Christian Hayes on Discipline, Vulnerability, and Finding “Something To Lose”
INTERVIEW
INTERVIEW
FOR CHRISTIAN HAYES, SONGWRITING HAS NEVER BEEN JUST A CREATIVE OUTLET - it’s been a way of navigating the world with clarity, discipline, and heart. Raised in the Appalachian foothills of Georgia, Hayes was first encouraged to write by his grandfather, a poet who gave him a journal at age seven. That early nudge set off a lifelong habit of reflection that eventually led him to Nashville, through a stint in the Navy Reserve, and into a catalog of over 900 songs.
Now signed to Capitol Records, Hayes is building a career rooted in sincerity and staying power. His latest single, “Something To Lose,” is a soaring meditation on gratitude and emotional risk, a song born from a moment of realization that life, at last, was good. “I told my co-writers I was tired of writing sad songs,” he says. “I’d finally built something I couldn’t imagine living without.”
With sonic nods to Born & Raised-era John Mayer and the emotional swell of early Mumford & Sons, “Something To Lose” marks a new chapter for Hayes - one where presence, growth and joy take center stage. In our interview, he talks about the day the song came together, his family's creative influence and how he’s approaching this summer as a season of refinement - on the mic and in his mindset.
LUNA: “Something To Lose” feels both intimate and anthemic. Can you tell us more about what inspired the song, and how did the concept first come to you?
HAYES: I walked into a session and told my co-writers that I was tired of writing sad songs, and that things were actually going really well. At this point I had started to comprehend that I was really living my dream, and couldn't imagine life without it. I realized I had something to lose for once.
LUNA: You’ve said the song is about finding something that would hurt to lose. What does that “something” mean to you personally at this point in your life?
HAYES: For me, my something to lose is a combination of the things I have around me - my music, my family, my friends. All are necessary to hold on to.
LUNA: You co-wrote this track with Eric Arjes and Nick Atkinson. What was the collaborative process like in the writing room?
HAYES: The first 2 hours was just us talking about life. The song itself was a quick process/ result of the conversations - and only took an hour to get out. We spent another 2 hours recording, and the demo vocals we got day-of actually ended up being the exact vocals that appear on the released version!
LUNA: The production is both rootsy and emotionally charged. What kind of sonic mood were you aiming for with this release?
HAYES: Honestly, I've been listening to a lot of Mumford & Sons and John Mayer's Born & Raised album. Both these bodies of work were in my mind when we worked through the production on “Something to Lose”.
LUNA: Lyrics like “I’ve been reckless with my heart” hit hard. How do you balance personal vulnerability with universal relatability in your songwriting?
HAYES: Candidly, the two go hand-in-hand. If everyone was a little more vulnerable, we'd all realize that we're fighting similar battles at the same time. The more raw and honest I am in my songwriting, the more universally it resonates. Music is emotion, and that can't be fabricated.
LUNA: You’ve mentioned wanting people to insert their own stories into this song - have you heard any reactions or interpretations from listeners that really stuck with you?
HAYES: Between the people that have heard it live, and the conversations I've had lately, I feel like the song elicits a sentiment of gratitude from folks. Be that gratitude for their friends, family, partner, or life, it reminds people of the things they can't imagine life without.
LUNA: From growing up in Georgia and journaling at seven to now releasing music with Capitol, what’s been the most grounding part of your journey so far?
HAYES: I've realized that the best things in life take time - time spent being disciplined and working hard toward my goals. However, along the journey, I've realized that if I can't take a moment to look up and enjoy the fruits of my labor, the labor is never worth it.
LUNA: Your grandfather’s influence as a poet is often mentioned. In what ways do you carry his storytelling legacy into your music today?
HAYES: To be honest, it runs in the family. My grandfather was a poet, my father played the guitar, and my mother sang. All of them have played different parts resulting in the perfect storm that is my music career. Be it the journal my grandfather gave me when I was 7 (where I wrote my first songs,) the guitar my parents gifted me when I was 8, or the effort they put into exposing me to music. I would not be here without my family's musical imprint on me. An imprint I hope to keep crucial to my storytelling as I grow as a songwriter.
LUNA: What intentions do you have for this summer season?
HAYES: We're taking the summer to spend some real time in the studio, record more in LA, and widen my horizons as a songwriter. It's a summer of refinement and distillation for the Christian Hayes brand. I've also been channeling this discipline outside of the studio in the gym, and another goal is to look like Chris Hemsworth by August!
