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PODCAST

First Spin

Hey, I’m Hayden Thomas—musician, lifelong music fan, and the guy who still makes mixtapes for road trips.First Spin is my weekly interview show where I sit down with emerging artists who I genuinely believe are doing something special. You might not know their names yet, but if you’re anything like me, you’ll want to change that.This show isn’t about hype. It’s about real conversations—about the first gigs, the late-night doubts, the sound that finally clicks. It’s a space for new voices to tell

music music interviews

All Episodes

39:40

Gursday: slow pitch softball, Bogeyland, and the...

First Spin ·

2025/12/01

Hayden interviews Danny and Jesse from the Long Island band Gursday about their origins, creative process, and lives outside of music. The conversation opens with the story behind the unusual band name, which started as an inside joke and became a deliberate choice to stand out in search results and avoid getting lost in the algorithm. They talk about their recent LP Bogeyland, how its title and visual aesthetic were inspired by an old film. Danny explains how most songs on the album began as...

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42:20

Louis Metric on song titles, mountaineering, and the...

First Spin ·

2025/11/17

LA singer-songwriter-producer Louis Metric drops in for a freewheeling, funny, and thoughtful convo about art, algorithms, and why brunch might be the enemy of your creative goals. We dig into why his breakout single “Take It Slow” came together in two days while other tracks marinate for months. He talks process like a builder: looping simple chords, chasing a feeling before theory, then sending mixes out when the DIY line gets too fuzzy. Louis unpacks the not-so-secret logic behind running ...

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45:01

Tennis Courts debut brand new single and vow to never...

First Spin ·

2025/11/10

This week on First Spin, Hayden is joined by Patrick and Andrew of Tennis Courts, an indie rock band born in the house-show scene of Charleston and now based in New York. The conversation traces the band’s roots back to college: chance friendships, practice spaces behind refrigerators, and the kind of chaotic “let’s just try it” energy that ended up defining how Tennis Courts works to this day. They talk about what it means to grow with a band rather than around it—navigating lineup changes, ...

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41:38

Penny Beverly on Netflix, dating in LA, and the...

First Spin ·

2025/11/03

Penny Beverly recently landed a song in Netflix’s “Black Rabbit” (starring Jude Law & Jason Bateman). Lead singer Duncan MacEachern explains the sync path and how things were quiet during the strikes, but the recent placement suddenly multiplied the bands exposure significantly. Duncan digs into DIY marketing: the TikTok push around the placement, the creative team behind their visuals and the “Act Natural” cover concept—leaning into the awkwardness of “acting natural” for social me...

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41:08

The Penske File on the challenges of touring in the USA

First Spin ·

2025/10/27

This week on First Spin, Hayden sits down with Travis Miles—vocalist/guitarist for Ontario’s long-running punk trio The Penske File—for a conversation that’s equal parts road-tested wisdom and wide-eyed love of making loud, honest songs with your best friends. Travis pulls back the curtain on why U.S. touring has become so tough for small Canadian bands and contrasts it with the radically different reality in Germany-- where indie venue culture, artist hospitality, and tight-knit communities ...

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40:36

The Dead & Down’s Taylor Burlage on Montana and using...

First Spin ·

2025/10/20

In this week’s episode of First Spin, Hayden sits down with Taylor Burlage, founding member, lead singer, and guitarist of The Dead and Down, a Montana-based band that’s carving out a distinctive space in the indie and rock scenes. Hayden first discovered the band at Zootown Festival in Missoula over the Fourth of July weekend, where their rain-soaked set left a lasting impression. That performance sparked the conversation you’ll hear today, covering not only the band’s evolution but also the...

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52:40

Dylan Flynn on dead poets, co-writing, and SXSW

First Spin ·

2025/10/13

On this episode of First Spin, Hayden sits down with Irish artist Dylan Flynn, frontman of Dylan Flynn & The Dead Poets. From the band’s beginnings in Limerick to building a passionate following at home and abroad, Dylan shares how the group has carved out its own space with heartfelt songwriting and a modern twist on classic rock influences. The conversation touches on the challenges and rewards of being an independent artist, the role of social media in today’s music industry, and the e...

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35:22

RYLY on creative droughts, genuine fans, and the...

First Spin ·

2025/10/06

On this episode of First Spin, I sit down with Nashville-based artist Riley Smith (RYLY) to talk about the journey from Atlanta to Music City, shaping a sound that blends arena-ready indie pop/rock with songwriter roots, and what it takes to build momentum as an independent artist. We dig into writing from piano or acoustic guitar first, then “dressing up” songs in the studio, translating big arrangements to the stage (solo and with a band), and navigating the push-pull of social media while ...

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54:37

Taylor Lansdale on Appalachia, ignoring internet...

First Spin ·

2025/09/29

On this episode of First Spin, I sit down with Taylor Lansdale, a Kentucky-born singer-songwriter whose heartfelt Americana sound is beginning to turn heads. Taylor talks us through his relatively new path into music, finding his voice in open mics, and slowly carving out a place for himself in Lexington’s growing music scene. We dive into the making of his debut album Headlong and his brand-new three-song release Dance With You, exploring how these projects reflect different seasons of his l...

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47:26

Jack Sanders on the highs and lows of going viral,...

First Spin ·

2025/09/22

In this episode of First Spin, Hayden talks with Jack Sanders, a Springfield, Missouri–based singer-songwriter whose heartfelt country-Americana sound blends guitar-driven roots with lyrical storytelling. Jack shares how he didn’t even pick up a guitar until age 19, but quickly became obsessed—practicing for six hours a day and teaching himself via YouTube. Over time, he developed both his guitar chops and his singing voice, drawing early inspiration from Tracy Chapman’s “Fast Car” and John M...

