SPEAKER_15 0:00

It's Sunday night and Froggy Valley 100.1 is spotlighting the best local, regional, and national up-and-coming recording artists. This is Soundcheck with Chase and Minnie Hopper on WFBY 11 in Hershey, Harrisburg, Froggy Valley 100.1.

SPEAKER_16 0:20

And a hoppy Sunday evening, Froggy Valley. Welcome to Soundcheck. I am Chase.

SPEAKER_09 0:25

Hey y'all, I'm Minnie.

SPEAKER_16 0:27

Always bringing you closer to our local, regional, and national up-and-coming country musicians. I mean, I'm not partial, but it's such a dang good show. Tell your friends, tell your family.

SPEAKER_09 0:37

It really is. And we bring the concert right to your living room on a Sunday night.

SPEAKER_16 0:41

This week we are pretty excited to have our next musician in studio. He is from Chambersburg. He was up for Best Mailed Country Artist at the 2025 CPMA Awards. One thing I love about our next guest, his voice is so unique here in Central PA, and it is truly amazing to hear his music.

SPEAKER_09 0:58

This week we will talk with Willoughby Hayes and Cody in studio. We are going to dive into his story here soon. Kick back, relax, grab some refreshments, and kick it off with his music. Here is Drinking and Driving from Willoughby Hayes on Soundcheck on Froggy Valley 100.1 and the My Froggy Valley app, powered by Radio Novo.

SPEAKER_07 1:19

Junk driving home on a back road. And you're getting tired of my talking with all sudden Drinking Seen less than me. But what's too good a friend to I see? Although you're no one leaving, baby, I've been drinking and driving, drinking and driving. You away no rule that you wanna go down there, easy way out. Do you roll and out before I break? Oh baby, I've been drinking and driving, drinking and driving. You away, waiting along into the truth. Ain't no more you can do, but delay me in the wreck I've made out of the rope, you'll come back to me as water under the bridge. But the water keeps driving with everything that you had to give And I can't keep from going under cuz I've been drinking and driving, drinking and driving, you away, and there ain't no road that you wanna go down in the wheezing way out. No rolling out before I break. Oh baby, I've been drinking and driving, drinking and driving. You away with it belonging to the truth. I don't know what you can do. Look at the baby and the red I make. Drinking and driving You away, it ain't no road that you wanna go down. There's no easy way out. So you're rolling out before I break. Oh baby, I've been drinking and driving, drinking and driving. You away were any longer to the heart. Ain't no more you can do, but leave me or a campaign. Oh baby, I've been drinking and driving, drinking and driving. Oh baby, I've been drinking and driving. Drink it and drive it.

SPEAKER_16 4:51

That was Willie B. Hayes with Drinking and Driving, kicking off soundcheck with Chase and Minnie here on Froggy Valley 100.1. And of course, you can stream us anywhere here in the good old US of A at the My Froggy Valley app. It's all powered by Radio Novo. In studio, we gotta welcome him here. He also has a guest. We'll get to his guest here shortly. Will it be Hayes in studio? Thank you so much for joining us here, Willie. Absolutely. Thanks for having me on. Before we start, you gotta talk about the gentleman that's to the right of you here.

SPEAKER_02 5:18

My good friend Cody Will. We actually uh have known each other probably tandemly through like probably a year and a half or something like that. But yeah, yeah. Great guitarist and great singer.

SPEAKER_16 5:27

Well, Cody, welcome to the Sound Check with Chase and Minnie as well, man.

SPEAKER_08 5:30

Hey, thanks, guys. Glad to be here.

SPEAKER_16 5:32

Yeah, it's good to have you aboard. You're also part of a former band playing here in Central VH.

SPEAKER_08 5:36

Uh yeah, uh Cold Spring Union. Uh Harrisburg and Hershey bass band for about the last seven years.

SPEAKER_16 5:42

It's good to have you guys both in studio here on a Sunday night. Been waiting a long time for this one to happen here in studio, playing your incredible music. Of course, I gotta ask you, what would you actually be doing here on normal Sunday evening, Willoughby, if you weren't joining us here on the soundtrack with Jason Mini?

SPEAKER_02 5:58

Sunday evening is I think we buy Chinese food instead of the TV. You should have brought some of that with, man.

SPEAKER_16 6:07

We could have jumped on that here on this Sunday night. Uh now let's talk about and start off with your background and and how this music career began for you.

