NEW SIGNING JOHN HAYES SHARES NEW SINGLE “NOWNESS”

Today, Minneapolis multi-instrumentalist and producer John Hayes signs to Nettwerk Records (The Album Leaf, Alaskan Tapes, Neighborhood Libraries) and makes his debut with the label, sharing new single “Nowness.” Known for expansive, atmospheric sounds, his delicate blend of ambient and electronic music has garnered fans around the world including KEXP, BBC, and James Heather’s Soho Radio Show ‘Moving Sounds.’ Listen to “Nowness” on all digital retailers (here).

The roots of the song came about at the start of the pandemic as Hayes was jamming with a friend.

“We were playing around with different arpeggios and different delay effects on my Moog Sub 37,” John reflects. “More just experimenting than anything else… I finally came across something that I quite enjoyed and decided, ‘why not record this?’ For a long time, it just existed as this arpeggio you hear playing throughout the song. I would revisit it here and there but never had any plans to do much. I really enjoyed it existing as just this private little piece that I could revisit here and there. Once the pandemic hit, I had a lot of time on my hands, and I decided to elaborate on it a bit. I started to add layers on my Minilogue [synthesizer] that I though emulated strings. I wanted it to be this blend where you can’t tell exactly what is artificial and what is real. This idea of the artificial world online that we dive into each day and the real world that is right out of our window being blended became something that I started to think about quite a bit. This song started to take on that form as I continued to tinker with it. I wanted there to be a blend where it becomes hard to tell where the synthesizers and the real strings begin and end, all while this arpeggio keeps dancing in the background. The artificial world and real-world meeting in music, and shaking hands.”

Listen & Share “Nowness” Here:

John Hayes is a multi-instrumentalist and producer from Minneapolis, Minnesota.

John’s musical journey began after receiving formal piano training during his youth. With a penchant for non-traditional styles and playing techniques, his tendency to get into trouble with his instructors grew over the years. At a young age, he was destined to become a sonic explorer, attune to the more uninhibited musical environments.

In 2018, John released his debut solo album, By The Woods, a collection of sparse, muted piano compositions that saw glimmers of the artist’s vision. In 2020, he followed this up with The Last Best Place, a powerfully tender album devoted to a friend who had passed away. The somber atmosphere and cathartic energy are palpable over the eleven songs.

Later that year, Hayes’ next project was a collaborative effort with Maxy Dutcher, putting out Borealis on Moderna Records. The release saw Hayes expand on his spacious piano compositions and move into a more intricate layered harmonic territory full of neo-classical stylings and electronic influences ranging from trance to experimental dance.

John finished off an illuminating 2020 with a second collaboration, this time with fellow Minnesota composer and producer Eiskavon called Du Nord released on Western Vinyl. The two artists met through the Minneapolis music scene and became quick confidants, as a few songs turned into an EP before blossoming into a full-length album. Taking cues from influences spanning Chopin to Eno, the duo provided the perfect soundscape for the Midwestern winter.

Hayes’ music has won the support of notable tastemakers, including KEXP, BBC, and James Heather’s Soho Radio show “Moving Sounds.” He also previously served regularly as the resident pianist for the award-winning Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport.

John currently writes, records, and produces music from his studio in Denver, Colorado.