Michael Deresh describes covering Hope Sandoval vocals as wearing velvet robe
Risley prepare to release their version of Mazzy Star’s “Halah” across streaming platforms on August 26. The Portland quartet initially learned the track for a single live performance before deciding the interpretation merited wider circulation.
Artist: Risley
Release Date: 2025-08-26
Genres: Alternative Rock, Dream Pop, Indie Rock, Shoegaze
Label: self-release
Description: Portland indie band Risley covers Mazzy Star's "Halah" for August 26 streaming release, their first cover single following recent album success.
Vocalist Michael Deresh describes the appeal of the Mazzy Star original in terms of texture rather than nostalgia. “Singing Hope’s parts is like putting on a velvet robe,” he states, referencing Hope Sandoval. “I just want to stay there and linger.”
This marks Risley’s first cover version released as a single. The decision emerged from audience response to live performances of the track, with Deresh noting that the song “reminded a lot of people of a song that they loved but had forgotten.”
The release follows their spring album Umbra Penumbra, recorded at Mississippi Studios in Portland. The record includes contributions from Dave Abbruzzese, former Pearl Jam drummer, who appears on the track “Walls.” The band recently completed a session at KEXP studios in June, where they maintained chart presence for six weeks.
Risley formed in 2016 around Deresh, taking their name from a cat. Their debut album sprawled across twenty-two tracks, featuring twelve different musicians from Portland acts including Genders, Sunbathe, and Typhoon. The current lineup has contracted to four members over recent years.
Deresh operated within Portland’s music infrastructure for over two decades. He co-founded PDXPOPNOW! and fronted Tea for Julie from 2002-2010, a band that supported The Lemonheads, Menomena, Snow Patrol, and Evan Dando. Their two albums received regular rotation on KEXP and Portland station KNRK.
The current Risley formation includes Jaime Hazerian on guitar, who relocated from Los Angeles where she performed with post-rock band Arms for Tripoli and toured with Pinback. Drummer Andrew Meininger previously worked with Wampire and Bed. Bassist Tyler Rachal completes the quartet. Hazerian and Deresh handle the majority of the songwriting, with Deresh describing their creative process as “musically finishing each other’s sentences.”
Retrofurista is a site on design, interesting things, audio visual arts, and food.
Discover more from RetroFuturista
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
