AVAILABLE DIGITALLY TODAY
NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Walker Hayes hasn’t been afraid of the unconventional route, and this week he’s thanking his fans for supporting his unorthodox path to success with a re-release of the music that paved the way for his career. Originally released in Summer 2016, Hayes has re-released 16 songs from his 8Tracks Vol. 1 & 2, available digitally today.
The 8Tracks Vol. 1 & 2 consist of 16 work tapes, created in Hayes’ studio on Music Row dubbed ‘The Shack.’ In Summer 2016, without a record deal on the horizon, Hayes gave away the self-produced tracks for free, and with the help of tastemakers and early supporters, Hayes gained thousands of new fans throughout the country. iHeart Radio personality, Bobby Bones, caught wind of the first release and guided his listeners’ attention to a track called “Shades,” which Bones tapped as the “song of the summer.” Building on the momentum, Hayes released the second set of 8Tracks in Aug. 2016, and by Jan. 2017, the recently revived Monument Records, a division of Sony Music Entertainment, announced Hayes as one of its flagship artists.
“I have been so fortunate to get to do things in a unique way this time around. My team has let me take risks and create music that is authentic to me – even though it might not sound like anything else,” expresses Hayes. “Today, we’re putting out the music that got me here. I’ll never forget the way fans’ reactions made me feel when I first put these 8Tracks out. They are homemade and they are the foundation of who I am. This is my way of saying ‘thanks’ for everyone’s support. I hope old fans are excited to hear them again and I hope new fans love them just as much.”
The re-release comes on the heels of Hayes’ first Top 10 single “You Broke Up With Me,” which has notched nearly 400,000 in sales and 105 million streams. Although several songs, like “You Broke Up With Me,” made it to his debut album, boom., fan favorites like “Lela’s Stars,” “The Comedian” and “Break The Internet” are available only on the 8Tracks.
2018 is off to a roaring start for the artist on the rise. Hayes launched his Good As Gold Tour, marking Hayes’ first headlining club tour, boasting six sell outs and counting. He is also on the road as part of Kelsea Ballerini’s Unapologetically Tour. This past week, Hayes made his London debut with a performance at the O2 Arena as part of C2C, followed by a headlining set at SXSW’s Pandora at The Gatsby in Austin, TX.
For more information on Walker Hayes, visit www.walkerhayes.com and follow him on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter @WalkerHayes.
8Tracks Vol. 1 (Good Shit)
1. “You Broke Up With Me” (Walker Hayes, Thomas Archer, Kylie Sackley)
2. “Beautiful” (Walker Hayes)
3. “Dollar Store” (Walker Hayes, Scott Stepakoff)
4. “Mind Candy” (Walker Hayes, Thomas Archer)
5. “Stay Sober” (Walker Hayes, Doug Waterman)
6. “Shades” (Walker Hayes, Cliff Audretch)
7. “Beer in the Fridge” (Walker Hayes, Shane McAnally, Matt Jenkins, Scot Sherrod)
8. “Bad Thing (Good Shit)” (Walker Hayes, Josh Jenkins, Matthew McVaney)
8Tracks Vol. 2 (Break The Internet)
1. “Break The Internet” (Walker Hayes, Shane McAnally, Josh Osborne)
2. “You’re Happy” (Walker Hayes, Brandon Kinney)
3. “Halloween ft. Nicolle Galyon” (Walker Hayes, Nicolle Galyon)
4. “Face On My Money” (Walker Hayes, Josh Osborne, Nicolle Galyon)
5. “Beckett” (Walker Hayes, Shane McAnally)
6. “The Comedian” (Walker Hayes, Josh Jenkins, Matt Jenkins)
7. “Lela’s Stars” (Walker Hayes, Matt Jenkins, Tyrus Morgan)
8. “Your Girlfriend Does” (Walker Hayes, Trevor Rosen, Brad Tursi)
Upcoming Tour Dates:
March 16 – 8 Seconds Saloon in Indianapolis, Indiana*
March 17 – St. Andrews Hall in Detroit, Michigan*
March 24 – Saddlebags in Savannah, Georgia*
April 5 – PlayStation Theater in New York, New York~
April 6 – Starland Ballroom in Sayreville, New Jersey~
April 7 – The National in Richmond, Virginia~
April 19 – Crystal Ballroom in Portland, Oregon~
April 20 – Knitting Factory in Spokane, Washington~
April 21 – Showbox SoDo in Seattle, Washington~
April 25 – Arlington Theater in Santa Barbara, California~
April 26 – Buck Owens Crystal Palace in Bakersfield, California*
April 27– Clos LaChance Winery in San Martin, California*
*Good As Gold Tour dates
~Unapologetically Tour dates