New Album weightless
available 09.11.2010
MUSIC
NEWS
WEIGHTLESS CD RELEASE PARTY
Due to the inclement weather this past weekend, The Weightless CD Release Party has been re-scheduled for Saturday, September 11th from 6:00-10:00 P.M. at La Careta restaurant in Hammond, La. We hope to see you there!!!
Greg Hayden & Vintage will be joined by:
Truman Holland and The Back Porch Review
and Kristina Temple
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ABOUT ME
ARTIST
From the earliest days of my childhood, I loved music and was incredibly moved by many different styles. I developed a great appreciation for the way music moved people emotionally from one place to the next. As a youngster, I can remember sitting for hours listening to the radio as I scanned stations and admired many different artists. Music has always moved me and from the very first time I can remember performing until now, it has motivated me to always research, learn and constantly work to improve.
My Jr. High/High School band director, Mr. Russell Ronquillo, was a tremendous mentor to me and his influence in my life ultimately led me to pursue music as a career. He was an incredibly talented man who saw my abilities at an early age and was a tremendous encouragement in my life. Mr. Ronquillo was tragically taken from us when I was in the 10th grade and my life was never the same after. It was shortly after Mr. Ron passed that I made my decision to major in music and to teach. Now, years later, I point to that incident in my life as a crossroads for me becoming an artist and writing songs. In the years that followed, I spent a large portion of my time writing music and performing and I always pointed back to those years in Jr High School as the beginning of my journey.
Today, my abilities as an artist grow with every life experience that I face. To me, the quality of the music that I produce is directly related to how well I transfer my everyday life experiences and inspirations into songs. As an artist, I take that role very seriously and if I am not working on two new songs at the same time, then I am always thinking about the next idea. They say that a songwriter writes a new song everyday and I would have to agree with that.
PERFORMER
I love the stage. I always have. I like the moments right before walking out to perform wherever I am playing. It is a nervousness and adrenaline that over the years I have learned to make work in my favor. I dont care who the performer is, everyone gets butterflies before they walk out. The difference between an amateur and a pro is having the experience under the lights to know how to make those moments work best for you.
When I was in college getting my undergraduate degree in music, I had to face more than my share of challenges in dealing with the butterflies before I got up to perform German, French, Italian or Latin pieces or when I played piano board exams in front of the music faculty. Once you have been down that road and survived, playing anywhere else seems like a walk in the park. Southeastern Louisiana University Music School and the wonderful faculty there provided me with the absolute best training that I could have received in preparing me as an artist. Today, I am most greatful for my experiences from music school and everytime that I walk on any stage, I use them.
The most important ingredient that has to exist in order for anyone to perform well is confidence. You have to believe in what you are selling or people wont be back to buy from you again. In my shows, I try to focus on this one aspect and reach beyond just the notes or the licks to go deeper with the audience. One very important part of having confidence on stage is being totally honest about my abilities, my weaknesses and constantly working to improve.
WRITER
Writing songs is my absolute favorite thing to do. If it wasnt for songwriting, I probably wouldnt be pursuing a music career. Songwriting is what I enjoy the most. I am amazed at how words and music together can literally transport the listener from one place to the next. I am intrigued by the reality that people hear songs and associate places and memories with certain words and sounds together. It is amazing and I enjoy the challenge of making songs memorable for the listeners.
A perfect day for me is a day when I get time to separate myself from the worries of life to capture whatever feelings, emotions or inspirations that are going through my mind at the time. Those days seem to be harder and harder to come by but they are my favorites.
As for my writing process, I am probably a music first, lyrics second writer but I cannot be held to that because there have been times when I set out to write on certain subjects. For instance, Louisiana (From Weightless) is a tune that I planned from the first lyric to the last and the music followed. Generally though, I write whatever the music brings out of me. I play for hours and hours and hours and in that time, many ideas come to mind and they almost always come from what I hear coming out of my instruments. I am usually able to match certain thoughts or feelings to whatever music I am working on.