SPEAKER_02 6:15

Um I've been playing guitar since I was fifteen. I kind of started as a um almost competition with a good friend of mine who adjusted a guitar as well. And so like we kind of just did everything together, so he was like, You should learn guitar, and I was like, I'll do it, of course. So we did that, and then uh I had a folk band with my brother for probably six or seven years, and then moved on to another band called uh White Church Road where I did a country uh country song for like two years and then uh kind of branched out on my own whenever White Church Road came to an end. So it's been uh fun ride. I feel like it's because we got a lot of great people along the way, and it's such a cool story to hear how you started your career.

SPEAKER_09 6:51

Describe the sound of country music for folks that are unfamiliar with your music.

SPEAKER_16 6:56

Um You always dump them with questions, man, right off the bat. You always do this.

SPEAKER_09 7:01

I know, but I'm so curious.

SPEAKER_02 7:02

It's a great question. Um I guess it's kind of a mixture of a lot of um kind of more outlaw sounds, a lot of prompty tuning for those who know music, and then um more sad stories. I don't know why I gravitate toward more of the ballads and the breakups and the death and all that, but I kinda always have things as I was a kid. Like reading Edgar Allan Poe a lot as a teenager, just being one of those angsty emo kids.

SPEAKER_16 7:26

Now you referenced it a little bit ago too, Willoughby. You were in a band called White Church Road, more of a 90s-style country band. We referenced this when I had you on the podcast a couple of weeks back, a couple of months back now. Actually, it was w when we had you on. When was that moment that you actually realized you had a little bit more of the outlaw country in you in bluegrass?

SPEAKER_02 7:43

Pretty early on, I think even when I was writing for the band, it was just kind of always been more toward that that era of music, which is crazy. I don't think I actually listened to that much outlaw country in my personal life, but I really liked the sound, and so I kind of like I have a hard time listening to music that I like a lot, so I don't end up sounding derivative of the thing. So it's like how do you establish your voice from three or four songs? Um and so yeah, I just feel like I have always uh gravitated towards a darker sound, but uh the 90s was really, really fun to play. Like I think live in the 90s is probably my favorite to play live with a lot of kind of more mind-wind styling.

SPEAKER_16 8:23

So, no, no, let's bring Cody in here to the story here of you two. We're sort of debuting the two of you here, maybe partnering in something a little bit bigger, you know, down the road here, maybe.

SPEAKER_08 8:33

Absolutely. Yeah. I mean, yeah, sure. Uh kind of cross paths, uh like we said earlier, like just kind of showing up at the same gigs and like kind of like, oh hey, like how's it going, you know, and kind of two ships in the night sort of thing. And honestly, I think uh what drew me in the most was just uh you know, we were friends on social media and I just started seeing him like posting like new songs, and I was like, wow, that's a that's a good that's a good song. That's a really good song. Like his voice was killing it, and like the lyrics were there, and I'm like, you know, who's he covered? Right, is like the right question. And then I like dig deeper and it's like, oh no, he's not covering this. Like this is his this is his music. So um, and I've always been uh one for that, like wanting to, you know, what can what can we create? I I love covering stuff. It's a it's a great way to uh breathe life into something old and like take it and make it your own thing, but it's really cool whenever you like actually pull something in from the ether too and just create something totally new to it.

SPEAKER_16 9:27

So this so this could down the road maybe be a Willoughby and Cody Duo, huh? Come up with a cool name and see what happens from there, right?

SPEAKER_02 9:34

Maybe. Um I think we talked about it I think just for uh now it's probably gonna be like we're creatively a band. I think we're five still gonna be under Willoughby A's. But yeah, I think that like um dynamically it's gonna be a Cody and Willoughby thing. So I think that yeah he has a lot of great ideas, great guitarists, like I said, great vocalists. So probably at our shows too, he'll be taking over some vocal um responsibilities as well. So really trying to have him on like I was talking with a friend the other day and I was like, not to sound arrogant, but I feel like it's a second me where I'm going like the trust I have in myself is the trust I have in him, or going like, okay, if I let go of the reins, he can take it and be completely fine. Um so I have always really respected his talent, even continuing the first time over at the uh Jambersburg Festival. So yeah, I was really happy that you reached out for it.

