Tabi Haly sings, “Hello World, We are here, We are strong, And we are more than what we probably let on” as a representative of the disability community. The 39-year-old singer-songwriter/software engineer, who lives with Spinal Muscular Atrophy, has released a single with a gorgeous-sounding acoustic and lyrically uplifting message to the world. The song now out on all streaming media supports the annual December 3 International Day of People with Disability (IDPWD) on all streaming media.
Streaming hub & link to music video: https://www.tabinyc.com/hello-world.
There are two new versions of Tabi’s
song “Hello World.” Her version was recorded at the state of the art, James
Dolan Recording Studio at New York University. Other New York City
favorites that recorded there include hitmakers Lady Gaga and A Great Big
World.
One of Tabi’s favorite lyrics is
“dreams are brought to life by diversity.” She writes a lot of
disability advocacy songs, but “Hello World” stands out for many reasons, “Life
is constantly about introducing yourself to new people, and re-introducing
yourself to people you already know in certain ways.” “Hello World” is
Tabi’s wish for people to understand disabled people, “don't judge, but do have
dialog. This song is an opportunity to be more open than ever before about
diversity.”
The “Hello
World” music video, featured on Chase’s YouTube page was recorded at Smash Studios in Midtown.
This shows Tabi leading 6 musicians, who are also JP Morgan Chase employees, in
the studio. Tabi says, “This is a Chase employee group version of the song;
We’d never met, but everyone practiced beforehand, and showed great teamwork as
we created a new version of the song for our company.” Directed by Chase video
editor Seth Gomez, the video’s message shows JP Morgan Chase wants to be the
employer of choice for people with disabilities.”
One of Tabi’s favorite lyrics is
“dreams are brought to life by diversity.” She writes a lot of
disability advocacy songs, but “Hello World” stands out for many reasons, “Life
is constantly about introducing yourself to new people, and re-introducing
yourself to people you already know in certain ways.” “Hello World” is
Tabi’s wish for people to understand disabled people, “don't judge, but do have
dialog. This song is an opportunity to be more open than ever before about
diversity.”
“Hello World” is
also the name of the first Application program that every
software engineer learns. Tabi explains why the name is used, “We learn
new technology all the time to keep up with its rapid evolution.
Therefore, every time we learn something new, it’s ‘Hello
World’!”
Tabi’s a Filipino American, born and
raised in Houston, TX. At age 3, her guitarist/pianist father
introduced her to music. Since then, she sang to keep her lungs
healthy. She moved to New York State area at age 17, and started writing
songs. Tabi moved to New York City when she turned 18, and
attended Pace University. After graduating Summa Cum Laude, Tabi
began work as a coder, later advancing to her job as a software
engineer at JP Morgan Chase.
She is a
professional recording artist with two studio albums: 2022’s “Stance,”
2019’s "I Wrote Life," 2023’s “High Notes” dance remix
EP, and a number of singles—notably “Waiting in the Wings,” which Tabi wrote,
recorded and released about disability activist Judy Heumann a few weeks
before she passed away in Feb 2023.
Tabi is a member of the Recording
Academy.
As a songwriter Tabi uses a mouse and track pad and music software to compose (the
disease is progressive, so while she could write in college, she can no longer
even put on eyeliner), and she sings into a microphone. Once she is happy with
her demo, she presents it to one of the musicians she works with to create the
instrumentation. They collaborate on the structure until the song is ready.
Singing isn’t
Haly’s only way of dealing with Spinal Muscular Atrophy. She sees occupational and physical therapists
regularly. She works through daily range-of-motion exercises and employs home
health aides who help her 24 hours a day. At night she sleeps with a
ventilator. It’s a physical and mental ordeal. But music keeps her going.
