Hayden Pedigo is one of the most interesting guitar players in the world. He strums the guitar, playing his beautiful songs as the blue light turns to red, and he wishes the crowd goodnight.
Soft-spoken and calm, Hayden is as approachable as he is talented. We meet him after playing his set at The Blue Room. He takes time to talk to everyone that stops him. His fans span from around the world and tonight, someone flew in from New Orleans to see him in Nashville.
Hayden’s rise to recognition began in the most unconventional way—a parody campaign video for Amarillo City Council. What started as a joke became a serious effort and Hayden shocked everyone by placing second, all while refusing to accept donations. His overnight success inspired the documentary Kid Candidate, which captured his unconventional path to the spotlight.
From there, he went on to be interviewed by Tim Heidecker, and would later be featured on Adult Swim, Rolling Stone, and NPR's Tiny Desk. He even had multiple murals of his face around the city. When asked what felt most overwhelming, he laughs and says "Everything, at every point!"
Hayden also gained increasing popularity for his surreal photo series, where he sported eccentric outfits in everyday Texan settings. He's worn everything from trash bags and wedges in front of Long John Silver's, to chain mail and sheer shirts outside of the Walmart. He ended the series on a high with black metal face paint, a pink dress, and chain mail alongside a group of lady realtors dressed entirely in pink.
We shift the conversation to his personal style and he tells us he's pretty low-key. He’s walked a Gucci runway but favors simplicity: white Converse, a plain t-shirt, and light-wash Levi’s. When he's on tour he prefers long-collared vintage cowboy shirts, some Wranglers, and a good pair of cowboy boots.
As our conversation turns to his upcoming album, Hayden tells us that he's swinging for the fences. “It’s the final part of a trilogy,” he explains. “It’ll be the heaviest and most dynamic yet.” Known for weaving rich melodies with deliberate pauses that mirror the endless flat plains of Amarillo, Hayden’s music is as much about the spaces between the notes as the notes themselves. Tracks like The Happiest Times I Ever Ignored evoke optimism tinged with loss, pulling you into his expansive soundscapes. Each track is built out to feel more like a story than just a song.Hayden’s strength lies in his vulnerability. Whether it’s pausing mid-set to adjust strings until they're just right, tearing up in Kid Candidate, or writing candid essays on Instagram, he shares his life with unflinching sincerity. “I like being uncomfortable,” he admits. “Letting others in on that feels right.”
You can find Hayden on Instagram, or on tour. Grab a vinyl and tell him Willie sent ya.
