Walker Hayes ‘Abandoned All the Rules’ When Making ‘boom.’

For years, Walker Hayes tried to be something he wasn’t to fit the mold of country music. Fast forward to the release of boom. and it’s clear that he finally found which lane he fits in.

The days of working at Costco fell behind Hayes the moment he received a call from award-winning songwriter Shane McAnally. Requesting pure honesty in his songwriting over any sort of cheesy gimmick or copycat vocals, McAnally stressed on Hayes to just be himself when it came to creating his own sound and Hayes took that message to heart while in the production phases of his debut release.

“What Shane [McAnally] demands from me the most is authenticity. And I don’t even know if he said, ‘Hey, write the truth,’ but I enjoyed just sending songs to Shane throughout this process as a listener. I found that I would just email him my newest favorite ones, and he would just listen as a music lover,” Hayes shared with Sounds Like Nashville.

It didn’t come overnight to Hayes, though, as it took months for him to figure out just what his music needed to sound like. The singer began comparing himself to everything he heard rather than developing his own path before realizing that his artistry will reflect greater if he just sings what he knows.

“I think in the past, when I got to Nashville, I was more or less a tourist for a long time. I was like, ‘Oh, country singers wear boots, where can I get me a pair of boots? And country singers sound like this, shoot, I can do that.’ But it wasn’t authentic. It could’ve worked, maybe I could’ve been an artist that sounded a little more traditional, but it wasn’t in the cards, and I kinda went away for a little while and began singing what came out and how it came out, not really paying attention to, ‘Do I sound like this, do I fit in this market, does this sound like radio?’ I’ve kind of abandoned all the rules, and the album, boom., is what came out,” the singer explained.

Taking his record on the road next year for his first-ever headlining tour, Hayes expects fans to savor the truthful lyrics in a party-like atmosphere and feel the words in their own way. Always thinking about the genuine nature of his sound though, the “You Broke Up With Me” singer will highlight his songwriting abilities while maintaining that fun on-stage presence the fans have gravitated toward throughout his journey.

“I keep reiterating, songwriting is my passion, first and foremost,” Hayes said. “I want this to be very intimate, but a party as well. So, we’re gonna have to find what that looks like. How do I let the fans leave thinking they had the greatest party ever, but also to feel like they know me a little better and appreciate me for what I am, what I’m bringing to the table as an artist and a human?”

Hayes’ debut album, boom., is available for purchase now. Fans can learn more about his upcoming Good as Gold Tour on his official website.