SPEAKER_08 10:24

I'm excited to do it too. I think it's it's also one of those things too where it's like you can you can hang out and be friends with people, but that doesn't mean that like just because you're a musician and I'm a music musician doesn't mean that we're going to necessarily care. Or that you're going to be able to create together. You know, it's kind of like uh like me and my fiance like cooking in the kitchen. Like you learn like where to be, where not to be, when you need help, when you absolutely should not be touching that. And for me, when I'm in the kitchen, I can't be anywhere in the kitchen with my wife.

SPEAKER_16 10:52

It's okay.

SPEAKER_08 10:53

It's it's it's you know, that's over the years, like you you meet so many musicians, whether it's like you know, sitting and do like session artist stuff or like hey, so-and-so needs a band for this gig. Uh, you know, we played with a lot of people in the area doing that, and uh it's always fun, but it's always it's uh extra special when you find that creativity together. And I think we've literally played together like twice before we came in to do this today. And like in that time we've already started to create. So um, and that I think is probably one of the coolest things is when you find that creative space with other people. Um that's that's the stuff where you're like, oh yeah, let's let's do some more of this.

SPEAKER_07 11:52

Don't you look back? Gross county lads, I know's out there, and it ain't worth your time. Small down guns if it travels like five. So maybe by tomorrow they don't know your mind, won't you run? Run away with me. Won't you run? Run away with me. We'll escape like this in the night feels wrong to leave home, but say to be a crap. Zip tried, driving us both crazy or apart. So let's see that our wages and adventures, won't you run? Run away with me. Won't you run? Run away with me. Do you make your mind? Daddy won't understand, and mama's gonna cry. We've got one chance to get on with our life. And no matter where we go, I want you by my side, won't you run? Run away with me. Run away with me won't you run away with me. Won't you run?

SPEAKER_15 14:44

Come on, eh? Never pay a cover to hear the best up in covers. It's Froggy Valley 100.1 Soundcheck with Chase and Minnie Hopper.

SPEAKER_05 14:52

Let's go on Froggy Valley 100.1 drink it all unless you break my heart in the bottle. It's almost gone. Shut for every time that you shut me down. Now you wanna know how I feel. Too bad, too late. I got nothing more than to give you now.

SPEAKER_07 15:37

So I don't need to know where you went, and I don't really care where you go. Come always, we left the phone or more tears to shit. We would finish from the very far. I don't need to hear your regret. And if you can you leave me alone. There ain't nothing left to say that I have to stay. I didn't take it all is there a light you're trying to solve me All those late at home the other birds in your mate Yeah you got some up Yeah you did your turn the very mean of this fee Then you can raise the death I won't let you get around the fate of the day you brought me free I don't need to know where you be And I don't really care where you go How did it do you'll be great you give me a home The rate of delivery But you can bore out everyone That was Willoughby Hayes on Soundcheck with Chase and Minnie here on Froggy Valley 100.1 and the My Froggy Valley app.

SPEAKER_09 18:34

We could not be happier to have Willoughby Hayes in the studio this week. When you first discovered your talent, what type of music were you drawn to, and what did you listen to as a kid?

SPEAKER_02 18:44

Uh as a kid we had a pretty historic regulation on what we could listen to. So a lot of it was more like contemporary Christian music, so it was a lot of like Jars of Clay and uh Jackie Velazquez, and so it was kind of more like adult style contemporary. Um I feel like that's where I kind of got my my songwriting from is just kind of what they were going through very different than what a 13-year-old's going through. So I feel like those are really like deep lyrics and about hard stuff, and so I kind of more gravitated toward okay, what actually makes you feel like you're going through life with a person. So yeah, I feel like that's kind of what I listen to a little bit a lot with, but I would also like to sneak metal as much as I possibly could. So even that and it was like fresh metal, like an under road.

SPEAKER_09 19:25

We will have more of the amazing Willoughby Hayes original music, and we will also talk to Willoughby Hayes about his successful 2025. It is all right around the corner. Keep it here to sound check with Jay's AI Mini on Froggy Valley 100.1 and the My Froggy Valley app powered by Radio Novo.

SPEAKER_03 19:43

We will be back with Soundcheck with Chase and Minnie on Froggy Valley 100.1 and the My Froggy Valley.

