Do you ever wish you could go back and give advice to your younger self? Newcomer Hayden Joseph’s new single “Different” does just that. This song has a powerful message that will resonate with many people in myriad ways.
From Business to Music
Hayden’s path to country music isn’t a typical one. He was always interested in music, writing songs at as young as ten years old. He participated in talent shows, an a cappella group at Vanderbilt, and studied both neuroscience and finance. Hayden worked in management consulting after college, which ended up being extremely long hours, leaving no time for a life outside of work, especially for music. He moved into a different business role with a less demanding schedule that allowed him to take time to learn about the music industry and continue with his passion on the side.
After working on the business side of the music industry, he realized that releasing music on his own was attainable and decided to take the leap. “Different” is Hayden’s first fully-produced single on a popular streaming platform and it was a big accomplishment for him. “I’m really proud of this,” he said. “It’s one of those things I’ve done in my life that’s exclusively for me, not for professional gain, but for personal satisfaction–a creative outlet. It’s a really gratifying feeling.”
“Different” Can Mean Something to Everyone
We’ve all faced situations where we’ve felt different from everyone else. As adults, it’s often easier to embrace these differences, but many people have struggled in their adolescent years. Hayden explained, “As I have grown, I’ve learned to love the things that make me different, but I will never forget how it felt as a child to know something about me wasn’t quite like everyone else. I wish I could go back and tell that scared little kid that, one day, he’d celebrate his differences with the world.”
The song has received praise from audience members at his live shows throughout the past year. “Without fail, at the end of every set, an audience member will come up to me to tell me that ‘Different’ struck them and share a personal story as to why. This is the reason I write songs. Songs have a way of bringing a world that seems to be drifting further and further apart, together again.”
What’s Next for Hayden
Hayden Joseph’s goal is to help carve a path for artists that don’t follow the typical country stereotype, since country music is lacking in diversity. He plans to release about five more singles and then an EP early next year. Follow him on social media for the latest news.