Acoustic singer/songwriter Hayden will open for Feist tonight. Hayden, a Toronto native, has released seven albums, the first being Everything I Long For in 1995 and most recently 2008’s In Field & Town. He spoke with The Post’s Kelly Kettering about his start in music, touring with Feist, and whom he would like to tour with in the future.
The Post: How did you first start to get into music?
Hayden: I played rhythm guitar in a band in high school and my initial sort of writing my own songs kind of happened over a span of a couple of years. I borrowed a friend’s four-track, had some of my friends sing my song, and then I entered the song to a radio contest, and I started doing shows.
Post: What is going on in the Canadian music scene, where you are from, right now?
Hayden: It’s a very healthy music scene right now in Canada and people are recognizing it around the world, which is nice. Years ago, you had to leave Canada to get recognition, so it’s nice that we can stay. … And the number one genre is indie rock, that’s a big one now for sure … Canada is a good place for musicality and comedy.
Post: What made you decide to make music your career?
Hayden: Well, it was sort of a dream in high school that I would be in a band like R.E.M. or something, but it died away after high school and I went to college and stopped playing music for a little bit. But when I put that four-track together, I had hopes I would have a career in the back of my mind, but I didn’t think it was realistic. However, one thing led to another, and suddenly I was on the road. I quit my last part-time job in 1995.
Post: What inspires your music?
Hayden: It’s definitely things that happen to me or things that happen to someone close to me. Or it’s just something that is interesting or strong enough for me to want to sit down and write. ... That is generally the force that affects me.
Post: You released your first official album in 1995. How has your music changed since then?
Hayden: Fundamentally it hasn’t changed that much. I don’t generally write with other people so, just being inspired to write. I usually write on guitar or piano — on this last record, it was piano.
Post: What has been your favorite music to listen to lately?
Hayden: I haven’t been listening to music actually. … I’m listening to Feist every night which is pretty nice.
Post: What do you like about being Feist’s opening act?
Hayden: It’s great because she is one of the special ones, you know? She has all the ingredients that make up a classic artist that the world won’t forget any time soon. It’s a pleasure to be a part of what she is doing; I have been listing to her voice for years.
Post: Have you hung out with Feist or gotten to know her at all?
Hayden: Yeah, I’m not allowed to look her in the eye, haha … No, we’ve known each other for years, everyone hangs out with each other, it’s a very friendly atmosphere.
Post: Who would be another major performer you would like to tour with?
Hayden: Well, there are a few artists that I respect that are recording right now; for example, Wilco. That would be nice.
The Post: How did you first start to get into music?
Hayden: I played rhythm guitar in a band in high school and my initial sort of writing my own songs kind of happened over a span of a couple of years. I borrowed a friend’s four-track, had some of my friends sing my song, and then I entered the song to a radio contest, and I started doing shows.
Post: What is going on in the Canadian music scene, where you are from, right now?
Hayden: It’s a very healthy music scene right now in Canada and people are recognizing it around the world, which is nice. Years ago, you had to leave Canada to get recognition, so it’s nice that we can stay. … And the number one genre is indie rock, that’s a big one now for sure … Canada is a good place for musicality and comedy.
Post: What made you decide to make music your career?
Hayden: Well, it was sort of a dream in high school that I would be in a band like R.E.M. or something, but it died away after high school and I went to college and stopped playing music for a little bit. But when I put that four-track together, I had hopes I would have a career in the back of my mind, but I didn’t think it was realistic. However, one thing led to another, and suddenly I was on the road. I quit my last part-time job in 1995.
Post: What inspires your music?
Hayden: It’s definitely things that happen to me or things that happen to someone close to me. Or it’s just something that is interesting or strong enough for me to want to sit down and write. ... That is generally the force that affects me.
Post: You released your first official album in 1995. How has your music changed since then?
Hayden: Fundamentally it hasn’t changed that much. I don’t generally write with other people so, just being inspired to write. I usually write on guitar or piano — on this last record, it was piano.
Post: What has been your favorite music to listen to lately?
Hayden: I haven’t been listening to music actually. … I’m listening to Feist every night which is pretty nice.
Post: What do you like about being Feist’s opening act?
Hayden: It’s great because she is one of the special ones, you know? She has all the ingredients that make up a classic artist that the world won’t forget any time soon. It’s a pleasure to be a part of what she is doing; I have been listing to her voice for years.
Post: Have you hung out with Feist or gotten to know her at all?
Hayden: Yeah, I’m not allowed to look her in the eye, haha … No, we’ve known each other for years, everyone hangs out with each other, it’s a very friendly atmosphere.
Post: Who would be another major performer you would like to tour with?
Hayden: Well, there are a few artists that I respect that are recording right now; for example, Wilco. That would be nice.
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