SPEAKER_13 20:09

How would you like to trade Central PA for the windy city to see the biggest star in music? Hey, it's Morgan Wallen. Froggy Valley 100.1 is gonna send you and a friend to see Morgan Wallen live in Chicago on June 19th. We're hooking you up with the ultimate flyaway, round trip airfare, hotel accommodations, and tickets to the show. To win, just listen for the daily winning word and then enter it on the My Froggy Valley app, powered by Radio Nobo to win. Your trip to Chicago is waiting on you from the station with the best in most country, Froggy Valley 100.1.

SPEAKER_01 20:44

America's 250th anniversary is just around the corner. And communities across Pennsylvania are coming together to honor our past and imagine our future. Here in Lebanon County, we're celebrating the stories, the heritage, and the people who make this community extraordinary. And this July 4th, we're hosting a once-in-a-generation celebration at the Lebanon Valley Expo Center. You can help make it unforgettable. Become a sponsor and support a full day of family fun, local pride, and history in the making. Learn more about sponsorship opportunities at LebanonPA250.com.

SPEAKER_07 22:26

That it ain't no way to save you from me. And with the baby only speed nothing that we can see. I will be my shame the only thing that's given me. All the hearts you broke the only one three. The devil's dreadly blow.

SPEAKER_16 25:47

It is Soundcheck with Chase and Minnie here on a Sunday night. Thanks for joining us here on Froggy Valley 100 Poy Wanna. And that My Froggy Valley app, which you can stream anywhere in the world. Just download it in either of those app stores. Just search My Froggy Valley. It's all powered by Radio Novo. You can stream us 24 hours a day, seven days a week. That was Willie B. Hayes with an acoustic version in studio of Drag You Below. We're joined by Willie B. Hayes in Studio. Also, now Cody's here as well, formerly of Cold Spring Union in Studio here on a Sunday night. What would you say is more enjoyable when you sit down and write the music? Is it being up on stage playing the music in front of a crowd? Which one do you think is is the most important?

SPEAKER_02 26:27

Um I almost feel like it's debating on whether like which wing of the plane is more important. I feel like if you're writing to I feel like if you're writing to yourself, it just becomes this thing of like you might think that what you're doing is great. I did that for a very long time, where I was just like, I'm just gonna write, and then if I like it, then I just kind of hold on to it. But I feel like the reward, um, like the the other side of it is if it's not gonna get in front of people, you can't really do it for a living. Um and so I think, yes, just for a career, I think both are important that you can fully be in whatever setting that you're in. So if you're writing, you're there to write, and you're not thinking about the crowd, you're thinking about like what do I like, what kind of lyrics actually articulate what I'm trying to say about the experience I'm having. Um, and then when you're on stage, you're communicating that idea well, and you're also kind of playing a bit to the audience as well, and that they're wanting to see something entertaining, and if you're just kind of like boring and just standing in place as I do, um dancing up there, Willie. No dancing yet. I uh had a coaching um last year, and one of the ladies was just like, You gotta move around a lot more. I'm like, okay.

SPEAKER_16 27:40

You gotta start making your own TikTok videos here soon. Now that Cody's on board, he can film them for you.

SPEAKER_08 27:45

Listen, I've never been able to sit still in my entire life. Uh so I have no problem with that.

SPEAKER_16 27:53

Now, one thing to piggyback on that too, and Cody, you can speak for this too, when you're on stage, you go to different places, you're you're playing at different bars, you're playing at different clubs, you're playing at different festivals, you always gotta adjust to the crowd. How much of a challenge is that to kind of adjust to that crowd that you're looking at right there and and and adjust to the sound, adjust to the music, adjust to what you're doing on stage?

SPEAKER_08 28:16

Um I mean, I do you always want to play to the room. Uh I think it's really easy to get caught up in everything that you're trying to accomplish uh in a set amount of time and forget why you're there. Right. Um and uh so very much uh we have we have to wear a lot of different hats. Like, you know, sometimes we're there to show our music and sometimes we're there to put butts in seats. Right. Uh so you kind of have to act accordingly. But uh I feel like it can definitely be challenging, like if you're trying to engage a room that is just not in that headspace. But on the flip side, I feel like the magic shows for me anyway, are the ones where you know uh you know you're reaching your audience and uh and that connection of like I'm actively feeling something and I'm putting it out there into the atmosphere, and you're also feeling that, and you're putting it out into the atmosphere, and I think those are the nights that you remember. So, and there's no issue with uh the hardest part about those nights is you know keeping it two or three hour show.

SPEAKER_16 29:18

So not going longer. Yeah, yeah.

