Halifax lost a musical virtuoso on April 9 with the passing of Henri Sangalang. One member of the four-piece alt-rock band The Flashing Lights, Sangalang touched the lives—and music—of many of the city’s foremost artists.
Sangalang was more than just an amazing musician. He had an impeccable sense of fashion and was part of the Halifax mod scene in the 1980s. He was a scooter enthusiast, riding and repairing Vespas and his Lambretta. He was a valued employee at the Halifax Water Commission, a yoga instructor, and a tennis player.
Sangalang was best known for The Flashing Lights, which formed in the 1990s and released two full-length albums and an EP during their tenure: Where the Change in 1999, the EP Elevature in 2000, and Sweet Release in 2001. He was also in Chris Murphy’ and Jay Ferguson’s pre-Sloan band Kearney Lake Rd from 1987 to 1990.
An influential artist
Tributes to Sangalang poured out as the Halifax music scene learned of his passing. Chris Murphy posted to Instagram, “He was a fantastic bass player and Henri’s songs were probably the best ones in the KLR repertoire.” The Flashing Lights’ Matt Murphy, who formed the band with Sangalang, told Billboard Canada, “Anyone who played with him will remember that smile and know how contagious his enthusiasm was. I also remember the kindness and energy he brought to helping his friends.”
Avery Dakin knows that feeling well. The Halifax-based pop-R&B artist met Sangalang as she was putting the finishing touches on her debut EP, Settle Down, in late 2020. Her producer had played with Sangalang and recorded his bass playing for other projects, so he was asked if he would remotely contribute to the EP. Afterwards, Dakin invited Sangalang to join her band. Sangalang played with Dakin until his passing.
“I didn’t realize just how influential he was,” says Dakin of Sangalang. “I’ve learned so much more about his legacy since he passed. He was such a humble person. He rarely wanted to talk about his past and all the successes he had with various bands, but especially The Flashing Lights, so you kind of had to draw it out of him a little bit.”
When it came to recording Dakin’s first music video, Sangalang had shown her the video he made alongside The Flashing Lights for their song “Highschool” back in 1999.
“Henri was such an enigmatic person, like, you know, he was such an enthusiastic guy, and yet… he didn’t really want to be part of the spotlight, in my view,” says Dakin. “I think he brought so much on-stage energy, and yet he was still so mysterious.”
Dakin also says Sangalang was huge into fashion, ironing her jumpsuit before gigs and coordinating outfits with Dakin in advance, or ignoring fashion requests and “looking just so good, like the best out of all of us.” She attributes his level of detail to helping her find her sound.
Perhaps the best part of their relationship was the pure joy of experiencing Sangalang’s presence, especially as they put together Dakin’s full-length debut, Bloom.
“Every experience with Henri was fun,” she says. “Like, we would be cracking up laughing about the stupidest stuff in the studio and not looking at our watches. Like, you know, everybody just loves spending time with him, myself included.”
“Incredible soul”
Christian Murray, perhaps best known for writing and acting in This Hour Has 22 Minutes, had met Sangalang as a teenager. They bumped into each other over the years as they both ran in the Halifax mod scene in the 1980s, and in 2016, Sangalang phoned Murray up to sing in the two-tone ska band The Conqueralls.
“He had such a great ear for harmonies and for structure and, you know, drive and suggestions of songs,” says Murray. “He kind of pushed me in a lot of ways in terms of my vocal stuff.”
While The Conqueralls disbanded during the pandemic, Murray is glad he had the chance to hang out with Sangalang during that time and says he was devastated by his loss.
“I get pangs of sadness for all his great resources, and his style, and his musicianship, and that, you know, no longer having the opportunity to tap into that,” he says, adding they were hoping to get the ska band back together soon.
“He just loved that. That’s the style of music that changed my life. Two-tone ska, The Specials and all that, and then the late 70s, early 80s, that kind of informed the anti-racism message of two-tone and stuff. So that was always kind of important to us, so it’s sad that I won’t be able to do that together again. The permanence of one’s passing really comes in waves.”
Both Murray and Dakin remember Henri for his work outside of music as well, both mentioning his love of scooters. He was an active member of the Halifax Scooter Council, arranging rides with other scooter lovers. Murray says he could also “take apart an engine and put it back together again.”
“The picture they put on his mass card at the wake, you know, it’s just a handsome, beautiful, incredible soul that will be missed dearly by many people, including his kids,” says Murray.
This article appears in May 1-31, 2025.