Hunter Hayesrecently had an epiphany.
And just like that, an album was born.
So, you recorded the whole thing at home?In the basement, yeah.
Credit: Brenton Giesey
Everybody talked me out of having my studio in my living space.
I was like, You dont understand my relationship with music.
Why did you decide to surprise release it ahead of its original release date?Why wait?
Warner Music Nashville
Im lucky that I have a label of forward-thinking people.
And I was really excited about that.
And also, more importantly: this isPart I. Theres no question that everything [I did] was authentic.
I just didnt know.
I had just moved to town.
I keep comparing it to a Lego set.
I was building the picture on the box: This is what I wanted.
This is what I came here for.
So, Im going to do that.
And this is how you do it.Right.
And then I realized, you could build anything with the pieces!
And now Im having a blast.
I think that was the shift.
Was there a specific pivot point where you thought, Oh, I can just do what I want?
And then at the end of the swell theres just this sound of wind.
Thats kind of what going into 2018 was like for me.
Because I felt like there was all of a sudden this sense of stillness.
What would I do?
But still useful though.
Wild Blue is a perfect example.
That was as me as I could possibly be on that day, January 11th of last year.
(Laughs)That [songwriting session] no holds barred.
That was [me realizing] I can say anything.
I can structure it however I want.
I just had fun making that song.
And then those were my guidelines moving forward: This needs to feel fun for me.
This needs to connect for me.
When you listen to the record now are you surprised that you felt constrained before?
Radio could certainly play these songs.Yeah.
I think thats one of the things that Ive learned the most about beginning this release process.
When people hear it theyre just like, Yeah, well, that make sense though.
And its like, I know.
I know it does.
And I think that I, honestly, probably just need more people telling me that.
We dont know what to do with that, was off for a long time It wasnt off.
Its who you listen to.
Because, how do you have those conversations?
But not close enough to remember why Im here versus there.
I knew that this was a big growth chapter for me.
I wrote about it several times.
One Good Reason was definitely the first; therefore, the most honest, out of the batch.
And thats a very specific moment.
So often songs are about the beginning and the excitement or about the very end and the crash.
Much of this record lives in that place.
Whereas, when youre writing the song.
Youre just like, What is this for?
Ive always said my purpose, I feel, as a writer is to experience things.
Because I know that thats supposed to turn into something else.
Not just for me.
And going out and singing these songs now, thats my purpose.
Now, they have a meaning and they serve something versus just me staying in that loop.
Was that sparked by a moment of real optimism?No, thats the first thing that I felt.
When it all came crashing down.
Thats where my brain went first.
We had a conversation about it.
You know there was kind of this check-in.
Yeah, I am actually.
For me, I was just anxious.
I was looking forward to that [next] person.
And I only wrote four or five songs in January, but they all made the album.
Which is such a rare ratio for me.
Because for the last couple of years, Ive been running on steam.
And Im lucky if I get something that really feels like its me.
Letters to me in the future.
So do you already have a plan in place forPart II?Cant say.
Within 2019 or is too late for that?Definitely not 2019.
Because theyll all most likely be all be ten songs apiece.
So that implies more than two parts.
Is this is aLord of the Ringssituation?Oh, yeah.
I dont want to chase a concept that I painted three years ago.
And exactly where Ive always wanted to be and everything can change at a moments notice now.
And this kind of proves that.
And it all does still tie together no matter what were talking about.
Because the theme ofWild Blueis growth, moving on.
Constant change is the theme.