SPEAKER_02 29:20

Um yeah, I feel like I get a lot out of winning a room, and I've been in several spaces where you can kind of tell just the moment you walk in, people are kind of close to what you're about to do or whatever. And so there's a uh part of me that really enjoys like watching kind of a breakthrough happening when you're you're playing on stage, and so I feel like I almost bring it harder, which probably is rewarding uh that kind of behavior. But I almost feel like I I bring it harder when I know the room's already going, like what's this guy here for? kind of thing. Yeah. So yeah, it's I think those shows are really fun. Uh, I feel like those are ones that definitely that stick out the most in my mind are um kind of the more closed rooms with a bunch of people who are a little disgruntled about life.

SPEAKER_16 30:05

So it's almost like going out of first date kind of break in the ice when you go to a show, right? Yep.

SPEAKER_15 30:11

Yeah, Fronti Valley 100.1 is bringing you the best local, regional, and national up-and-comers right to your radio every week. This is Soundcheck with Chase and Minnie Hopper Stay away from me, it's getting harder.

SPEAKER_07 30:45

The bump the brains, cause the breakup is smaller. But you keep showing up in my favorite part Girl at the small world I've had enough, but I feel like I'm being you're driving nuts, can't remember the reason you rings my blood brush your mouth and beat it me down all the day, the day, I'll do nothing, it's good, don't be on the beat, don't beat a marathon, we gotta call it a day, call it a day, call it a day, call it all, I know I'm gonna follow my face and roll it, okay, don't be the day, don't be the day, don't be the day, don't need a day, don't need to day the day, don't eat the day, don't need the day.

SPEAKER_04 34:10

Yeehaw! Get ready for it! Sound check with Chase and Minnie. It's Minnie's Hopping Good Time.

SPEAKER_13 34:21

We're asking your favorite stars three questions totally random every time.

SPEAKER_04 34:25

So get ready to jump on in for Minnie's Hopping Good Time on Froggy Valley 100.1.

SPEAKER_09 34:40

Alright, it is time for Minnie's Hoppin' Good Time, where we give our musicians three random questions and we'll see how y'all react. Question one, what is your favorite popcorn flavor?

SPEAKER_16 34:50

Wait a minute. You're gonna ask them if they're nervous at all? Like you normally do? Are you ready? I am ready.

SPEAKER_09 34:58

Alright, what is your favorite popcorn flavor?

SPEAKER_02 35:01

Termal by far. So that makes sense to what you guys got for us in your own. That's perfectly that word for handy. Carmel corn right there sitting next to you.

SPEAKER_08 35:10

I'm gonna have to go with cattle corn. Cattle corn is good too. If you want to change your mind, it's not too high.

SPEAKER_09 35:18

Since I have to look up to you just to even talk to you, were you a basketball player before you were a musician?

SPEAKER_02 35:24

Not even close. I was terrible. I think they asked me not to come back actually after a lot of the practice.

SPEAKER_08 35:35

Cody's a pretty tall guy, too. Cody's tall too, yeah. Literally the exact same experience. I was a basketball player for like uh maybe two months. And that was about it. Yeah. So I had a regular career.

SPEAKER_16 35:47

Thank God I found guitar. So no retiring of basketball jerseys for you guys at all. Okay.

SPEAKER_09 35:52

I am a huge fan of dipping sauces. So what is your go-to favorite dipping sauce?

SPEAKER_02 35:58

Um they kind of depend on what they're doing. For me, no. I think barbecue sauce crawls. It doesn't matter what it is. Why? That's why there's a wide um there's a barbecue sauce. I try to remember what it's called. Uh Kinder's, I think. Put it out there like a um I think I know what you're talking about. It's like an organic one that like my wife got me into organic food because I used to think it was a scam for a long time. I was like, organic. But she got me into it by giving me a bunch of research on it and why it's important. Um so it's an organic barbecue sauce from Kinder that I can't remember what it's called, but I literally dump that on everything. So, what's the most bizarre thing you you you dump that on? Um, I don't really go too bizarre without food. I am very much like a child when it comes to eating, so it's always like chicken nuggets every day. Cody, what about you? Wait, uh if you're dipping, say chicken.

