Than Sorry is out now via Duprince
Watch the full interview below:
