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 their stories, and for all of us to listen a little closer.
If you’re always on the hunt for the next song that’ll mean something to you—welcome. You’re in the right place.
New artists. Real stories. Weekly drops. Let’s give ‘em their first spin.
First Spin
Penny Beverly on Netflix, dating in LA, and the influence of Portugal. The Man
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 media. On day-to-day socials, guitarist Shane and his partner Emmy steer strategy; the band tries to treat content as part of the art, not a chore.
Musically, they cover influences and direction: a blend of indie/alt with danceable, R&B-tinted production (think hooks, 120–150 BPM, positive energy—designed to be sync-friendly). Reference points they admire include Portugal. The Man, MGMT, and Gorillaz; They talk collaborators—Gilligan Moss and Love Language in NYC—and how the Black Rabbit momentum reshuffled release plans.
There’s some life-in-LA color: a chaotic date and a sucker-punch. Duncan also shares the origin behind the name Penny Beverly.
Songs in this episode:
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Thanks for listening—see you next week.