SPEAKER_08 36:52

Yeah, well listen, I d I will eat anything, it doesn't matter if it's organic or not, and I've never been picky about food. Um all-time favorite has gotta be Mickey D sweet and sour sauce. All-time favorite. Um but a current uh runner-up would be this really cool goju jang sauce that I found. Uh, which is like a like a fermented uh Korean kind of sauce, uh, but it's pretty bangin'. I'm a big fan.

SPEAKER_16 37:18

I am shocked there was no Chick-fil-a reference in there as far as sauce or anything in the sauces at all.

SPEAKER_08 37:25

Let's see, if we're talking Chick-fil-A, we go Polynesian, which is sour, basically.

SPEAKER_16 37:29

So we of course are joined by Willoughby Hayes and also Cody in studio here on a Sunday night. Thanks for joining us, of course, on Soundcheck with Chase and Minnie on Froggy Valley 100.1. You had a very successful year of 2025, not only being nominated in the CPMA Awards for Best Country Male Artist, but among some other things in 2025. Just talk about that year that was for you, Willoughby.

SPEAKER_02 37:52

That was a great year. I feel like it's been our, like you were saying, our biggest year yet. I feel like we were able to get a lot more in front of people that hadn't heard us before. Um shout out to Mackenzie Mage, Jake Mage's wife, who was also nominated and won the country male country artists of the year. Um she does a fantastic job of getting us a lot of booking. So um, yeah, we we got in front of a bunch of new people, including the York State Fair, um, where we opened for Craig Campbell and got to meet those guys backstage and kept in contact kind of tandemly, and he super, super nice dude. And um, so yeah, they're having us out this year to their bar in um uh Shelby's build. So yeah, I think it's it's gotten us uh in in touch with more people and gotten us in front of a crowd that hadn't heard us, and yeah, we've just been really excited to see the growth. It's been really exponential from the first year to the second.

SPEAKER_16 38:40

So, just talk about that mix too. I mean, you gotta have that right mix. You know it firsthand, Cody, for you being in a group, being in a band. That mix with somebody else is is crucial in making that beautiful music, especially when you bring somebody in like Cody Willoughby on your end, too.

SPEAKER_02 38:56

Yeah. Yeah, I think you just have to always approach creativity with an open hand, where you're going, if I can't let go of an idea, I can't receive an idea. And so there's always a feeling of openness that I feel with him that goes like, I trust your abilities to a level where I go, if you give me an idea, I'm gonna say, okay, let's try it out before I say yes or no. And I'm also not one of the I feel like I'm still developing so much as an artist. I'm not someone that I'm gonna be so set in my ways that I can't um hear from somebody else. I remember Chris Voss is a uh a famous speaker, and he said, Don't be so sure of what you want, that you can't take something better. And I kind of feel like that's a great um philosophy to live by. It's just not like you said, just have an open hand on the music.

SPEAKER_16 39:42

Now, when you hear your songs, Willoughby, you can really hear the importance of that writing aspect that you put into your music. There's more to it when you hear a Willieby Hayes song. Describe that writing process when you're sitting down writing that original music too.

SPEAKER_02 39:56

Um so I take a long time to do everything. And so there's a feeling of I have to really feel solid on a melody, and I almost kind of like jam words into the melody that I like. Um, and I think that writing has always come a little bit easy just because my mom was very, very verbal and really wanted to make sure that we were uh literature-oriented and all that, so she would be like, Oh, well, I'll pay you five cents a page if you read the count of Monte Cristo or something like that. So it was always like there's a uh reward that you get from reading that was monetary at the time, but then you also are like, Okay, they expressed this word, I'm not sure what that is, let me go to the dictionary and look it up. And so I just always feel like I've um it's come a little bit easily for me to uh write lyrics around melodies, but I think that's my process. It's just like if there's no melody, there's no song. And so once I have the melody there, and then I start just kind of fitting in pieces where I think they might structurally work, and so yeah.

SPEAKER_09 40:56

We are going to come right back with more from Willoughby Hayes on Sound Check with Jace and Minnie. When we get back, we will dive into what's coming up for Willoughby and also lots more good stuff, and that good old country music as well. Thanks for spending the Sunday night with us here on Soundcheck with Chase and Minnie on Froggy Valley 100.1 and the My Froggy Valley app. Stay right there.

SPEAKER_15 41:18

Country music from local, regional, and national up and comers. If it's Sunday night, it's Soundcheck with Chase and Minnie on Froggy Valley 100.1.

SPEAKER_14 41:31

Start your day the Nancy and Newman way. Well, that sounds very good to me on Froggy Valley 100.1.

