theaussieword.com speaks with Hayden Buchanan.
Tell us how it all started. What had you first interested in music? I grew up in a musical theatre household, so there was always a tune being played or sung at home. Though like most kids I went against the grain of what my parents liked and found my way into jazz music in my high schools big band, singing jazz standards. I was even in a small jazz band with friends and we covered everything from Bublé, Sinatra and Jamie Cullum.
What motivates or influences you in your quest to make
great music? I have a rule with myself that I have kept for the past year and a half. and that is to make something everyday, It can be music or it can be posting a photo to instagram @IAmHaydenBuchanan or making an interesting snapchat, just make something everyday, sites like Soundcloud and Youtube also open up music that you cant usually find through usual streams of media.
What are your biggest goals you hope to accomplish as an artist? Ultimately my goal is to put out as much music and creations as possible and work with other artists. I currently work as barista on the side to pay the bills which I do enjoy though above all I’m working to just be a full time creative. thats my goal, To do what I love & love what I do.
Success, what is the secret to it? You kind of have to “fall forward” as I like to call it anyway. You have to be putting yourself in a good position so that opportunity and good things can occur more often for you, That could mean changing your career, Moving cities, Disconnecting from negative people around you, meeting new people, especially those that are involved in what you want to be involved in you cant learn to be a chef at a bank. there is absolutely no reason you shouldn’t do what you love.
What has been your biggest career highlight so far? I had the pleasure of recording my Ep with Sean Carey at Church Street Studios in Camperdown. I have been a big Thirst Merc fan for years so to work alongside former guitarist Sean Carey was a huge honour I learnt so so much from him. Performing at the Oxford Art Factory was another highlight and of course having my single be released on march 11th is still quite surreal to me.
Which stars of the music industry do you find inspiring? I get inspired by different artists for quite a few reasons, Flume and Chet Faker are two acts that really opened up my mind to what electronica can bring to the smoother side of music and I have a lot of respect for their songwriting and style, Jamie Cullum & Michael Bublé inspire me through bringing back to vogue the jazz standards to my generation and keeping that music relevant and I hope in my own way I can do a similar thing, British Singer Lianne La Havas is someone who’s album “Blood” I find to be such an incredible blend of the styles that I love.
The shape of the music industry has changed significantly over the years, including the use of social media, how do you feel about the industry as a whole and what does it mean to you in getting your records out into the public eye? In many ways im still quite naive about how the music industry works but I’m still managing to slowly carve my own career in the industry, so the notion that the music industry is dead is one that I find ridiculous. Artists should (In my current opinion) be small business minded. You are an Entrepreneur and your product that you are selling is your music. You have & want to be in control of every aspect of it and you have to be the driving force not a label or record company. Also you have to be a little bit capitalist, If you’re playing for free constantly then that is what your music can become valued at by yourself and others. Lastly (Now this may upset a few) Facebook communities have allowed a lot of what I call old rockers to consistently post and upload negative views of the music industry only showing or talking about what the industry gets wrong instead of focusing and showing what it gets right and sharing music that others can enjoy or resources or venues that offer gigs, they appear to me to be dragging down an industry that is being revived by the invention and creation of wonderful new music.
Name a few of your favourite Aussie artists. Favourite Australian Artists include: Chet Faker, Ta-Ku Beats, Gordi & Meg Mac
What can we expect from you in the coming months? Any plans to tour? You can expect a lot more music to listen to from me, Ill be working towards a pretty aggressive release schedule in the next few months along with plenty of live shows too, So please go and like my Facebook page so you can know when they are on.
Tell us a bit about your latest record, how would you best describe your music? The Song “Lover’s In The Moonlight” is in many ways the first step towards chasing after my personal sound and creative style, it sounds different to a lot of what i am making now which is good. I hope that there will be a constant and evolving sound that you can hear changing throughout my future releases.
Do you have any new projects in the pipeline? Constantly is the best answer for that, I will be working with a very talented dancer from Sydney Dance Company soon on a project together & am featuring on a track for electronic music duo Lamalo. I am also performing in the Raw Artists Exhibition on April 15th which will be my longest live set performing with ableton, shifting over from just singing and playing guitar has been quite the challenge.
Thanks for the interview! What final message do you have for us today? Thank-you for the interview and I hope you enjoy my track “Lovers In The Moonlight” when it comes out on March 11th. Later days !!!!
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