First Spin

First Spin
  • 0.0 (0)
  • Music Interviews

Hey, I’m Hayden Thomas—musician, lifelong music fan, and the guy who still makes mixtapes for road trips. First Spin is my weekly interview show where I sit down with emerging artists who I genuinely believe are doing something special. You might not know their names yet, but if you’re anything like me, you’ll want to change that. This show isn’t about hype. It’s about real conversations—about the first gigs, the late-night doubts, the sound that finally clicks. It’s a space for new voices to tell their stories, and for all of us to listen a little closer. If you’re always on the hunt for the next song that’ll mean something to you—welcome. You’re in the right place. New artists. Real stories. Weekly drops. Let’s give ‘em their first spin.

  1. 2 days ago

    The Young Hearts on Chasing the Dream, Touring Europe, and the Influence of New Jersey

    This week on First Spin, I'm joined by Craig Lawrence of The Young Hearts, a four-piece band from Deal, Kent, England, whose music draws from the sounds of New Jersey and the American Northeast. I've been a big fan of The Young Hearts since discovering their 2023 album Somewhere Through the Night, and so excited to finally get them on First Spin. Craig and I talk about the band's beginnings, growing up in a small seaside town in England, and how artists like Bruce Springsteen, The Gaslight Anthem, The Menzingers, and The Bouncing Souls have influenced their sound. Craig explains how the imagery and storytelling in those songs resonate with his own experiences growing up thousands of miles away. We also get into the challenges of keeping a band going for more than a decade. Craig opens up about a period when The Young Hearts nearly called it quits, what convinced him to keep going, and how his definition of success has changed over the years. We discuss the band's experience touring Germany, where they found an unexpectedly passionate fan base, and why bringing their music to the United States has proven so difficult. On Final Spin, Craig shares some of his favorite artists and recommends an up-and-coming band you should be listening to. Catch them on tour all over Europe in November 2026! Songs featured in this episode: A Charmed Society Famous Last Words The Good, the Bad & the Rest of Us Take A Ride London Introduction music Blood Sugar Blues by former First Spin guest, Drew White. If you enjoyed this episode, it’d mean a lot if you left a quick review—it's one of the best ways to help new listeners find the show. And if you want to hear more artists worth your time, follow First Spin on social: 📱 TikTok 📸 Instagram Official Spin Podcast Spotify Playlist Official Spin Podcast Apple Playlist Thanks for listening—see you next week.

  2. 12 Oct

    Dogwood Tales' Ben Ryan on the Shenandoah Valley, NewPort Folk Festival, and Their Current Tour

    This week, I’m joined by Ben Ryan, guitarist and vocalist for Dogwood Tales, an indie rock band from Harrisonburg, Virginia.  Ben and I talk about growing up in Virginia, the band’s beginnings, and the Shenandoah Valley’s place in their music. We get into what it means to make a record rooted in home, the complicated feelings that come with small-town life, and the importance of having a community that shows up for you. We also talk about Destination Heaven, their collaborative album with Euphoria Again, and the process of making music together. There’s a lot here about songwriting, collaboration, and the influences that find their way into a record, including some you might not immediately expect from listening to Dogwood Tales. We chat about Newport Folk Festival, the new songs, and the road, because Dogwood Tales are on tour RIGHT NOW (Nov/Dec 2026) across the East Coast and Midwest. If you’re near one of their upcoming stops, go check them out. And whether you can make a show or not, give Every Star in Rockingham County a listen. Genre-defining is not an exaggeration.  Enjoy my conversation with Ben! Songs featured in this episode: Ralph Sampson 7xover Every Star in Rockingham County Mt. Jackson Destination Heaven McMemories Introduction music Blood Sugar Blues by former First Spin guest, Drew White. If you enjoyed this episode, it’d mean a lot if you left a quick review—it's one of the best ways to help new listeners find the show. And if you want to hear more artists worth your time, follow First Spin on social: 📱 TikTok 📸 Instagram Official Spin Podcast Spotify Playlist Official Spin Podcast Apple Playlist Thanks for listening—see you next week.

  3. 28 Sept

    Lume's Co-Founder & CEO Duncan Greive on Why Albums Deserve Better

    This week's episode is a little different. Instead of featuring an up and coming artist, I sit down with someone who is genuinely trying to make the music industry a better place for artists. Duncan Greive, co-founder and CEO of Lume, a new music platform built around a simple idea: putting the album back at the heart of music. Duncan traces his path from music journalist and editor to digital media founder and, eventually, back to music with Lume. He explains how years of watching streaming reshape listening habits left him wondering whether something had been lost along the way. While platforms like Spotify and Apple Music have made virtually all recorded music instantly accessible, that convenience has also encouraged playlists, algorithms, skipping, and passive listening—often at odds with the time and intention artists put into making an album. We also discuss the importance of superfans, creating direct relationships between artists and listeners, why Lume was designed around the needs of artists rather than investors, and whether digital music can recapture some of the permanence and intentionality of physical media. We also turn to one of the biggest issues facing musicians today: AI-generated music and why Lume has committed to never hosting AI artists.. Introduction music Blood Sugar Blues by former First Spin guest, Drew White. If you enjoyed this episode, it’d mean a lot if you left a quick review—it's one of the best ways to help new listeners find the show. And if you want to hear more artists worth your time, follow First Spin on social: 📱 TikTok 📸 Instagram Official Spin Podcast Spotify Playlist Official Spin Podcast Apple Playlist Thanks for listening—see you next week.

