I Need to Start a Garden

I Need to Start a Garden is the 2018 debut studio album by Portland-based artist Haley Heynderickx. The record's journey to completion was famously difficult, involving three separate recording attempts before finding its final form at Nomah Studios. This struggle for authenticity is palpable in the final product, which eschews polished studio sheen for a raw, 'lived-in' sound. Musically, the album is defined by Heynderickx's virtuosic fingerstyle guitar technique and a vocal range that spans from delicate folk whispers to powerful, bluesy belting. Critics praised the album for its 'engaging eccentricity' and its ability to balance humor with deep existential longing. Tracks like 'Oom Sha La La' became indie-folk staples, while the eight-minute 'Worth It' showcased her ability to sustain complex, atmospheric compositions. It remains a definitive example of late-2010s chamber folk.