Recently, I have been doing the majority of my writing with pretty specific plans in advance and most of the musical questions answered before writing the first lyric. However, I must add that it is never a predictable process but there is generally a method to the madness. I write from the piano and the guitar and I do not have a preference..although, I must say, the guitar is a whole lot easier to throw in my truck!
PRESS
BIO
With the release of his second album Weightless, singer/songwriter, pianist and guitarist Greg Hayden makes another strong statement to the world with his unique and refreshing approach to songwriting. Weightless, Haydens latest project combines driving soulful rhythmic sounds with catchy melodies and lyrics that are certain to grab the listeners. From folk songs about The Hill where Hayden grew up, to dreamy, laid back and soulful tunes like Louisiana and Weightless, Haydens music has a distinct and unique style that is most intriguing.
As a music school graduate and a music educator, Hayden has spent many years performing in a large variety of venues and for many different events, but four years ago decided to follow the direction of his music with reckless abandon. Two projects later, Hayden has established himself as a successful singer/songwriter from South Louisiana.
Greg Hayden's music takes a bit of the past and molds it with his own unique folk style of writing. In many of Hayden's songs, you can clearly hear the soulful melodic influences of artists from the past like Jackson Browne, Gordon Lightfoot, James Taylor, and Paul Simon. In those same songs, you can hear harmonies that are skillfully woven into the fabric of each melodic line. Hayden's musical influences from the classic rock bands of the late seventies and early eighties can also be heard in many of the songs from Directions and Weightless.
Hayden says, "The coolest thing about writing a song is that you begin with a set of ideas that the music somehow brings to life and the finished product ends up packaging a message that emotionally moves people from one place to another." Hayden believes that songwriting is the ultimate test of patience, joy and frustration. According to Hayden, writing songs is most satisfying in the end, but it proves to be a constant struggle throughout the process to make sure that the music compliments the message and drives it home, Hayden says that his albums, Directions and Weightless, both feature songs that bring clear, yet subtle messages about life, time, love, joy, and sorrow. Hayden's purpose in songwriting is to write music that both moves and inspires the listener. With the release of his second project, Hayden will be out playing a busy schedule in 2010 and 2011 promoting Weightless.
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ghm_venue list
gh&v cover letter
gh&v pk set list
Sunday In The Park - Oct 2009
BAND
Our band is made up of five guys who love performing and entertaining crowds. If you are looking for refreshing entertainment for your venue or event, then Greg Hayden & Vintage is your ticket. Greg and the Band play a nice mix of some of the most popular vintage tunes mixed with Greg's original music from his first two projects. An evening with GH&V is filled with covers by such artists as Jimmy Buffet, Otis Redding, Supertramp, The Eagles, CCR, Queen, Johnny Cash, Paul Simon, The Rolling Stones, Jim Croce, Jack Johnson, Jackson Browne and many more.
Our Band has played a variety of venues across South Louisiana over the past three years which include The Washington Parish Fair, Sunday In the Park in Downtown Baton Rouge, The Strawberry Jam and Toast Music Fest, The Amite Oyster Festival, The Sicilian Heritage Festival, The Amite City Crawfish Festival, Friends in Madisonville, Louisiana Music Factory in New Orleans, Take It To The Tracks in Downtown Hammond, The Speakeasy, The North Tangi Relay For Life and many more.
Greg Hayden - Singer/Songwriter - Acoustic and Electric Guitar
Clayton Wilson - Electric and Acoustic Guitar-Back Up Vocals
Cary Riche - Bass and Back Up Vocals
Todd Hayden - Percussion
Danny Gros - Keyboards and Back Up Vocals
For booking information, see our Press Kit listed on the press page of our website.
gALLERY
Here are some pics from the past and present! If you have pics from any of our live shows, please send them and we might post them to the site! Thanks!
Buy on iTunes!
For Bookings:
phone: 225.294.0815
email: ghayden_greghaydenmusic.com
Email us to get a Press Kit mailed to you. EPK coming soon...
Copyright 2010 Greg Hayden. Website by SazeracDesign.com
