When Rome, Georgia native Christian Hayes emerged onto the music scene this year with the release of "Leaving,” “LILY” (an acronym for “last I love you”) and “Cheyenne,” he gained instant recognition with Holler declaring him among their list of “Country and Americana Artists You Need To Know” and Nashville Briefing naming him an “Artist To Watch.” Now, Hayes arrives on Capitol Records with his debut EP, Last I Love You,encompassing those three songs along with newly released “Black Gold” and “My Memory.”
Listen to Last I Love You HERE.
The record casts a wide net, bouncing between campfire ballads, cinematic soundscapes and raw, rowdy barn-burners. At the center of that sound is Hayes himself: a wise-beyond-his-years musician who knows he can't move forward without taking a look at his past.
"This record is about who I used to be, and it sets the stage for who I'm going to be. It's the last 'I love you' to my old self,” Hayes shares. “I have skeletons in my closet, just like everyone else, and I want people to hear the authenticity in these songs. I'm not hiding anything."
Fusing Americana with cinematic folk, Last I Love You was produced by Lukas Bracewell and is an autobiographical introduction of Hayes’ journey to Music Row, beginning with “Black Gold,” which chronicles a two year stint in which he worked for his now ex girlfriend’s father selling oil and gas. Often clocking in 14-16 hour days – sometimes seven days a week, with very little pay – the period that “Black Gold” recalls was a formative one in Hayes’ life.
“I often struggled with self-love, so I sought that in other places,” Hayes recalls. “This EP highlights my journey in overcoming that discontentment and learning how to love myself. A lot of these lessons are highlighted, in the track ‘Black Gold,’ which is a true story that narrates my journey selling fuel which led me to the self-realization that the relationship and the job that I had were taking more than they were giving.”
“Black Gold” will be added to rotation on SiriusXM’s The Highway this weekend timed to its release.
Released in February 2024, "Leaving" was Hayes' debut single, an up-tempo song about making dumb mistakes and running away from problems. “LILY” followed in April. Its poignant evocation of the reluctant end of a relationship – along with the instant-classic refrain “I guess this is my last I love you” – struck a chord with listeners, who turned it into a viral hit, quickly sending combined global streams past the three million mark. Hayes released “Cheyenne,” an expressive, melodic journey through self-discovery and heartbreak, in July.
"People have told me about how much 'LILY' has helped them," Hayes explains. "It makes them feel like they're not alone. With three million streams and counting, the song reminds me that I'm not alone, either. It's brought a sense of togetherness to me and my audience, and maybe it's healed me more than it's healed anyone else."
To coincide with the EP release, Hayes is unveiling his first official music video today for “LILY.” Starting in a bedroom setting, illuminated by moonlight, and evolving into a new bedroom as the song progresses, the video symbolizes the journey of moving on from a past relationship, anchored by Christian’s raw performance.
The EP is capped with the reflective track “My Memory.” Evoking nostalgia for the home he grew up in, “My Memory” poetically recalls Hayes’ time spent on the front porch and its lasting impact on his life. The spot where he honed his craft and wrote the more than 900 songs he has in his journal, his front porch is also where he bonded with his father and matured beyond the defiant ways of his childhood.
Genuine and articulate, Hayes comes from a long line of storytellers that includes his Grandpa Jack – a poet by profession – who gave Christian his first journal. Born and raised in the foothills of Appalachia, Hayes began playing guitar at age eight. After high school, he enlisted in the U.S. Navy Reserve and attended the University of Alabama.
Hayes recently signed with Capitol Records, as well as with William Morris Endeavor (WME) for booking, Universal Music Publishing Group (UMPG) for publishing, Wildrose Projects for management and Flood Bumstead McCready & McCarthy (FBMM) for business management.
All songs on Last I Love You are self-penned except for “Black Gold,” which Hayes co-wrote with Jonathan Hutcherson.
Christian Hayes – Upcoming Tour Dates
Sept. 21 – AMERICANAFEST Showcase @ City Winery - Nashville, TN
Oct. 26 - River South Festival - Bainbridge, GA
Oct. 29 - Eddie's Attic - Atlanta, GA
ABOUT CHRISTIAN HAYES
Raised in the Appalachian foothills of northern Georgia, Christian Hayes grew up surrounded by southern storytelling. His grandfather — a poet by profession — encouraged him to begin writing in a journal at 7 years old, sparking a habit that would eventually take Hayes to Nashville. A veteran of the US Navy Reserve, Hayes began applying the discipline of his military training to his work as a songwriter, amassing more than 900 original songs by his mid-twenties. Five of those songs appear on Last I Love You, his debut for Capitol Records available now. Produced by Lukas Bracewell and steeped in Hayes' unique version of American roots music, Last I Love You features the viral single "LILY" (which racked up more than 3 million streams before the EP's official release), the anthemic "Black Gold," and a mix of effortless melodies, cinematic folk and rowdy, barn-burning Americana.
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