Havelin, also known as Alex Zaichkowski, is an acclaimed (unofficially) singer-songwriter (allegedly) whose passion for music began at a young age and will continue until his untimely demise (which will likely come at the hands of some great warrior or foul beast…or, more likely, slipping on a banana peel). The Edmonton-born, Toronto-based Zaichkowski was once described as “a real pleasure” to listen to by Shania Twain (a thing which actually happened, there’s proof). His songs weave rich narratives into pleasant melodies, while his storytelling strives to unpack complex emotions in a way that is both uniquely personal and heart-wrenchingly universal.
His upcoming record, Who Among Us… (release date TBA), deals with themes of life, death, love, heartbreak, and identity. It’s a tribute to feeling intensely and embracing the strangeness and beauty this world has to offer. Havelin‘s latest single, the blithely “Dancing At My Funeral,” is all about recontextualizing death. It’s about taking that deep-seated fear that we all have and laughing in its face. We’re all gonna die someday – it’s the most human thing there is.
“Every funeral I’ve ever been to has been a profoundly sad experience, and I don’t want it to be that way when I go,” Alex explains. “I want the people I love to remember the good times and to know how lucky I was to have them in my life. It’s about putting the ‘celebration’ in ‘celebration of life.'”
Featuring a fantastic saxophone solo from Bruce MacKinnon, “Dancing At My Funeral” evokes the evocative, party-like feel of 70s good time, acoustic folk-rock tracks. The song screams “it’s okay to be sad but don’t get hung up on it, focus on the good time” – a message that Havelin always aspires to put out into the world.
What can you share with readers about your new project?
Dancing At My Funeral is the second single from my upcoming EP titled: “Who Among Us…”. This song was written by me, produced by the fantastic Justin Meli, and it features the staggering talents of both Graham Shaw on the drums and Bruce Mackinnon on the saxophone. It was such a pleasure working with these fellas on this track- which might very well be the happiest song about death you’re ever gonna hear.
How does this release compare with your other projects you had in the past?
This release in particular is one of the most “me” things I’ve ever made. It’s far more upbeat and happy than my usual songs, which was a really exciting change of pace- and I think that makes it very reflective of who I am at this point in life. I haven’t necessarily outgrown the brooding singer-songwriter part of me, but I take myself a little less seriously and I’ve become much more adventurous. Dancing At My Funeral was an opportunity for me to have some fun with the music, while still dealing with themes and ideas that I feel are really important.
What about this single makes you most proud?
Honestly, I’m just really proud that I wrote a song that could justify having a saxophone solo.
Was there a specific goal you were trying to accomplish with this release?
I really wanted to do something different with Dancing At My Funeral. It’s an homage to my influences and a throwback to the 70s folk-rock songs that I grew up on, the kind that just make you want to say “let the good times roll”. On top of that, I wanted to do justice to the subject matter; to make a song that didn’t necessarily trivialize death, but focussed instead on conveying the love and joy that come with recognizing a life well lived.
What inspires you to create music? What motivates you to keep going?
For me, it’s almost a compulsion. I have to do it. I wouldn’t know what to do with my thoughts if I didn’t. Because of that, it’s become a big part of analyzing myself and dissecting my emotions. Sharing those feelings, seeing people connect to them… that lets me know I’m not crazy. And in a way, I hope that by putting my thoughts out there as songs I can help other people feel more comfortable with the things they feel.
If you could collaborate with anyone – dead or alive, famous or unknown – who would it be and why? If it’s an indie/DIY artist, please include a link so readers can check them out.
Probably Billy Joel. I feel like that doesn’t need any elaboration- I mean, he’s Billy friggin’ Joel. Another pick would be Maggie Rogers. She’s a truly phenomenal songwriter and her latest record is a masterpiece.
What was the last song you listened to? Favorite all-time bands/artists?
Last song I listened to: “Down Swinging”- Holly Humberstone
Favorites are probably: Warren Zevon, Father John Misty, Shakey Graves, Billy Joel.
Where is the best place to find you and stay connected?
Probably Instagram, that’s where I’m most active: @havelinofficial
I really appreciate your time. Is there anything you’d like to share before we sign off
Thanks so much for having me! Check out “Who Among Us…” when it drops in 2025. It’s a love-letter to the absurdity of life and the ways in which that nonsense can be both incredibly unique and surprisingly universal. The record is an independent release, made by myself and a small group of immensely talented people whom I feel so lucky to have shared this experience with.
