Hayden (musician)

Infobox musical artist
Name = Hayden

---

Img_capt = Hayden performing at the Cedar Culture Center in Minneapolis, October 2004. Wayne Petti of Cuff the Duke is in the background
Background = solo_singer
Birth_name = Paul Hayden Desser
Alias = Hayden Desser
Born = birth date and age|1971|02|12
Died =
Origin = Thornhill, Ontario, Canada
Instrument = vocals
guitar
piano
harmonica
Mellotron
Genre = Indie folk
Acoustic rock
Alt country
Folk rock
Occupation = Singer-songwriter
record label owner
Years_active = 1994 – present
Label = Hardwood Records
Sonic Unyon
Associated_acts =
URL = [http://www.wasteyourdaysaway.com wasteyourdaysaway.com]

Paul Hayden Desser (born February 12, 1971 [ [http://www.billboard.com/bbcom/bio/index.jsp?pid=147927 Biography at Billboard.com, Retrieved: 26 December 2006] ] ) who records as Hayden, is a Canadian singer-songwriter from Thornhill, Ontario [CBC Radio 3 Podcast #139, Chapter 2] .

His early works are a largely eclectic mix of genres from grunge rock to alt country, as demonstrated by his first full album, "Everything I Long For", released in 1995. Since then his work has become progressively quieter and more mature. His latest release, 2008's "In Field & Town", is almost exclusively slow, acoustic, and more refined.

Hayden received a B.A.A. in Radio and Television Arts from Ryerson Polytechnical Institute (now Ryerson University) in 1993. His father is [http://www.sherwindesser.com Sherwin S. Desser] , a retired University of Toronto professor of parasitology and current visual artist.

History

In 1996, Hayden performed both nights of Neil Young's annual Bridge School Concert.

In 1998, Hayden toured North America with a full band in support of "The Closer I Get". After the release of "The Closer I Get", Hayden was inadvertently bought out from his contract with Universal Records for a large sum of money.fact|date=April 2007 Full details have never become public.

In 2001 (and with no label support), Hayden very quietly distributed 100 hand-written, packaged and numbered copies of "Skyscraper National Park" to friends and independent record shops throughout Toronto. This was quickly followed by an additional 1,500 hand-numbered copies (this time with professionally printed liner notes). These copies were primarily sold at live shows. The critical success of these two limited-edition runs led to a full, commercial release of the recording later that same year.

In 2004, Hayden released his long awaited follow up album, "Elk Lake Serenade", and toured North America with Oshawa's Cuff the Duke acting as his back-up band.

In 2006, Hayden contributed a t-shirt design to the [http://www.yellowbirdproject.com/hayden.html Yellow Bird Project] to raise money for the Acoustic Neuroma Association of Canada.

From 1-3 November, 2007, Hayden performed three small pre-European tour "warm-up" shows in Ontario and Quebec. [ [http://www.wasteyourdaysaway.com/tourdates.html Past Tour Dates, www.wasteyourdaysaway.com, 12 November 2007] ] They were the singer-songwriter's first official performances in three years.fact|date=November 2007

Hayden's most recent studio album, "In Field & Town", was released on 15 January, 2008. [ [http://www.wasteyourdaysaway.com/news.html News, www.wasteyourdaysaway.com, 12 November 2007] ]

Hardwood Records

In Canada, each of Desser's albums have been issued by Hardwood Records, a small music label he owns. Hardwood had only released Desser's albums from its inception in 1994 until 2005. Cuff the Duke released their second album on Hardwood in 2005, and Basia Bulat released her first full-length album on Hardwood in 2007.

Discography

LPs

*"In September" (Cassette) — Paul Records/Hardwood Records (1994)
*"Everything I Long For" — Hardwood/Universal Music Canada (1995)
*"The Closer I Get" — Hardwood/Universal Music Canada (12 May 1998 [ [http://www.billboard.com/bbcom/discography/index.jsp?pid=147927&aid=298713 Discography at Billboard.com, Retrieved: 25 December 2006] ] )
*"Skyscraper National Park" — Hardwood (16 October 2001 [ [http://www.wasteyourdaysaway.com/discography/albums.html#Skyscraper wasteyourdaysaway.com Retrieved: 25 December 2006] ] )
*"Live at Convocation Hall" — Hardwood/Universal (2002)
*"Elk-Lake Serenade" — Hardwood (2004)
*"In Field & Town" — Hardwood/Universal (15 January 2008 [ [http://www.wasteyourdaysaway.com/discography.html wasteyourdaysaway.com Retrieved: 16 December 2007] ] )

EPs and singles

*"Mild and Hazy" (7") — Hardwood/Lunamoth (1996)
*"Lunar Landing Confirmed" (7" split with Poledo) — Squirtgun Records (1996)
*"Moving Careful" (EP) — Sonic Unyon/Hardwood (1996)
*"Carry On Mentality" (7") — Landspeed Records (1997)

Notes

External links

* [http://www.wasteyourdaysaway.com/ Waste Your Days Away] − Official Hayden website.
* [http://www.hardwoodrecords.com/ Hardwood Records] − Official Hardwood Records website.
* [http://www.sherwindesser.com/ Sherwin S. Desser] − Hayden's father and artist.
*" [http://www.cbcradio3.com/issues/2005_01_28/index.cfm?page=38 On His Sleeve: Hayden's Quiet Confessionals] " CBC Radio 3 Session
* [http://www.answers.com/topic/hayden-musician Hayden at answers.com]