Talking Style with Happy Hollows Frontwoman Sarah Negahdari
All photographs courtesy of Happy Hollows, main image by Eric Kelly
“My look is feminine but tough. I like to wear shorts or dresses but with big chunky boots. I think it reflects how I express myself musically: vulnerable but strong, soft but hard,” Happy Hollows frontwoman Sarah Negahdari told Paste.
It’s an unlikely yet strong pairing, just like the band’s roots. Started when Negahdari, a California native then reading tarot cards at a local strip mall, met bassist Charlie Mahoney, an international relations professor who had just moved from Washington D.C. to pursue his Ph.D. at UCLA, the Los Angeles-based band took off, releasing their first album, Spells, in 2009. Now a fourpiece, having added Matthew Fry and Dan Marcellus to the lineup, Happy Hollows is on the cusp of their third record, out Sept. 8, and they’ve honed both their sound, and style.
We caught up with Negahdari about her killer style, from where she hunts for one-of-a-kind gems to her go-to summer outfit. Read on below.
Paste: Tell us a little bit about your style and how it influences you and your performance on stage.
Sarah Negahdari: I’d describe my style as slacker-fabulous. It’s a little art school, boho, a bit retro, with splashes of bright colors. I find a lot of gems on eBay or in vintage stores. My look is also feminine but tough. I like to wear shorts or dresses but with big chunky boots. I think it reflects how I express myself musically: vulnerable but strong, soft but hard.
Our music parallels some of those themes. We have a polished synth sound, but we also layer dirty guitars on top of the more refined sounds.
What I wear won’t make or break a performance, but I always want to feel like the best version of myself on stage to give it my all.
Paste: What do you think makes up an ideal stage outfit?
Negahdari: Something that looks like a visual extension of our music and allows for self-expression while also tying in with the style of the band. That’s often something bright, colorful and vintage.
I’ve got to feel totally confident in what I’m wearing so I can concentrate on performing. Practicality matters, too—I can’t tap my guitar pedals and run around the stage if I’m in high heels!