SPEAKER_00 41:37

Wow, what a weekend. We have so much to share with you tomorrow morning. The winners of the 61st Academy of Country Music Awards and some leftovers.

SPEAKER_10 41:44

Yeah, watch the show tonight. Hosted by Shania Twain on Amazon Prime, starts at 8 o'clock. 11 to the keyword so you can see Morgan Wallen in Chicago tomorrow morning, too, on Froggy Valley 100.1.

SPEAKER_12 41:55

NASCAR roars back to Pocono Raceway this summer, June 12th to the 14th. See why Pocono Raceway was voted the number one NASCAR track by the USA Today, two years straight. Fast cars, freedom, live music, and more on the beautiful Pocono Mountains. Bring your cooler and kids 12 and under get it free all weekend long. Get your tickets now at Poconoraceway.com.

SPEAKER_04 42:25

Spotlighting local artist, it's Sound Check with Jason Minnie. On Froggy Valley.

SPEAKER_07 43:40

Shake a few weeks, rush and use up your rest. Still paints and bread here's green breast. These push of things that make me bread and used to make me laugh. Now in the sun is to bring you maybe to the change.

SPEAKER_09 46:37

With an acoustic version of Some Things That Never Change on Soundcheck with Jace and Minnie on Froggy Valley 100.1 and the My Froggy Valley app. We are joined by Willoughby Hayes and Cody here on a Sunday night. When folks hear songs, they always love those songs that they can relate to. Your songs are very relatable to folks. Talk about that style that you put into your music to make a song that hits home for a lot of people that listen to them.

SPEAKER_02 47:04

I think the uh important thing is being honest. I think Embraer, a friend of mine saying that you can't take people places you've never been. And I just feel like if you have experienced an emotion or you can so uh relate to an emotion, even if it's somebody else's story that you're designed to put into words, I think that there is a um a feeling of connection that we all get from listening to emotions said in that right way to make that stick with them, and poetry is great for that, and so um by default songs are great for that, and so I I I take a lot of time and effort into making it uh relatable and memorable lyrics. Um whether it always works or not is up to people. But um yeah, I just feel like that's kind of my my main focus in writing.

SPEAKER_16 47:51

And your writing process too. I mean, it it we we just talked about a little bit ago. It it goes deep. I mean, when you're writing a song, it's you've gotta feel it. And that's the way it should be when people are taking what they should be taking from your music when they listen to it. They should be taking something from it because that's what you're giving to that song when you sit down and write that original song, too.

SPEAKER_02 48:10

Yeah, I think that's exactly right. I think that uh I guess again, it's just it's hard to take people places if you don't feel those things. And so yeah, it's usually sometimes a amalgamation almost of different events, too. So you can kind of hit different points of your life and get perspective at different points of your life where the song isn't really complete until it's been like five years later, and you're looking back at an event and going, okay, now that I'm more mature about what happened, how do I actually address that kind of thing, too? So I think it's important to also um have growth and those kind of things as well, and I think that's something that people relate to.

SPEAKER_15 48:42

This is Soundcheck with Chase and Minnie Hopper on Froggy Valley 100.1 and on the My Froggy Valley app, powered by Radio Novo.

SPEAKER_07 50:13

Dragging you back to the rolling for this rather you in the only way to go through the dead, yeah.

SPEAKER_09 52:22

What is ahead for you in 2026? Maybe plans for a new album, maybe a new EP? What can we expect from Willie B. Hayes down the road?

SPEAKER_02 52:31

So I'll be releasing Ryan's song here in the next couple of weeks. Um of a guy, uh Tyler Atkins out of Rock Mill Studios that does a fantastic job of doing a lot of recordings and producing on that. So we're excited that that one coming out. Um again, we're going to be going down to Nashville later on this year and doing some writing rooms and gigs down there, and then uh yeah, I think that's kind of our our main goal is just getting as many shows in our belt as possible and um making sure that we're staying consistent and putting out new material and uh yeah, just getting new new gigs as much as possible. So it's gonna be our first time this year of having a band behind us. So that's different from the last year, and that I was doing mostly shows and bars and restaurants and all that, but we're playing a lot more stages this year that'll include a full band so you'll be able to hear kind of more of uh the full imagined sound than just a singular show.

