The Rural We: Woodson Black
The musician, whose songs have been streamed over 50 million times, came back to the Berkshires to live and work.
Woodson Black, known as Haux, is experiencing a surprise kind of fame. “It wasn’t something I expected. You don’t know how the music you make will be received. You just have to do what feels honest and true to you,” says the 28-year-old multi-instrumentalist, singer-songwriter, videographer and photographer. You can’t help but to be mesmerized by Black’s music. With soul depth and celestial spirit, his otherworldly ambient alternative folk transports you to a different dimension. His three EP’s "Something to Remember," "All We’ve Known" and "The Bluest Sage," and his singles have been streamed over 50 million times.
I grew up in the Berkshires, on Cherry Hill in Stockbridge, Mass. I was an only child, raised by a single mom. And I naturally got used to spending time alone. And I spent a lot of time in my head, which allowed me to dive into my thoughts and hone my creativity. Growing up, I loved being outside and I spent all my time outdoors. I was always exploring and playing in the woods and hills, and that shaped me creatively. I was a shy kid. My manager talks about stage presence, but I’m definitely shy.
Music was an outlet for me. It provided a window into other worlds. As a teenager I would listen to and discover new artists. It was very cathartic for me to find people telling stories in songs on the other side of the ocean that I could relate to.
For college, I attended Northeastern in Boston. And for a semester abroad I moved to London and worked at a record label in Notting Hill, which was heaven to me. While there, I contributed to local music magazines and blogs, which allowed me to see shows for free. And I saw bands like Daughter, Lianne La Havas, and José González. My experience abroad was particularly impactful both personally and creatively.
I then returned to Northeastern to study music business. Even while attending college I spent a lot of weekends in the Berkshires — I always felt drawn to go back to the Berkshires. And I began to hone my songwriting and film photography, which was an outlet for me to tell the stories I always heard and saw in my head.
And now, six years after graduation, I’ve found myself immersed in a career I never really set out to have. I went to school for music business and I was working at record labels. I just started doing Haux as a side project after college; it was a creative outlet at the time. And then it gained traction and record labels were contacting me and I was doing shows in New York City. And I’ve been fortunate to do a number of tours in Europe and North America while still keeping a low profile.
I just moved into a studio space in Housatonic, Mass. at the MUSE, right on the river, where I’m finishing my debut album. The album will be released in early 2020.
It’s really intense when you’re on the road, and coming back to the Berkshires is grounding. People in the Berkshires know me as a person, not as the professional musician. I love the Berkshires; it’s a great place. I always wanted to be that young person who lived and worked here. It feels right for me to be here and operate from here as my home base. I’m really proud to be from the Berkshires.
