Hayden Calnin Residency at The Toff

22-year-old singer/songwriter Hayden Calnin has recently toured with such heartbreakers as Matt Corby, Gossling and Mat McHugh. Comparable to Bon Iver, and with vocals that are reminiscent of James Blake’s less beatsy songs, Calnin is offering up his latest single ‘For My Help’. A follow on from debut single ‘Summer’, ‘For My Help’ is experimental indie folk at its finest, with reverbed vocals and minimalist percussion that would make Justin Vernon moist at the eyes. Dripping with raw emotion and unbridled passion, ‘For My Help’ sets the tone for Calnin’s debut EP City, to be released July 20th.

Calnin was given a guitar by his father when he was 14, sparking a creative flame, and he has stoked that flame ever since. Playing in bands throughout his teens, Calnin added the drums and piano to his repertoire, until the age of 17 when he finally picked up a microphone and lashed out on the vocals. Through his early 20s, Calnin got his first taste of music production, with a degree in film and a major in sound design. From here it was only natural to start recording his own tracks at home.

With varied influences, ranging from Low, The Swell Season, DeYarmond Edison and genres spanning 30s rock to electronica, Calnin’s progressive music takes a refreshing walk on the not-so-typical folk path. Melbourne based, Calnin has managed to steadily grow a hefty list of achievements such as being played on London’s XFM, and being chosen to play at the APRA song summit alongside Australian heavy-weights The Jezebels, Eskimo Joe and Washington. Calnin was also a finalist in 2011 on the Telstra Road to Discovery and played at the Tamworth Country Music Festival.
Catch Calnin play at the Toff every Monday in July.

Tagged APRA, Bon Iver, DeYarmond Edison, Eskino Joe, Gossling, Hayden Calnin, james blake, Justin Vernon, Low, Matt Corby, Matt McHugh, Melbourne, Ricky Gervais, Tamworth., The Jezebels, The Swell Season, Washington, XFM