Recording under the moniker Hala, 24-year-old Ian Ruhala writes songs that … Read Full Bio ↴Recording under the moniker Hala, 24-year-old Ian Ruhala writes songs that feel fresh, bright, but insightful, out of his home in Detroit, Michigan. It is the kind of music that one would expect to hear at the beginning of a movie or short film, alongside the opening credits. With a prolific output, Hala stresses the importance of the songwriting and production process, as much as the final product.

Take his 2016 debut, Spoonfed, which is perhaps Hala’s best-known collection of songs. “I was in a pretty rough, and eclectic state of mind, when I was writing and recording the album,” Ruhala remembers. “I felt like the entire world was fighting against me, and my only weapon of defense was my voice, and my guitar.” Recorded in the attic of a century-old home in Midtown Detroit, with limited studio equipment, songs like “Club Soda,” “Phone Calls,” and, “Not Your Modern Man,” chronicle Ruhala’s experiences of living in a musical commune, and crossing the threshold of adulthood.

These songs document in a rather poignant way, a sense of uncomfortability, and naiveté, that almost simultaneously accompanied these transitions in the young writer’s life. The stand-out from the record, “What Is Love? Tell Me, Is It Easy?,” has gathered praise for having this sensibility. Lyrically, Hala says the song is rather rhetorical, but since its release, it has become a soundtrack for the optimistic but always hopeless romantics of indie rock consumption.

Hala’s latest numbers seem like reasonable stepping stones. On “Love Grows,” the guitars waver hot above a low, dusty drumbeat, as a restless bassline shrugs beneath shuffling chords, and a vocal that croons like that of Bob Dylan. A most recent single, 2018’s “Sorry,” shows Hala at perhaps his most realized—sunny and fun, with lyrics as mischievous as the guitar’s leads; the track is energetic, restless, and all-encompassing.

Problems
HALA Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

I will be here
In your body like a (trust?)
In all the things that might
Bring us to (bust?)
I hold on to
Those things behind the wall
That keep us from feeling anything
Anything at all

I've got problems like everyone
Take your (lip balm, girl?)
Start having fun
Am I the only one?
Am I the only one?
Oh yeah
You keep me from
Losing my (?) again
From the (bleaches?) it just ain't
It ain't the same
I've got problems like everyone
Take your (lip balm, girl?)
Start having fun
Am I the only one?

Am I the only one?
(If someone could figure out some of these lyrics, that'd be great. It's a good song.)

Overall Meaning

In Hala's song "Problems", the lyrics express a sense of vulnerability and insecurity. The opening lines "I will be here, in your body like a (trust?) in all the things that might bring us to (bust?)" imply a deep emotional connection and a desire to stay together even in difficult times. The next few lines, "I hold on to, those things behind the wall, that keep us from feeling anything, anything at all" suggest that the singer is hesitant or afraid to fully embrace their emotions and instead keeps them hidden away.

The chorus, "I've got problems like everyone, take your (lip balm, girl?), start having fun, am I the only one?" seems to be a cry for help and a reminder that everyone struggles with their own issues. The use of "lip balm" as a metaphor is unclear, but it could imply that taking care of oneself is important and can lead to a more enjoyable life. The line "am I the only one?" repeats, highlighting the singer's feeling of isolation and loneliness.

The final lines, "You keep me from losing my (?) again, from the (bleaches?) it just ain't, it ain't the same" suggest that the person they are singing to is a source of support and comfort. The missing words in these lines leave room for interpretation, but the overall feeling remains one of gratitude and relief.

Line by Line Meaning

I will be here
I will be present for you

In your body like a (trust?)
I will be with you as a trusted companion

In all the things that might Bring us to (bust?)
Despite any challenges that may arise, I will be there for you

I hold on to Those things behind the wall That keep us from feeling anything Anything at all
I cling to the things that prevent me from feeling pain, even though it also prevents me from feeling joy

I've got problems like everyone Take your (lip balm, girl?) Start having fun Am I the only one? Am I the only one?
I have personal struggles like anyone else, and I want to enjoy life. Does anyone else feel the same way?

You keep me from Losing my (?) again From the (bleaches?) it just ain't It ain't the same
You prevent me from falling back into a bad state of mind. Things are different now.

Contributed by Michael J. Suggest a correction in the comments below.

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