Thank you for talking with us! How was the last year for you? What were your highlights?
This past year was exciting for me because I finally got to start releasing all the new music I've been creating with my producer, Derek George. Derek and I started writing together in 2017 and released our first single under his label, Stepside Records, in September of 2019. It was a long few years of writing and recording! We released three singles and watched them grow like crazy. The last single, Somewhere Drinking, even ended up on the New Boots playlist on Spotify. I got to play a full band showcase in Nashville to celebrate, perform Relit Cigarette on Phil Vassar's new TV show "Songs From the Cellar" and the music video for Relit Cigarette was featured on the homepage of CMT!
What’s the story behind your album’s title? The title of my upcoming album is "You Heard Right," and we are hoping to release it later this year! The title comes from the first song I ever wrote with my producer, Derek George, back in 2017. It's one of my favorites. Derek and I have been writing and working together for almost three years. Since this is the first full project we are releasing together, I thought it was fitting to title it after the first song we ever wrote.
How was it filming the video for "Relit Cigarette?"I filmed the music video for Relit Cigarette with my good friend, Zack Dyer. Zack is an amazing singer/songwriter who just signed with Warner/Chappell this year and has also been directing music videos around Nashville. After I came up with the video concept (with help from Nina Dozzi) I went to rent a space online to shoot the performance scenes. When I saw the cottage with a stand alone bathtub, I immediately knew I wanted to incorporate it into the video. We filmed all the acting scenes at Melrose Billiards with my friend Jordan Dozzi. The project was just SO much fun because I got to work with my friends.
Where did you grow up and how has that influenced your style of music? I grew up in Herndon, Virginia, about 35 minutes from Washington D.C. I was in love with country music at a young age and it's all I listened to growing up! A lot of my influence comes from my mom's side of the family. She grew up on a farm in southern Pennsylvania and it was my favorite place in the world. My grandpap used to love country music and I always joked that I belonged up there on the farm. The first song I ever recorded in high school was called "Feels Like Home," inspired by my mom's hometown.
Aside from singing do you play any instruments? The first instrument I learned was piano when I was about 8 years old. My mom played piano for a long time and we would play together when I was growing up. I decided to start learning guitar when I was 14 because I wanted to write songs! Guitar is my main instrument but I still love working out songs on the piano when I'm back home at my parents’ house.
What is your favorite dish to cook? Although I only know how to make a few simple dishes, I try to eat at home a lot. I really enjoy having my friends over and making my spaghetti with meat sauce. Super simple... you only need a few ingredients but it's always a hit with everyone! My mom's side of the family is Italian so I grew up with grandparents who were always cooking fresh Italian food.
What is your favorite wine? I'm 100% a cabernet girl. I love red wine and usually drink a glass before bed every night. One of my favorite parts of traveling to Europe was trying wines from different regions!
What is your favorite breakfast? I'm a HUGE Kodiak Cakes fan. I got to a point where I was making Kodiak Cake pancakes every morning for breakfast, and my obsession got even worse when they started making pancakes in a CUP. I can now take them on the go!
What is the best dish you've ever had? I was lucky enough to go to Barcelona last summer and eat paella over there. If you don't know what that is, it's a Spanish seafood and rice dish! I'm a huge seafood lover and unfortunately there’s not a lot of fresh seafood in Tennessee.
Let's Talk Nashville-
What's your favorite place to eat in Nashville? Nama! Best sushi in Nashville. It’s half off on Mondays!
Breakfast: Pfunky Griddle
Lunch: Taco Mamacita
Dinner : Adele's
Place to get BBQ? Edley's BBQ
Nashville Hidden Restaurant Gem- Once Upon a Time in France
Best place to relax with a beer and listen to music: Scoreboard Bar & Grill
Can you remember your first trip to Nashville? I was 19 when I took my first trip to Nashville. I had wanted to visit for as long as I can remember, and my parents finally took me on my college Thanksgiving break. We actually spent Thanksgiving in Nashville and ate dinner at Cracker Barrel because it was one of the only places open! I remember walking down Broadway for the first time and hearing music coming out of every bar. I fell so in love with Nashville and knew I wanted to move there right after college graduation.
Finally, what do you do on a day off in Nashville, no work allowed? I love to bike! My favorite spot is at Percy Priest Lake out by the airport. It's so beautiful and they have a great biking/walking trail.
About Lexie Hayden:
Drawing inspiration from all corners of country music, ranging from royalty like Dolly Parton and The Dixie Chicks, to younger trailblazers such as Maren Morris, Kacey Musgraves, and Brothers Osborne, Virginia-born singer-songwriter Lexie Hayden has always sought to tap one particular attribute that these influences embody to her: honesty. Hayden’s debut EP, The Drive, immediately drew critical acclaim from outlets such as Whiskey Riff and The Bobby Bones Show for its lyrical story-telling and diversity. Two years later, Hayden is set to release her follow-up EP co-written and produced by co-writer Derek George (Randy Houser, Chase Bryant, Joe Nichols) and Engineer/Producer Julian King (Tim McGraw, Faith Hill, Chris Young). The three singles released off the EP gained traction on Spotify and were showcased on various playlists, including "New Music Nashville," "Fresh Finds," and "New Boots.". The music video for the second single,"Relit Cigarette," grabbed the attention of CMT and premiered on their homepage a week after release. To keep up with Lexie Hayden, visit LexieHayden.com and follow her on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook.