Hayden
Exhibitions & Theatrical, Music
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Paul Hayden Desser (born February 12, 1971), who records as Hayden, is a Canadian singer-songwriter from Thornhill, Ontario. Desser received a B.A.A. in Radio and Television Arts from Ryerson Polytechnical Institute (now Toronto Metropolitan University) in 1993. Initially interested in radio and filmmaking, Hayden turned to music after his song "Take" was selected for the album "New Music Search," compiled by Toronto radio station CFNY in 1993. Hayden continued to recruit vocalists until 1995 when he began to showcase his grainy baritone. His early works are a largely eclectic mix of genres from grunge to alternative country, as demonstrated by his first full album, "Everything I Long For," released in 1995. While his early tracks featured poignant vocals accompanied by solo acoustic guitar, his later work has incorporated electric instrumentation and demonstrates a more refined sound. Hayden released an independent cassette, "In September," in 1994, and followed with the album "Everything I Long For" in 1995. Released on his own Hardwood Records with distribution by Sonic Unyon, the album was a commercial success. He ultimately signed to Geffen Records' subsidiary imprint Outpost Recordings, which gave him a contract worth over $1 million, along with complete creative control of his music, in what was widely reported as one of the most lucrative contracts ever given to a new artist in the alternative rock era. Often described in the press as somewhat reclusive and private, since the end of his international tour to support "The Closer I Get" Hayden has often limited his active promotional appearances and undertaken only small-scale touring. On February 5, 2013, Hayden released his seventh full-length studio album "Us Alone" on Arts & Crafts, his first release on a record label besides his own Hardwood Records. Hayden's introspective songwriting, distinctive baritone voice, and commitment to artistic independence have made him a respected figure in Canadian indie music.