Photo by @jenniebookphotography

BIOGRAPHY

HALOU is the sound of tension held beautifully in place. The Bay Area band, built around the creative nucleus of Rebecca and Ryan Coseboom, has spent nearly three decades crafting music that lives somewhere between atmosphere and confrontation.

Formed in 1997, HALOU emerged alongside the first wave of trip-hop–influenced artists in the United States, building a devoted audience that has followed the band ever since. Their mailing list—grown organically over decades—remains unusually large and active for an independent band, reflecting a fanbase that has deepened rather than faded.

Though once associated with trip-hop, HALOU has steadily evolved into something more volatile and cinematic—music suspended between beauty and unease. Think Fleetwood Mac left too long in the dark, or Cocteau Twins before the gloss softened the edges.

Over the years the band has quietly assembled an impressive footprint: a video with more than 50 million views, over 50,000 monthly Spotify listeners, and an album that remains on KEXP’s “Most Played of All Time” list. They’ve released music through Nettwerk Records and collaborated with Robin Guthrie, Zoë Keating, and UNKLE.

On stage, HALOU continues to draw a loyal audience. In December 2025 they opened for Thievery Corporation at two sold-out shows, adding to a live history that includes official showcases at SXSW and Bumbershoot (twice in one weekend) and a U.S. tour opening for Bob Mould.

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“Halou came to The Guild on December 27th as the opening act for Thievery Corporation, and the venue was packed to capacity by the time they took the stage since no ticketholders wanted to miss the chance to see them up close and personal, with many fans there specifically there to see them.” - Soundcheck SF

“Rebecca Coseboom’s voice flutters around your head like a silky scarf and the whole is like a sonic manifestation of a romantic swoon…”– The Stranger, Seattle

“Earthy and airy, organic and dreamy, songs that surround you then suddenly take wing and fly away. Rebecca sings with a rarefied, alluring intimacy.”– MSNBC

“Rebecca Coseboom – a female front woman with an incredible voice – proves she has enough swagger and sway to keep things interesting without ever being overstated”– CMJ