Hayley Kiyoko - Girls Like Girls · Song Exploder summary

Key takeaways

Haley Kiyoko's personal experiences heavily influenced the creation of 'Girls Like Girls,' making it an authentic and impactful song.
The production process was collaborative and resourceful, with a focus on capturing Haley's genuine sound despite budget limitations.
The song became a cultural milestone, inspiring LGBTQ visibility and advocacy, and launching Haley's career in storytelling through books and film.
Living authentically and embracing one's identity can lead to meaningful artistic expression and societal impact.
Connecting personal truth with art can empower others and foster a sense of community and acceptance.

Summary

Introduction and Background of Haley Kiyoko

This section introduces Haley Kiyoko as a multi-talented artist and former child star from Los Angeles, highlighting her early experiences in the entertainment industry and her identity as a queer woman. The narrative discusses her childhood challenges, her aspirations to be a pop star, and her initial songwriting efforts, which were often rooted in her personal experiences and hidden truths.

Creation of 'Girls Like Girls' and Its Significance

Focusing on the song's origins, this section details how Haley co-wrote 'Girls Like Girls' during a creative session with Lily Mae Young and Owen Thomas. The song emerged from Haley's feelings of frustration about societal inequalities and her own struggles with self-acceptance. The producers aimed for a sound that reflected her musical identity, with percussion and drums playing a key role. The song's honest lyrics and confident tone resonated widely, becoming an LGBTQ anthem and significantly impacting her career.

Production and Artistic Process

This part explores the song's production, emphasizing the collaborative relationship between Haley and producer James Flanagan, their creative process, and the challenges they faced, including budget constraints. Haley also discusses her acting background influencing her performance and how her insecurities shaped the layered vocal production. The section reveals her desire to avoid relying solely on guitar and her quest for diverse sonic textures.

Impact and Cultural Significance of 'Girls Like Girls'

Here, Haley reflects on the song's reception, its role in advocating LGBTQ visibility, and the cultural shift around same-sex marriage happening shortly after its release. The song's success led Haley to sign with a major label, and it inspired her to develop the story into a novel and eventually a feature film, bringing her artistic vision full circle.

Reflection and Personal Growth

The final section captures Haley's thoughts on living her truth, embracing her identity, and experiencing her long-held dream of performing and expressing love openly through her music. Her journey from fear to confidence highlights her resilience, and she celebrates her accomplishments, including turning her song into a larger storytelling project that continues to inspire others.

Show notes

Hayley Kiyoko is a singer, songwriter, author, and director from Los Angeles. She was a child actor on Disney and Nickelodeon, and briefly in a girl group called The Stunners. But then, she started her career as a solo artist. In 2015, she put out the EP This Side of Paradise, and one of the songs on it was “Girls Like Girls.” She co-wrote it with Lily May-Young and Owen Thomas, and it was produced by James Flannigan. Hayley co-directed the music video for it, and when the song and the video came out, it was an absolute phenomenon. It became a lesbian anthem; Rolling Stone named it one of the most inspiring LGBTQ songs of all time. Hayley’s legion of fans gave her the nickname “Lesbian Jesus.” In 2023, Hayley adapted the song into a bestselling coming-of-age novel. And in June 2026, she made her feature film directorial debut, with the movie adaptation of “Girls Like Girls.” For this episode, Hayley and I talked about how it all started with the making of that song.

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Hayley Kiyoko - Girls Like Girls