Interview with David Hayes from 2010

I took piano for one year when I was 5, and one year when I was around 9. It wasn’t something I enjoyed at first, at least the practicing aspect. It’s kind of funny because I’m a private lesson music instructor now, and I come across some students who feel the same way as I did. I’ll tell them my story just so they understand that I’ve been there. To a kid music isn’t always the most exciting thing, it’s something that some learn to appreciate. I didn’t start until I was in college to really appreciate it. I took a music history class, and my instructor was awesome. I ended up buying a guitar, and haven’t spent many days without it since. I had some great teachers, the first being my old boss at a condo construction site, Larry Beeman. I would later transfer from Rock Valley College in Rockford to Columbia College Chicago in 2001. I studied classical guitar with Norm Ruiz, and Jazz Piano with Peter Saxe there. I wanted to play every genre of music because I grew tired of playing clichés in one style. I eventually picked up the bass, and played it in a couple of bands. Around 2003 I started recording little ideas on the computer, and started to create more songs. I had written some before, but now I was cranking out little ideas left and right.  Many are undeveloped, but some created the backbone of this first album. I had a lot of help from my friends, many who are great musicians. Greg Magers helped me a lot with the whole recording process. It took a long time to record an album, but at least I have an end product.

As a kid I wanted to be a baseball player, but I didn’t have the talent to make it. I’d like to be a sports writer.

I’d say the Beatles, or anything in the classic rock realm. I grew to love jazz and classical music too. I’d also say Charlie Parker, and Beethoven. As a pianist I’d say Bill Evans. As a guitarist I’d have to say my favorite is David Gilmour.  As a bassist and vocalist I’d say Paul McCartney.

I’m trying to create a twin album called “Out with the New.”  I’ve recorded a few tracks already for it. I’d like to have it finished by next fall, but we’ll see how it goes. I feel a little more ready having been through the music creation process once before. I would like to keep on improving my music. I would like to always outdo myself if possible, but I’m just trying to make great music.

Alternative multi-genre. I describe it mostly as my own though.

I just want to keep playing with the ones I work with. Graham Burris, Mike Lim, Robert Tucker, Christian Chamberlain, Taylor John Fiorelli, John Storms-Rohm, Bob Mayo, and other friends and family too. I like working with people that I have musical chemistry with. I believe that’s very important.

Music piracy goes back a long time, centuries before we even began recording music. I also remember making mix tapes off the radio way back in the day, too. I stream my album for free because I figure if someone wants a song they’re going to get it. Yeah we don’t make as much money, but it’s cool that a song can reach any corner of the Earth. Musicians will have to sustain their careers through performance. I still buy CDs and records because I feel they sound ten times better than mp3’s. There is more warmth in the overall sound. It is amazing though that you can get an abundance of music without stepping outside your door.

I think that’s OK, too. If they can catch a great performance and contain the moment of that one night, awesome. It’s the same scenario, a recording will sound better coming through the soundboard than someone’s personal microphone. It depends on what kind of sound quality one would like to listen to.

That’s funny because I tell all my students that musician’s are like superheroes. They each have a “super power”, or something they do well. They also have some kind of “kryptonite” or weakness.  I’d have to say it would have to be an evil doppelganger version of myself. Almost like the red Incredible Hulk. I always want to outdo myself, and I am the only one in my way - the only one in my way from completing a new CD, or writing new music. David Hayes (armed with music) vs. David Hayes (armed with writer’s block.)

I’m not a big believer in the super-group, sometimes I think there isn’t as much chemistry. I’d have to say I’d like to see the Beatles, Pink Floyd, or Led Zeppelin perform.  They all have a big influence on me.

That’s a hard question. I think it’d be tough to write all of their names on this page. So it would be a music festival where we could ride in time machines. The first stop would be to solve the question “What instrument came first, the voice or the drum?” Then we’d see the evolution of music to its present day form. We’d see all of the greats known and unknown. I guess we’d get to have the ability to see the future of music too. It would be a pretty long music festival.

It was my classical guitar teacher’s CD Duos Dialogues, Norm Ruiz and Jeffrey Warren. I’ve been listening to a lot of Muse lately though.

 You know, I don’t read much. I’ve been limited to only magazines these days.

Well I’m always going to concerts at the local establishments in Chicago. I support my fellow musicians a lot. I went up to Milwaukee and saw Muse for the second time. Passion Pit opened for them, and they were pretty good too. I had to see this Muse show again because of the stage. It is amazing! They are on lifts and they lower up and down throughout the show. The stage design is awesome! The stage presence and performance is awesome! It is pure arena rock, and that is where I’d love to be.

Tritones

My love for D minor, because it’s the saddest key, really.

John, Paul, and George.  I’d like Ringo to come, but you said only 3.