Biography
Having spent three years performing alongside the seminal hardcore outfit Mohinder, followed by stints exploring the indie-driven guitar noise of Calm and the electronic pop of Duster, singer and guitarist Albert Menduno sought a new path. Inspired by the classic rock of Led Zeppelin, Credence Clearwater Revival, and The Rolling Stones, Menduno embraced the stripped-back rock fundamentals that defined Haelah. Joined by drummer Hutch Harris and bassist Kathy Foster, the band issued two singles in 1997 on Tree Records—one an EP called "The Birds," the other a split seven-inch with Aspera Ad Astra. After a tour supporting those releases, Menduno left Haelah for Chicago and formed the one-man project A-Set. Harris and Foster retained the Haelah name, relocated to Portland, Oregon, and released the group’s third single, "Seasonal Needs," in 1998.