Today we’d like to introduce you to Hayley Payne
Hi Hayley, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
There was never really one specific moment when I decided that music was what I was going to pursue as a career – I just always knew it was what I was going to do. I was born and raised in Owensboro, Kentucky; only about two hours from Nashville. After playing piano at the age of six and getting involved in musical theatre at the age of nine, I quickly realized that the stage is where I loved to be. I’m also the youngest of three, so my family can vouch that I loved being the center of attention as a kid 🙂
Although my family listened to lots of different genres, I was always drawn to country music because of its storytelling and relatability, I wrote my first song at the age of nine. When I started getting my own gigs around the age of 11, my dad said, “If you want to be a country singer, you’ve gotta learn how to play the guitar!” So I’ve been playing guitar for about 13 years now.
After performing locally as my summer job during my teenage years, I made the move to Tennessee to pursue a Songwriting degree at Middle Tennessee State University. I graduated in 2021 and have been pursuing music full-time in Nashville ever since. When I first moved to Nashville, I went to as many writer’s rounds and shows as possible to meet as many people as I could. After three and a half years here, I’ve met so many talented friends that I get to write with every day. I’ve achieved some of my goals of performing at the Bluebird Cafe, the Listening Room Cafe, and Whiskey Jam. When I’m not traveling for out-of-state shows and festivals, I perform weekly at several hotels in downtown Nashville, getting to share my songs and stories with people visiting from all over the world 🙂
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
As with any career path, there have been and will be struggles along the way:
from getting made fun of for pursuing a music career at a young age, to being told ‘no’ many more times than being told ‘yes.’ I would say one of the biggest struggles of being an independent artist is the work that you put in that goes unnoticed; that you might not reap the benefits of until years later – if you ever do. Like spending hours editing a TikTok that you really thought would be the one to go viral and it only gets 100 views, or singing to a room of people but no one seems to be listening. It’s all about persisting even when you feel like you’re not seeing any results or getting where you want to go.
One thing that has always grounded me is that I have always known that the music industry is a tough business. Thankfully I love music enough to push through!
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I am most proud of my songwriting and using my voice to tell a story. My songwriting style has been described as “little magic tricks,” and I will take that compliment any day! My favorite way to write a song is to think of a common phrase or idea and try to flip its meaning. I LOVE a clever hook. Something that surprises the audience, makes them chuckle, or makes them go “ohhh” when they get to the end of the chorus. I have so many favorite songs that made me go, “I wish I thought of that!” I would love for one of my songs to be that for someone else! My favorite thing about music is that I can create a song that means something to me that hopefully someone else can relate to their own life. I think that connection is so special!
My newest single “Kick off Your Boots” is available now wherever you listen to music! It’s one of my favorite songs I’ve ever written, and I got to write it with two of my favorite people in Nashville – Averie Bielski and Molly Lovette.
Do you have recommendations for books, apps, blogs, etc?
Two of my favorite podcasts right now are Ten Year Town with Troy Cartwright and Stories Behind the Songs with Chris Blair. Both of these podcasts have such experienced guests who each have a unique story of their journey in Nashville. It’s really inspiring to see a little bit of yourself in someone else’s story, or to see that your story and someone else’s can be so different, even when having the same goal. They both give great advice and insight into the Nashville music business.
I also love the book Big Magic by Elizabeth Gilbert. It really changed my perspective on ideas and the creative mind. There have been so many instances where I’ve heard someone else’s song and gone, “Oh my gosh, I’ve had that idea in my notes app for like a year!” This book opened my eyes to the suggestion that ideas are meant to go out into the world, and they will go to someone else who will bring them to life if we don’t. Now when I have an idea I’m super excited about, I bring it to my very next write!
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.hayleypayne.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hayleypaynemusic
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/hayleypaynemusic
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/hayleypaynemusic
- Other: https://open.spotify.com/artist/7HDvUJmcXXT0jsg6Z0pj29?si=u3RgFD_GR62TvHuQKPSpSA
