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.
Episodes
19 episodes
The Penske File on the challenges of touring in the USA
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 yo...
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41:08
The Dead & Down’s Taylor Burlage on Montana and using space to make The Black Keys a little more Bon Iver
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 ro...
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40:36
Dylan Flynn on dead poets, co-writing, and SXSW
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, ...
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52:40
RYLY on creative droughts, genuine fans, and the influence of The Killers.
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 wha...
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35:22
Taylor Lansdale on Appalachia, ignoring internet trolls, and the influence of Jason Isbell
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 hi...
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54:37
Jack Sanders on the highs and lows of going viral, defining success, and the influence of Tyler Childers
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...
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47:26
Addisyn Logan on moving back home, hiding music from her family, and Tik Toks with Josh Allen
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 bu...
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40:54
Ryan Taylor Price on Community, the History of Rock n Roll, and the Influence of Neil Young
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 arr...
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46:16
Charlie & Margot: Matteo DeBenedetti on Mental health, Balancing Multiple Bands and the New Springsteen Movie
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 ...
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43:05
Magenta Wave on Seattle Rock, Living with Bandmates, and the Influence of Flipturn
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...
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Season 1
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Episode 10
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29:13
Leisure Hour’s Raegan Gordon on DIY roots, safe spaces, and shooting your shot
This week I sat down with Raegan Gordon—drummer, vocalist, and songwriter for Leisure Hour, a band that grew out of Muncie’s DIY baseme...
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Season 1
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Episode 9
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45:40
All the Wine: Farewell Currents, Empire Builder, and Songs for Letting Go
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 ...
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Season 1
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Episode 8
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48:32
Borrowed Sparks: Mike Bay on Grief, Faith, and Finding a Voice in Nashville
This week I got to talk with Mike Bay of
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Season 1
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Episode 7
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48:17
Andrew Patrick of The Carolyn: On DIY Punk, Orgcore & Not Giving Up
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 da...
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Season 1
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Episode 6
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23:08
Justin VanNiekerk of Flycatcher: On Carving a Sound That Sticks
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 mos...
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Season 1
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Episode 5
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29:54
Madison Hughes: On Genre-Hopping, Honesty & Her Debut Album
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...
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Season 1
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Episode 4
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36:59
Critter Ruwart: On Brotherhood, Small-Town Roots, and Chasing Big Sounds
This week I sat down with Chris Ruwart—lead songwriter and one half of Critter Ruwart, a brother duo that started in a small town in Wyoming and is now chasing their music dreams from Michigan.We talked about growing up in wide-op...
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Season 1
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Episode 3
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41:01
Pacific’s Will Hunter: On Touring, Burnout & Hitting 2 Million Streams
In this episode, I sit down with Pacific—also known as Will Hunter—an indie artist whose song is closing in on 2 million streams. But numbers only tell part of the story.We talk about the real ride of being an independent musician: the m...
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Season 1
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Episode 2
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39:22
Eliza Harrison Smith: On Writing Sad Songs That Sound Happy
I first found Eliza Harrison Smith on TikTok a while back— singing something that felt way too honest to scroll past. Her writing hit me immediately. Sharp. Introspective. Real.Since then, I’ve kept an eye on her journey, and this Januar...
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Season 1
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Episode 1
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30:41