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40:54

Addisyn Logan on moving back home, hiding music from...

First Spin ·

2025/09/15

In this episode of First Spin, Hayden sits down with Addisyn Logan, a rising singer-songwriter from Buffalo, New York. With only two songs released so far—“I Can’t Beg” and “I Hate Your Guts”—Addisyn has already built a buzz for her raw, confessional lyrics and indie-pop sound. She opens up about her musical journey, from growing up as a competitive dancer and secretly performing Paramore songs in her living room, to rediscovering herself during the pandemic. Moving back to her childhood home...

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46:16

Ryan Taylor Price on Community, the History of Rock n...

First Spin ·

2025/09/08

On this episode of First Spin, Hayden welcomes Ryan Taylor Price, a rising indie-folk artist whose debut album The Axe & The Tree marks him as a songwriter to watch. Blending lyrical honesty with lush, cinematic arrangements, Ryan’s music feels both intimate and expansive—like a diary entry set against a widescreen backdrop. Ryan shares the story behind The Axe & The Tree, exploring the personal experiences and emotional landscapes that shaped its songs. He reflects on the role of sto...

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43:05

Charlie & Margot: Matteo DeBenedetti on Mental...

First Spin ·

2025/09/01

On this episode of First Spin, Hayden sits down with Matteo DeBenedetti, the songwriter behind Charlie & Margot—and, as of recently, the new drummer for Flycatcher. Matteo discusses the new Flycatcher release and talks about how he transitioned from filling in on tours to officially joining the band. The conversation quickly pivots to Charlie & Margot, Matteo’s solo vehicle where he writes, records, and produces from his home studio. Matteo retraces the project’s arc from 2023’s Joyri...

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29:13

Magenta Wave on Seattle Rock, Living with Bandmates,...

First Spin ·

2025/08/25

This week I sat down with Nathaniel McCurley, bassist for Seattle’s own Magenta Wave. We talked about what it’s like to live in a house with your entire band, how much distortion is too much before you stop calling it indie, and why their track “Why Am I In Love With You” caught fire. Nathaniel shared the story behind their move from Bellingham to Seattle, the lessons learned from producing their early songs with friends, and what it’s like to build momentum in a city stacked with serious mus...

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45:40

Leisure Hour’s Raegan Gordon on DIY roots, safe...

First Spin ·

2025/08/18

This week I sat down with Raegan Gordon—drummer, vocalist, and songwriter for Leisure Hour, a band that grew out of Muncie’s DIY basements and is now grinding through a coast-to-coast run. We talked about growing up in a 50k college town, how that community shaped their ear, and what it took to turn a one-night fill-in into a permanent spot and a voice on “Ode to Muncie.” Raegan walked me through the Richmond breakdown that ate a week, the night they refused to play when a venue wouldn’t prot...

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48:32

All the Wine: Farewell Currents, Empire Builder, and...

First Spin ·

2025/08/11

This week I finally got to sit down with the whole lineup of All the Wine—Danny, Mike, and Wes. Their debut LP Farewell Currents came out last July, and it’s been living rent-free in my top albums list ever since. We talk about how they made it work with one member living four hours away, the story behind Empire Builder (one of my favorite songs, period), and the inspiration for 97 Astro. We get into album art, growing up in the suburbs, and why they’ll always sneak a cover or two into a setl...

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48:17

Borrowed Sparks: Mike Bay on Grief, Faith, and...

First Spin ·

2025/08/04

This week I got to talk with Mike Bay of Borrowed Sparks, someone whose music I’ve loved for years. We talked about his move to Nashville—how one Springsteen concert, a job lead, and a surprise lease ending all lined up—and how that kicked off a journey he didn’t totally expect but clearly needed. Mike opened up about growing up in the Midwest, playing in church bands, and how songwriting has always been his way of processing life—even when he didn’t know that’s what he was doing. We also tal...

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23:08

Andrew Patrick of The Carolyn: On DIY Punk, Orgcore &...

First Spin ·

2025/07/28

Andrew Patrick from The Carolyn jumped on the mic with me this week, and we got into a really honest, really funny conversation about what it takes to keep a band going when you’ve also got a day job, a life, and a limited supply of vacation days. We talked about the band’s new single and upcoming album (which they announced literally right after we recorded), how they’ve never really followed the typical release playbook, and what it’s like trying to stay visible online without feeling like ...

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29:54

Flycatcher

First Spin ·

2025/07/21

This week I got to talk with Justin VanNiekerk, guitarist for Flycatcher, a band out of New Jersey that’s been quietly building one of the most interesting sounds I’ve heard in a while. We talked about how Flycatcher came together, how the sound’s grown up without losing its edge, and what it means to actually find your own thing in a world full of noise. Justin listens to music like someone who really cares—and you can hear that in the way he plays. Nothing feels accidental. Every track feel...

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36:59

Madison Hughes

First Spin ·

2025/06/30

This week I sat down with Madison Hughes, a wildly talented artist and singer based out of Nashville, TN. From the moment we started talking, it was clear just how much she loves songs—all kinds of songs—and how deeply different genres have shaped who she is as a musician. We dove into her latest album, All That I Am, which dropped in April, and explored what it means to make music that’s true to who you are. Madison was refreshingly open about the ups and downs of being an artist, honest abo...

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23 results

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