Hayden Baker has been busy this year.
Before releasing his EP, Growing Pains, in May, the Texas native was already breaking ground on a new album. That album now has a name: Barely Gettin’ By, and we have our first taste of it with its lead single, “Reason to Run.
Baker’s newest effort, a rockin’ tune with a driving backbeat, is a Trent Willmon co-write that sees the narrator considering ending his rambling ways and settling down. And as we’ve come to expect from a Hayden Baker tune, it comes equipped with a ripping guitar solo akin to one of his heroes, Brad Paisley.
We caught up with Baker to talk about “Reason to Run,” as well as what listeners can expect from Barely Gettin’ By, his busy touring schedule and more!
Pro Country: Your EP, Growing Pains, is approaching its six-month anniversary. In the time since its release, the songs have earned nearly 500,000 streams on Spotify alone. Now that time has passed, how do you look back at Growing Pains as a project and the response it received?
Hayden Baker: Growing Pains did exactly what I’d hoped it would do, which was get people on board and set the table for the new album. Those five songs were all songs that I felt perfectly exemplified the growth period I have been in the past three years, and I’m proud of each and every one of them for different reasons.
PC: You announced that your new album, Barely Gettin’ By, is set for release on April 12th of next year. Why did you feel that your newest single, “Reason to Run,” was the right song to lead off the project?
HB: Being that the last song we released from Growing Pains was “Midnight Drive,” I felt that “Reason To Run” was a great song to bridge the gap between the two projects. The Petty/Springsteen vibes are high with those two; perfect for driving with the windows down.
PC: You co-wrote “Reason to Run” with Trent Willmon. Can you take us in the room and talk about how the song came together?
HB: We wrote that song on my first writing trip to Nashville when I signed my publishing deal. I had the idea for a rock ‘n’ roll song about a guy looking for a reason to run, and Trent suggested it being about a guy who can’t find a reason to run. He’s always out there running the highways, living the vagabond lifestyle, but this woman is making him think about settling down. The song came out pretty quickly after that decision was made.
PC: You just released the music video to coincide with the release of “Reason to Run.” How much fun was that shoot and how excited were you to get the video released?
HB: So much fun to shoot! We linked up with Claiborne Myers for that one and just shot it with the band at soundcheck before a show at Hank’s Texas Grill in McKinney, TX. I love having a visual representation of the energy that song has out in the world. Plus it helps prove to folks that I’m actually the one playing the guitar solos!
PC: You served as co-producer on “Reason to Run” with Travis Bishop. How much do you enjoy taking that “hands on” approach to your music?
HB: I love it. Kudos to my brother Travis for sticking with me all these years and trusting me to be more involved with the recording process on this new album. I used to sit back and be in awe of how he and the other studio musicians went about their business (I still am), but now I feel more comfortable calling a few shots here and there, and he and the rest of the crew have welcomed that with open arms, which is very humbling.
PC: With Barely Gettin’ By about five months away, what information, if any, can you give listeners about the album? What can they expect to hear?
HB: My best work yet. This record is the culmination of the work I’ve put in these last three years writing songs. Out of 100+ songs, we chose the best 10 (plus a cover, instrumental and a gospel tune I wrote) that I thing truly represent me as an artist. There will be a surprise or two on the album as well that I cannot wait to reveal. Plus I played every guitar part on this album, which I am very proud of!
PC: You have a very busy touring schedule set for the rest of the year and going into March of next year. How much are you looking forward to hitting the road hard and bringing your music all around Texas on this tour?
HB: Live shows are what I do this for. There’s no better feeling than cranking the amps up and belting out these songs with my brothers on stage. We’ve been working hard getting these new songs all tuned up for the live show, as well as some fun mashups and covers. 2024 will see our best shows yet, I’m sure.
PC: With “Reason to Run” now released, what do you have planned for the rest of 2023 and going in to 2024?
HB: There will be one more song off the album released to streaming before the year ends, and then we will continue dropping one song a month until the album comes out in April! I also will be joining Wade Bowen at Rowdy’s in Webster, TX on Dec. 8 and Aaron Watson at Gruene Hall on Dec. 16 and 17!
PC: Is there anything you’d like to add?
HB: Be sure to pre-order the album now so you don’t miss any of the single releases!
*”Reason to Run” is featured on The Best of Pro Country playlist!*
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