Mitch Hayes

Hello to all my fans on N1M, here's wishing you a very Happy New Year!

For the New Year, I've uploaded 3 of my newest tunes. A Long Way Home, Firewater and California. I could't have chosen three more diverse songs. I only have the free membership, so unfortunately I had to remove the three songs I had on this site, so I could upload these new ones. I apologize in advance to all my fans who have my previous songs on their playlists. I hope you enjoy what you hear. Here's a brief description of these tunes.

A Long Way Home:

This is both a song of introspection and a cry for Divine help. I suppose one could call it a prayer. I wrote it at a time when I was feeling a bit hopeless and confused, after peering inside with self reflection, not liking some of the things that I saw and asking God for help. It speaks to some very powerful and dark emotions, of feeling lost, purposeless, lacking in direction. It's a look into the the darkness of the storm and wondering "where's the way out?" There's not a person who at one time or another has not had to deal with these emotions. We've all been there. But as I said earlier, it is not just a song of feeling hopeless. It's also a cry for and expectation of help from above. "I need a gust of wind (the wind of the spirit) to move me, " I need an angel (divine intervention) by my side.

Firewater:

This song is a both a warning and a call to arms. Watching the news one evening, I saw story after story about terrible things happening to children, abuse and neglect, abduction, sex trafficking, street violence, etc. I was overwhelmed with both sorrow and anger and filled with utter disdain and disgust. The terms Firewater and Poison Water are metaphors with which to describe these horrors. The call to arms? We must stand in the gap for our children, they are our legacy, our hope for the future. We must, as a society, do more to protect them and shield them from such heinous crimes! We have to love, save, teach and protect the children, our future as a society depends on it.

California:

This is a Murder Ballad, set in the time of the California Gold Rush circa 1848 - 1855, when gold was found by James W. Marshall at Sutter's Mill in Coloma, California. It was a tumultuous and very dangerous time on our history. The "Lust for Gold" lured hundreds of thousands of hopeful prospectors from all over the United States as well as internationally to California, in the hopes of striking it rich. Only a small fraction of these hopefuls actually did become wealthy. Most were unsuccessful and many who did strike gold were murdered and robbed by bandits and fellow prospectors. This song is a fictitious account of one such prospector.

I hope you enjoy listening and I look forward to your feedback.

Mitch

I'm blown away by the support I am receiving here on N1M. I'm a free account, so I don't have access to all the marketing tools and can only have 3 songs uploaded at any one time. Yet, I'm getting new plays, new subscribers, new support and it's all because of you. You continue to recommend my music, share my music, play my music and from my heart I thank you! Please keep it going. I'm hoping to begin a new recording project, in the spring. I'll keep you all posted.

In other news, we embark Monday 4/23, on our Los Angeles mini-tour, shows on 4/24-4/29. I hope that any of you who live in or near LA, will come out to a show. You can find the schedule on (expired link), I hope to see you there!

Peace,

Mitch

Hi Friends,

First and foremost, I truly appreciate all of you being in my network and listening to my music. It's folks like you that make what I do, mean something, I thank you from the bottom of my heart! I really could use your help. I recently posted three new songs on N1M and because I don't have the Pro membership, I had to remove three songs, to do so. I'm only allowed to have three on here, at a time. Let me tell you a little about the songs I have on here, now.

"All Fall Down" charted for 18 weeks on the FMQB AAA/Americana top 100 chart, peaking at #23. It was also submitted in the first round of nominations for the Grammy Award. It's a call to put an end to the hatred and violence we see all around us, in this world. I'm very proud of this song. "Home Again" is about fighting the demons of self-loathing and addiction that so many of us have faced in our lives. "Ashes & Dust," I wrote for my daughter. She was a light to me in a very dark time in my life. I was depressed and lost and she helped me find my way back. I would very much appreciate it if you would all listen to and share these songs, help me get the word out. I've done really well on this site, organically. If you would all help me to continue to get noticed it would mean so much to me!

And in other news, my daughter and I have 5 shows coming up in the Los Angeles area, April 23-30. We perform as a duo. Any of you who live in or near LA, I would love to see you at one of them. You can find them listed on my show schedule at (expired link). And If you live in or near Nashville, we have an upcoming songwriter showcase June 2nd, at Bobby's Idle Hour on Music Row. I'd love to see you there. That show is also posted on my website. Once again thank you all for your support!

Peace,

Mitch

I totally appreciate all the love I'm getting for my songs. Thanks to everyone who has taken the time to listen and give me shout-outs. It just shows me that I must be on the right track.

Hi Everyone,

I've added another song from my last CD "Heroes." The song is "Ashes & Dust (Erin's Song)," which I wrote for my daughter. She saved her "Old Man" from the darkness of depression. I had lost my way, was in a bad relationship and everyone else but me could see it. I had turned away from songwriting, playing and singing my songs and was basically just existing. This lyric from the song says it all: "Then from ashes and dust, you helped me to rise, your love set me free, gave light to my eyes, to be true to me and who I am." My daughter encouraged me to start writing, singing and performing again and now she and I perform regularly, together. So no only did she help me to heal, she's now my partner on this journey. How sweet is that? Not many dads get to play on stage with their daughter. We have a really special relationship because of this.

I hope you will all check out the song and then share it, recommend it to others to add to their playlists. I believe there are may out there who like me, have lost their true path and are wandering lost in the darkness. I hope this song gives them hope and light.

Peace,
Mitch

Hey Everyone!

A warm thank you to all my fans and followers here, in N1M! It's such an privilege to be doing what I love and I'm honored to have folks like all of you, loving it too. I wish I could meet each and every one of you, face to face. If you live in the LA California area, I might just have the chance to do so, soon.

I'm so excited to announce that in April, we are headed out to California for a 4 show mini-tour. We will be at Kulak's Woodshed in North Hollywood on April 24, Coffee Gallery Backstage in Altadena on April 25, Genghis Cohen in LA on April 26 and finally at Lenny's Smokehouse on April 27. I'll be performing with my amazingly talented daughter, Erin Hayes on Vocals and Flute. Plans are also in the works for a tour to Austin in the Fall, probably October. I'll put the word out when we have more details.

Love and Peace to all of you.

Mitch