Originating from Boise, Gelli Haha returns with a new sound for the stages of Treefort Music Fest. Gelli Haha is a new, break-in act who takes on various layers of sound inspired by theatre, house music and the 2000s pop era.

She described that the project has been ongoing for about a year now, but had previously been creating music independently. “Music has always been now. … I was really drawn to musical instruments at a young age, and wanted to be a part of performing groups and I loved musicals. I just felt a pull to it, I think of it also generally, like, the shared experience of art,” she said. “Maybe that’s what I felt even at a young age when I didn’t really understand what that was. But people connect to things through artistic mediums, and I think the sharing of that experience has always been really important to me.” Her love of musicals and theatrics shows through in her music, costuming and enthusiastic performance. She said some of her favorite musicals that have inspired her creative process are the classics like Sound of Music, West Side Story and The Prince and I.

This creative outlet allows her to live in an absurd and weird space, while still being genuine. Playing Treefort this year was the first time she had been back in Boise and also the first time Boise experienced her new project and musical direction. “It feels very interesting to be back in a place that holds a lot of weight for me and like, I know people, a lot of people here and whatnot but I’m different. It’s very interesting,” she said. “This festival has been a really big part of my growth as an artist. … it’s nice to be back and to share it in such a massive way.”

Gelli Haha recently released her first single “Bounce House” which will be featured as a track on her album coming out this summer. “I feel very ready to share this.” The music is fun and light, which matches exactly the way Gelli Haha presents herself. She stands out among others in the musical circle she’s involved in. Maybe it’s the 1920s-inspired performance style but it could also very well be the pop of red color. Each performance, Gelli Haha and the other stage performers are draped in bright red, catching the attention of everyone in the room. She describes it as “clash flashy.”

“I was drawn to it, because it’s so bold and fiery. But it’s also kind of wacky,” she said. “The way I present it, I think is the weird part of it. It’s so excessive, but there’s a classy element to it.”

This sense of weirdness bleeds into all of her music. She described the record coming out this summer as a range of feelings throughout including dark magic and mystery. She added that the record isn’t all just fun and games, but does pull from a side of genuinity. “I think there’s a through line of like everything’s meaningful. It’s not Yolo energy.” Gelli Haha added that this record does have a childlike tone to it, as she pulled from artists that inspired her when she was child. Through this, she fully embraces the fun and oddity of the creative process.

“I’m really excited to keep making weird things and keep going.”

You can listen to “Bounce House” here.