In the luminous world of MAE.SUN (Hailey Niswanger), music is a sacred journey—a lifelong dialogue with the cosmos through saxophones, clarinets, flutes, piano, and vocals. From studying jazz at the prestigious Berklee College of Music on full scholarship, MAE.SUN began to travel the world as a professional musician and was inspired by a multitude of sounds and teachings. Awakened through Thich Nhat Hanh, MAE.SUN found a deeper meditation within her music and emerged with a new sound: fusing sonic landscapes, flowing with mantras, and rooted in love. Her releases include Vol. 1: Inter-be (2017), Vol. 2: Into the Flow (2019), and finally, Vol. 3: Reverence coming July 12, 2024. 

Based in Los Angeles, MAE.SUN has collaborated with a wide variety of illustrious musicians. In 2021 her musical partnership with Mia Garcia brought forth OHMA, and their debut album Between All Things (2022) led them to open for FKJ on a North American tour. The duo recently released their second album, On Loving Earth (2024). Further collaborations include performing with jazz master Kenny Barron and appearing on NPR’s Tiny Desk with Karol G, Saturday Night Live with Demi Lovato, Sleigh Bells on Late Night with Jimmy Fallon and The Late Show with David Letterman, as well as The Hollywood Bowl with Incubus. Her flute can be heard on Incubus’ newest album Morning View XXIII and the Grammy-winning Black Parade by Beyoncé and The Mosaic Project by Terri Lyne Carrington. Most recently, MAE.SUN has been on tour with legendary drummer Harvey Mason, modern jazz fusion bassist Kinga Głyk, and alternative indie artist Clairo. For the past decade she has been recognized as a Rising Star in the DownBeat Critics Poll, featured in The Wall Street Journal, NPR, JazzTimes, Jazziz, and DownBeat Magazine. MAE.SUN has also performed at numerous venues and festivals across the US, including New York’s Blue Note, National Sawdust, BRIC and Winter Jazz Fest, San Jose Jazz Summerfest, and a live performance on WBGO’s The Checkout.

MAE.SUN’s music connects with spirit—her sound is a call to remember the interconnectedness of all things and to share the depth of life through sound.