Hinterland musician shares his distinctive blend of rhythm and melody
By Sonia Isaacs
HINTERLAND musician Hayden Hack has recently released his third studio album. Known for his distinctive blend of African influences, funky rhythms and soulful resonance, the award-winning South African-born fingerstyle guitarist and singer has been a popular fixture at numerous festivals, gatherings and local events for many years.
From Maleny Lane to Woodford Folk Festival, Hayden has a unique ability to seamlessly blend diverse musical elements to deliver an immersive experience that resonates deeply with listeners.
GC&M News spoke with Hayden, keen to find out more about both the musician and his music.
Q: How long have you lived in the Hinterland and what do you love about living here?
I moved here in 2009. My wife, Ketakii and I left Melbourne with our daughter Lalita, who was 8 months old at the time, to travel the country in a van. I love the community and the spirit of the place; Maleny is pretty magical. I have always felt welcomed here since the first moment I arrived.
Q: Tell us a little about your musical journey – how would you describe your musical creativity and how long have you been playing for?
I come from quite a musical family. My mother is a jazz singer and my dad is a guitarist and guitar teacher. I have been playing since I was a teenager; I started earlier on, but didn’t really engage properly until I was 15.
My musical creativity stems from deep within; it is something that is always there under the surface bubbling away.
Q: Where do you draw your inspiration for your music from?
I am influenced by life and all that I am surrounded by. My main inspiration has always been my African roots and the connection to my homeland. These have coloured my view of the world and enabled me to see, know and communicate things others may not.
Q: What are some of your musical career highlights?
Highlights of my musical journey would have to include playing at Woodford Folk Festival over NYE with a full band and dancers. The vibe was electric and we brought the house down. Another notable highlight is winning a Qld Music award for a song I wrote – that was a great feeling. Recording my songs and having them ripple out into the world and affect people is always very special.
Q: Tell us a little more about your latest studio album – why did you want to release it and what do you hope to share/communicate with others from it?
My latest studio album is my third and possibly my best. It is the accumulation of so many years of dedication to my craft and is something I am very proud of. I hope the songs touch people’s hearts and they find them ‘moving and a grooving’…
I wish to share my African heritage through these songs.
Q: Where can you access your new album from and what local/noteworthy gigs do you have coming up if people want to see you live?
The album, titled Better, is available on my website to purchase as a USB (this includes bonus live tracks) and on Bandcamp. This is due to the lack of artist support from streaming platforms such as Spotify etc. It really makes a difference to independent artists if their music is direct to consumer. https://haydenhack.com/merch/usb
https://haydenhack.bandcamp.com/album/better
