Hayden hmm...right

m so , the video was made before you got in touch- because, I know you have a film background from your bio, did you already have the clip prepared?

H yeah, I did it in Canada about a year ago.

M so it was before OUTPOST?

H right, yeah it was before

M so, how did that-let's talk about that for a minute, how did that come to be? 'cos I know you're the first signing to this new division, so they heard of you because of your success in Canada and they approached you...or?

H actually Skinny (his manager) found out that Mark Williams, one of the guys, was starting a new label and we got my cd to him, then from that we met the other two guys, we spent some times with them and decided.

M so, does the record look pretty much the same as the independent, and that was on HARDWOOD?

H yes, it's basically the same.

M is it (hardwood) your label?

H yeah Hardwood is my label, it was distributed in Canada by a label called Sonic Onion, and they are sort of half the label, They distributed them across the country they are like the best kind of indie label in Canada, right now they are really good.

M great, I never have heard of them,

H well, you probably will soon

m great, well thanks to you, I'm sure in part.

H yeah, well there is a band called Treble Charger, that is coming out on RCA here, who are really good, you will really like them I think

m on Outpost?

H no, no they are a Sonic Onion band now on RCA.

M cool, they need some good bands. So, how hard was it was it to go from HARDWOOD thing, to get it all, like did you have to go back start all over with Outpost, or had they pretty much followed you all the while and kinda, or was there a lot of catching up? (Verbatim)

H meaning like??? (he was confused too)

m meaning like, they had to take and make it an Outpost product, from the day you said, "okay, it's going to be on Outpost",and when it hit the stores. How long was that?

H it was like three months I think

m so, it was pretty quick then?

H yeah, it was real quick, everything was there.

M all they had to do was add their little label and...

H yeah, basically, I did a few tiny changes, but it's basically the same thin, and the reason why I did that was, uh I released it the way it was in Canada a year and a half ago for a reason, right? That's what made sense at the time so, ...

M and it worked, obviously...

H yeah, I guess so, you know, I know some people...

M well, it must have or we wouldn't be here.

H well right, right but, I know some people don't love the album cover and stuff, but I always did and uh...

M is this you and your dad?

H no, it's my brother and my dad.

M it's your brother and your dad, with the red hair, 'cos I was like where did that red hair go?

H yeah, my brother.

M yeah,it's cool, I like p.o.p.(point of purchase), how they left the 1/10 in there. That is real cool, it works, I think it totally works...(this in reference to cover photo)

H cool...

M okay, so what's the latest cd you bought, and what do you listen to? And why do you do this, what makes you, what kind of groups inspire you?

H oh, I like a lot of stuff, you know umm...

M especially the folk with the whole FOLK thing(his music was is endlessly compared to folk)

H yeah and that is something that I don't listen to at all, I don't really listen to folk, I don't really have anything against it, I just haven't gotten into anything that's like really classic folk music...

M well, none is really making it anymore, that you hear about...

H yeah, I guess note even like the older stuff, I'm like aware of but, um I mean I am a big, kinda like how you say, you know the indie-rock-type, kind of music lover, you know Sonic Youth and Sebadoh? An uh..

M great! What's your favorite unsigned band right not, 'cos there are a zillion here, and we have all got our favorites, but in your scene, where you hang out, what is going on?

H there is a band called POLEDO, there is a band called Hhead

M it's hh right?

H yeah, there are two h's

m then yeah I have heard of them.

H they have an album out on IRS but um...

M is it called caterpillar or something?

H jerk, I think is what it is called.

M jerk?

H but uh, oh god I always blank out, oh there is a band called the Radioblasters, who are really good, from Toronto. South Toronto is a really good scene too.

M I would like to visit there. Hey have you ever done a zine? Like this is for?

H like written a zine?

M yeah, this is for a zine

H no, no I have gotten a lot of them yeah, there are a lot of the in Ontario and Toronto, so I have seen them.

M yeah, it's the best way to communicate

H yeah, it's really neat

M glossy is neat, it's really great that you are in Spin and CMJ, you are in everything (even Details), but I am glad that you agreed to do little stuff too, 'cos you know you need to pay attention

H yeah, well this is often the better stuff to do.

M yeah this is the funnest for us too!...was your record release on vinyl?

H yeah

m is it clear or colored?

H no, it was supposed to be and then it was delayed and then it was really close and then it didn't happen again but, now in a couple of weeks it's coming out all over North America on a label called GENIUS.

M oh they are going to do the vinyl?

H yeah, yeah you know that label?

