By: Daedrian McNaughton
Country music has found its newest heartthrob in the form of Walker Hayes. With a combination of good looks, great vocals, and undeniable charm, Hayes has won over a legion of fans, particularly women who find themselves captivated whenever he takes the stage. But beneath the surface, this emerging singer/songwriter is a dedicated family man, with his main focus being to provide for his wife and three lovely children.
I had the opportunity to sit down with Walker Hayes during the Country Throwdown event in West Palm Beach, where we delved into his journey as an artist and his experiences within the industry. As a talented songwriter, Hayes’s primary passion lies in creating music, with his artist career simply falling into his lap along the way. With a record deal on Capitol Records, his upcoming album’s release date is yet to be confirmed, but fans can look forward to his latest single dropping on July 26th.
When asked about his influences and collaborators, Hayes revealed that he writes for The Music Group International, initially being hired by the late Buddy Killan before his manager, Christy DiNapoli, took over. While he hasn’t had the chance to work directly with Keith Urban, Hayes shared a humorous encounter at the BMI Awards where he unintentionally found himself in the men’s room next to Urban. Despite not having collaborated yet, Hayes admires Urban as a hero and draws inspiration from his ability to keep listeners guessing with his versatile performances.
Hayes’s music has garnered him a strong following, particularly among women who appreciate the underlying love theme in many of his songs. When asked if he takes advantage of this fan support, Hayes candidly acknowledges that his writing naturally gravitates towards themes of love, which inevitably caters to his female audience. However, he remains grateful for the strong response he receives and enjoys connecting with his fans on a deeper level.
Currently on tour, Hayes expresses his gratitude for the opportunity to not only open for other artists but also spend six weeks performing alongside them and gaining exposure to their fan bases. His unique style, a blend of pop/rock elements combined with his authentic songwriting, caught the attention of producer Marshall Altman. Altman saw the potential in Hayes’s music and aims to bring out this fusion of styles in their future collaborations.
Looking ahead, Hayes aspires to join the ranks of country superstars like Kenny Chesney, Keith Urban, and Mac McAnally. He credits McAnally as a source of inspiration and knowledge, having shared a stage with him and gained valuable insights into the music industry. Ultimately, Hayes’s ambition stems from his dedication to providing for his family, acknowledging that music is his only vocation and he must succeed in order to ensure their well-being.
Walker Hayes’s rising star in country music is not solely based on his looks; it’s his talent and genuine passion for storytelling through music that sets him apart. As he continues to navigate the industry and captivate audiences with his soulful performances, one thing is clear: Walker Hayes is here to stay, leaving his distinctive mark on the country music scene.
PGM: Who is Walker Hayes?
Walker Hayes: I am from Mobile, Alabama…
PGM: A true Southern boy……
Walker Hayes: Oh yes, southern for sure-without a doubt. I have been in Nashville for 6 years had a series of record deals on and off and now I finally have one I haven’t come off as yet. Got a record coming out-don’t know when its coming out-now my single is July 26th-don’t know what it’s called though-still trying to figure it out- I am on Capitol Records. I am a songwriter, that’s what I really do. The artist thing just kinda keeps falling in my lap. My favorite thing is to get up and write songs, but….
PGM: So who do you currently write for or who have you worked with?
Walker Hayes: I write for a small….you know what? When I moved to town, a guy named Buddy Killan hired me to his publishing company. He died unfortunately, like a year after he hired me and my manager Christy DiNapoli of The Music Group International took over, and I started writing for them.
PGM: All the other artists/songwriters that I have interviewed earlier have had some sort of encounter with Keith Urban. Have you had the chance to work with him?
Walker Hayes: An encounter with Keith..I have a funny story about Keith. I had my first encounter with Keith at the BMI Awards-Keith doesn’t know who I am, and I am on his label; I think that he would know that I am on his label. Anyways, you know how it is… I was at the BMI Awards 2 years ago, and I followed Keith, kinda on accident into the men’s room. It was a big long line, and so I used the bathroom next to Keith’s, and that’s the really only encounter I’ve had with Keith. That’s it. Other than that, we see him at all the Capitol parties, and stuff like that. He’s not like, ‘What’s up, Walker.’
PGM: You have not done any work with him?
Walker Hayes: No, not yet.
PGM: Would you like to?
Walker Hayes: Oh yes! Absolutely. He is a hero of mine-definitely one of my influences for sure, so yes. I like him and Nicole Kidman too-definitely,I am a fan.
PGM: Who are some of your major influences?
Walker Hayes: My influences are any artists who keeps you guessing. That is why I love Keith because one minute he is singing a love ballad, and kind of got you in a trance and the next minute he has you cracking up-beating on your dashboard while you are driving-you know. Brad Paisley is a big influence. I love the humor in his writing, keeps you guessing to do something serious, then makes you laugh. Garth Brooks, I mean, who did he not influence. Really all kind of music, but those are definitely country influences.
PGM: You have the women going crazy over you on and off stage…..
Walker Hayes: I don’t know about that…I don’t know…I thank my parents for combining to make me; that’s not really something you can choose-right? But it’s helping me I guess.
PGM: Knowing that your strongest supporters are women, do you use it to your advantage?
Walker Hayes: The common theme of my album is making love, it just is. That is where my brain goes and that’s what comes out when I write, so you know, the music caters to women for sure. I enjoy the strong response from them.
PGM: Are you having fun on the tour?
Walker Hayes: This is incredible. Normally, I am an opening act-that’s all I do. For me to come for 6 weeks and rock with the guys, get all this exposure, kind of share their fans-unbelievable.
PGM: You have a unique style that Marshall Altman was drawn to. What was it that really captured his attention and interest in you?
Walker Hayes: I think he appreciated the love theme, and he was always saying he likes the authenticity of my writing-just unfiltered. It’s kinda hard to choose songs, because you want songs that you can give to the public-cause you know-somewhere you gotta stop because you cannot be on the radio, and be dirty. He saw a pop side of me, pop/rock in there, and that’s what he’s been doing. I think he heard that side, and combined his L.A. pop stuff with my Mobile Alabama stuff. Marshall brought it-without a doubt. I cannot wait to do album 2 with Marshall because he brings the songs to life.
PGM: Do you see yourself in a similar position as Kenny Chesney, Keith Urban, Mac McAnally, and other notable country superstars?
Walker Hayes: Mac is huge. I opened for him in Jacksonville, Mississippi once. He sad with me in the green room and fed me with amazing knowledge. It was great-oh, yes. If a kid my age, when I am Mac’s age, gets interviewed and asked, “Would you like to be like Walker Hayes?” What an honor. So yes, I want to be successful. I gotta take care of my family; this is my job. I am married with 3 children and they have to eat, and I am not good at anything else. I have to work, I gotta go out and make it.
PGM: You could work the looks too…..
Walker Hayes: You know…if music falls through, I have thought about runway stuff-I don’t know.