a fair few words with sultry songstress
HAYLEY HUTCHINSON
1. HIYA HAYLEY, HOW ARE THINGS? Very well thank you!
2. YOU ARE AN ACOUSTIC-BASED SINGER-SONGWRITER FROM THE YORK AREA. DO YOU REMEMBER THE FIRST SONG YOU EVER WROTE?...
I wouldn't say I was completely 'Acoustic-Based'. The reason i do mainly solo gigs at the moment is that they can be easier to organise. I have to borrow musicians when i need them. Back to the question! The first song I ever wrote was on a small keyboard I got for Christmas when I was ten. It was terrible. I think it was a joke song called 'Balls Of Fire'. Dont ask!! I think I'd just heard of Little Richard at the time or something. I like to think I have progressed since then though. I wont be playing it at any future gigs anyway!
3. YORK, ON A GOOD DAY, CAN BE GRACED WITH MANY A FINE BUSKER ON ITS STREETS. DO YOU EVER BUSK?
I've never busked. I'll leave it up to people who are brave enough to sing their hearts out in the street. Although, it's a quick way of making a bit of beer money if you are skint, and I have been tempted!
4. I SAW YOU SUPPORT SHED 7 AT THE 'YORK BARBICAN' IN AID OF CHARITY. HAVE YOU HAD ANY OTHER HIGH-PROFILE GIGS OF THAT CALIBER, AND DO YOU ENJOY BEING ON THE 'BIG STAGE'?
I was very lucky to get that gig. It ended up being good fun. I've played the Barbican a couple of times. I do like being on the big stage especially when I've got the lads in the band to keep me company. I'm constantly trying to get good gigs. I'm supporting Martin Grech soon in London which is a big deal for me because I'm a big fan of his music.
5. DO YOU THINK THE CURRENT ACOUSTIC SCENE IS IN A HEALTHY STATE?
To be honest, I haven't been to enough local gigs recently to comment on that. It's bad of me, I know. I've heard of competitions like 'Strung Out' and things like that. Although I'm not a big fan of 'battle of the songwriters' type things it seems to have given more songwriters the opportunity to showcase their material which is always good. Just get rid of the competition element. People shouldn't need an excuse like that to go to gigs.
6. DO YOU HAVE A 'BACKING BAND' YOU CAN CALL UPON AS AND WHEN, OR IS THE MUSIC YOURS AND YOURS ONLY THROUGH AND THROUGH?
The music is mine, I write it and perform it the way I like to. I am however not that over protective. I always have the last say though! It's because I usually have a good idea of what I want. I do have a backing band now and then. I enjoy playing with a band... it's not as lonely but it can also be hard work organising everyone. I've done quite a bit of recording with them. It adds a whole new dimension to songwriting because it means I can play electric guitar and I can experiment a lot more in the studio.
7. WHAT THEMES AND EMOTIONS DO YOUR SONGS TEND TO DEAL WITH?
All kinds of themes and emotions. That's the great thing is that it is limitless. It just depends on what's going on around me and the mood I'm in. I try to avoid cliches as much as possible. I never use the words 'angel' or 'rain' and stuff like that!! Infact I try not to analyse my lyrics to much. It's probably a really self-centred thing to do songwriting when you think about it because it's usually all your own opinions and things. I try not to offload loads of crap on to people. I hope they can relate to stuff in their own way.
8. APART FROM 'YORK BARFLY,' CAN YOU RECOMMEND ANY OTHER OUTSTANDING VENUES IN YORK EITHER FROM PERSONAL EXPERIENCE OR RELIABLE WORD-OF-MOUTH?
There aren't enough venues in York let alone 'outstanding' ones! The 'City Screen' basement bar is a cute little place ideal for acoustic gigs and plays. We need another really good rock venue like Rock City in Nottingham that the big acts can play at as well as the local ones.
9. WHERE CAN WE HEAR YOUR STUFF?
You can hear clips of some of my songs in the audio section of my website www.hayleyhutchinson.co.uk or on the BBC Radio 1 OneMusic site or the BBC 'Raw Talent' website. I have nothing available to buy at the moment but i'm working on it and i'm still researching into downloading as I dont know enough yet. Give me time... I'll catch up!
10. WHAT IS THE BEST PIECE OF ADVICE, IF ANY, YOU'VE EVER BEEN GIVEN?
'Look both ways when crossing the road'! No, seriously... it's a common bit of advice but 'Trust your instincts' is a good one even though half the time I probably dont!