SPEAKER_16 53:30

And kind of a two-part question, and Cody, you can certainly chime in on this too. Growth is always a big part of being a musician, no matter what you're singing, what genre of music, it's always about the progression and the next thing you're gonna be doing. Uh, talk about that progression for the both of you guys, and then also we talked about a little bit off-air. How difficult and how much of a challenge is it to get your sound out to the masses, knowing that this country uh music market is so saturated out there and and having that unique sound, like you do, Willoughby, with your voice, you do have that unique sound, but how do you get that out to the masses and say, Okay, this is my sound, this is my music? How hard and how much of a challenge is that for for you?

SPEAKER_02 54:09

The music industry is very saturated. I think it's a double-edged sword as far as how accessible it is to put something out. So one is that the um the fence to get over is a lot shorter than it used to be, as far as getting a lot of people to hear your stuff. But uh with that uh being the case, it can get to the point where you're competing with some people who are like more consistent, and I think that that's one of the issues is that I focus more on trying to make as quality of a product, and I can be a perfectionist to the point where if I put out one song every three months and have a guy that I'm competing with that's putting out two songs every two weeks, then I'm I'm going up against somebody who's being more consistent and tapped into their their audience. And so I think the challenge has been like not getting too precious about putting stuff out, but also caring enough about the the product that I'm trying to put out as quality as I can produce at this point in my career. So um I like it as upsides and downsides, and I don't really think anybody's having an easy time of it. I just think that it's a um you you adapt or die like everything else. And we're gonna turn you into a radio DJ. Okay.

SPEAKER_16 55:23

Have you ever wanted to be a radio DJ? I have. I have actually. My wife thought I'd be good at it. Well, this is your part. We'll have to make sure that the wife is listening right now to see how you do so she can race you when you get home. So you're gonna count down your top three mainstream country songs. We always like to start off number three. Here's the thing. There's no excuses.

SPEAKER_02 55:43

Come on, don't give any excuses. I'm like, if I do an impression, I don't want you thinking this is how I hear you. That's a good point. That's a good point. Yeah, I might do a terrible job. Up at number three, we have Morgan Wallen with Quinton Time. And at uh number two, I have Tyler Braden with losing one. Or try losing one. In number one, I have Chris Stapleton with sometimes. I'm sorry.

unknown 56:08

How do you forget that?

SPEAKER_16 56:09

I wish we had real drums. That'd be great. Low budget. It's low budget. It's low budget.

SPEAKER_02 56:15

I feel like I've seen that more than I've actually heard a drum roll. But in number one spot, we have Chris Stapleton with Sometimes I Cry.

SPEAKER_16 56:23

Will it be Hayes and Cody? It's always a pleasure catching up with you too. Uh obviously, Cody, you're gonna be added to this mix here, so that's that's gonna be pretty awesome to see where this where this goes for you guys here down the road.

SPEAKER_08 56:34

We can't wait.

SPEAKER_09 56:35

A huge thank you goes to Jazzy and all the ladies down at Words Candies for giving our musicians a little snack here on this Sunday night with that amazing, delicious caramel corn. Go see that downtown Lebanon right across from the pack on Cumberland Street.

SPEAKER_16 56:49

Now, the real question about that caramel corn is it's actually gonna make its way back home with Cody and Willoughby. I'm glad they're gonna dive right into it as soon as they get out of here. No chance it gets home. There you go. Uh all right, many. Another show is done. We'll be back next Sunday night with a musician that is originally from north of the border, Canada, now resides in New York. We will have Robbie Hart on the show. Make sure you tune in next Sunday night starting at eight right here on Froggy Valley 100.1. And the My Froggy Valley app, powered by Radio Novo. Ready to close this down?

SPEAKER_09 57:22

I'm ready.

SPEAKER_16 57:23

We always leave you with this. Just remember, it ain't country music.

SPEAKER_09 57:26

Unless it's homegrown country music. See y'all next week. Thanks for staying up with us tonight and have a great week, y'all. And we'll see you next Sunday at 8 o'clock on Froggy Valley 100.1, and the My Froggy Valley app, powered by Radio Novo.

SPEAKER_15 57:40

Are you an up and coming artist trying to make it big? If so, we want to hear from you. Submit your demo to Jace at sevenmountainsmedia.com. That's Jay's at the number seven mountainsmedia.com. Thanks for spending your night with Froggy Valley 100.1, sound check with Jace and Mitty Hopper.