M yeah they pick up the rights to a lot of stuff

H yeah...

M they are smart, so like the Geffen was against it or Outpost, who do you talk to Geffen or Outpost or whose office?

H it's Outpost, Outpost, but none was against it or for it, I knew the people at Genius and I wanted them to do it...so..

M that's great it makes it so much easier when you have an in, and they know they are not going to fuck up your record...

H they do a good job because...

M I've never heard a complaint.

H ...they are really good with artwork and like making sure it looks good and stuff, so..

M what's the latest cd you bought? Back-up sorry...

H the latest cd I bought?

M we are so curious (we being him and I, I was sitting and listening) as to like, what's in your tape deck if we were to go into your new place?

H yeah, well I was only home for one day (laughs)and I listened to Pell Mell and I listened to a named JackDrag from Boston...

M cool...

H I played with him in Cambridge, he was really good, so I put his cd on 'cos I bought it or traded it when we played together and the Pell Mell, it's a neat record, it's a good record, so yeah it's just whatever you know?

M oh yeah, date of birth and sign, just for the topic of things

H February 12, the year too? Or no?

M 70?

H 71, and Aquarius, and I am a boar according to the Chinese

m the year of the boar

H yeah

m what do you look like when you go play the jukebox somewhere?

H jukeboxes usually have Neil Young records, so I usually play Neil Young

m you are into that?

H yeah...

M is anyone else in your family in the biz, or music, actors, models , anything?

H no, nothing like that...

M so this is your first step out into the limelight?

H yeah, well I was a very famous tap dancer when I was seven...

M oh, well let's hear about this.

H I am just joking (laughs)

m are you on-line? Do you have an e-mail address?

H yeah, but my friend Josh, from that band POLEDO, I was telling you about..he does it 'cos I don't own a computer.

M yeah me either, no address (this is no longer the case, http://www.oocities.org/WestHollywood/Heights/2498.)

H and there are certain aspects of the whole on-line thing that creeps me out a bit.

Hayden stops to discuss sound with the sound tech at Bottom Of THE HILL, conversation ensues on the topic of shoes and weather...

M so how long have you been on this particular tour? Like what is this? Show two show three?

H yeah, it's show two, I was at home for one day and I did four shows...

M where was your show last night?

H Ah, um shit Seattle last night.

M it was good, I was getting sick thought, bit it was good, we played at the caterpillar?

M and whom did you play with?

H there was this guy named Damian-oh wait, it was the Crocodile Café, (what is it with caterpillars?) A guy named Damian something? Gerado...Damian Gerado, he's got an album coming out on Soap Balm(bomb?) Records in a couple of weeks...

M right on...

H he was good though

m what's the best show you have ever played, 'cos I know you have been touring?

H yeah, well, a fun one we just played Irvine Plaza with Guided By Voices.

M WOW!!!

H it was like four or five days ago...(rambling goes on for a while about Kim Deal, the amps, Guided by Voices, discussion at length, and come up for air at....)

M are you going to cover anyone?

H um ......no

M like b -sides?

H yeah, well I have a 7"where I cover a Pixies song.

M what song?

H Gouge Away

m how do I get my hands on that?, is it hard to get?

H yeah, it's hard to get, it was released on a Canadian label called LUNA MOTH, we finished the run, so I don't know what's happening with that///

m yeah, I would love to get that...

H yeah, that's a wicked song...

M what's the next single? You know this one's just coming out and maybe it will get picked up more, it's a great clip, I love it, I have it taped...

H oh you do?

M yeah 120 minutes, I tape it on Sunday nights, so I see what it is new, and then I heard Hayden and went- oh, this is who I am going to interview, so I was really excited when I started, I was like, this is good, most of the videos are shit on Alternative Nation, so how are you here?

H one night....

M so do you leave tomorrow morning?

H yeah, leave tomorrow at 9...

M so when do you come back a round?

H I don't know when I am coming back, but hopefully at the end of the summer.

M so the next single, decided, or not decided?

H no, there might not be another single.

M what are there a zillion songs on the album? I don't get it?

H well, it's just like, well I don't know anything for sure or anything, I want to release a new album like sooner than that

m yeah, that first album takes forever...

H yeah, sooner that the next single for this album, so maybe by the time...

M what about like 'skate'

H nah, see now I don't think anything like that could work, cuz it's like 7 ½ minutes long...

M they could circumcise it or something

H and I can't cut it up...

M you can't

H I can't 'cos it's like a story being told and if I took like a chorus out it would not make any sense, yeah that's the weird thing about all my songs, I can't edit them...