  4. 8 Sept

    Theo Kandel on bowling, Miller High Life, and the upcoming West Coast tour

    On this week's episode of First Spin, I chat with singer/songwriter Theo Kandel about his brand new album "A Horse Named Friday," his love of riddles, life in New York, inflation resistant Miller High Life, bowling, and his upcoming West Coast tour. Songs featured in this episode: Flight to JFK A Horse Named Friday She's Mad, She's Magic 7/10 Split The Station Ghost Lives Introduction music Blood Sugar Blues by former First Spin guest, Drew White. If you enjoyed this episode, it’d mean a lot if you left a quick review—it's one of the best ways to help new listeners find the show. And if you want to hear more artists worth your time, follow First Spin on social: 📱 TikTok 📸 Instagram Official Spin Podcast Spotify Playlist Official Spin Podcast Apple Playlist Thanks for listening—see you next week.

  5. 17 Aug

    Danny Golden on Sobriety, Austin, and The Big Blue

    In this episode of First Spin, Hayden sits down with singer-songwriter Danny Golden for a conversation about his new album, The Big Blue, and the life experiences that shaped it. The discussion centers on the emotional terrain behind the record — sobriety, surrender, grief, creative doubt, and the strange ways music can help make sense of change. Danny talks about how getting sober transformed not only his daily life, but also his relationship to songwriting, performing, and even his own inner voice. The conversation also explores the origin stories behind several songs, including “War Fever,” and where that title comes from. Songs featured in this episode: Powerless War Fever The Big Blue (Shadow's Song) If You're Looking For a Sign, This Is It Great American Novel #2 Hungry Ghost War Fever - Acoustic Field Recording Introduction music Blood Sugar Blues by former First Spin guest, Drew White. If you enjoyed this episode, it’d mean a lot if you left a quick review—it's one of the best ways to help new listeners find the show. And if you want to hear more artists worth your time, follow First Spin on social: 📱 TikTok 📸 Instagram Official Spin Podcast Spotify Playlist Official Spin Podcast Apple Playlist Thanks for listening—see you next week.

  6. 8 Jun

    Young Ritual on OCD, Substack, and the influence of Kings of Leon

    This week I sit down with Dylan Grantham, who released music under the name Young Ritual. Dylan and I talk about his OCD, not rushing his music, and the trend away from short form content and towards platforms like Substack.   Dylan's unique childhood set the stage for a life in music, even if it looks a bit different than his family envisioned. Hope you enjoy my conversation with the immensely talented, Dylan Grantham. Songs featured in this episode: Float You Julianna Wild Child I Could Never Famous Introduction music Blood Sugar Blues by former First Spin guest, Drew White. If you enjoyed this episode, it’d mean a lot if you left a quick review—it's one of the best ways to help new listeners find the show. And if you want to hear more artists worth your time, follow First Spin on social: 📱 TikTok 📸 Instagram Official Spin Podcast Spotify Playlist Official Spin Podcast Apple Playlist Thanks for listening—see you next week.

  7. 25 May

    Will McCartt on therapy, collaborating with Northwest Stories, and the influence of Gregory Alan Isakov

    In this episode of First Spin, I sit down with indie-folk artist Will McCartt for a conversation about creativity, emotional vulnerability, and the process of finding your voice as an artist. We talk about how music was always present in Will’s life — from playing guitar in church bands growing up to eventually writing a song for a major life event — but how it took years before he truly viewed songwriting as something personal and essential. What started as a hobby slowly evolved into a way for him to process emotions, experiences, and seasons of life. Will touches on how songwriting became a space where he could finally process things honestly. That shift not only transformed the music itself, but also changed the way audiences began responding to it. We also dive into the atmospheric nature of indie folk music and discuss artists like Gregory Alan Isakov, Novo Amor, Lord Huron, and The Paper Kites. Will talks about building songs that feel immersive and cinematic — music that creates a sense of place as much as melody — and how layering textures and emotion together can completely change the way a listener experiences a song. Beyond the music itself, we spend time talking about the realities of trying to build a career as an independent artist today: balancing demanding day jobs, navigating social media algorithms, staying authentic online, and trying to create meaningful art in a world that constantly demands attention. Will shares the philosophy behind his TikTok presence and why he intentionally focuses more on emotional connection than traditional promotion. Along the way, we also get into conversations about family, marriage, creativity, growing up in Appalachia, and the strange tension between modern digital life and the desire for something slower, quieter, and more human -- discovering that honesty might be the thing connecting most powerfully with listeners. Songs Featured in This Episode: Coastline anymore Baby, Keep on Drivin' So Long With Her Introduction music: Blood Sugar Blues by Drew White Introduction music Blood Sugar Blues by former First Spin guest, Drew White. If you enjoyed this episode, it’d mean a lot if you left a quick review—it's one of the best ways to help new listeners find the show. And if you want to hear more artists worth your time, follow First Spin on social: 📱 TikTok 📸 Instagram Official Spin Podcast Spotify Playlist Official Spin Podcast Apple Playlist Thanks for listening—see you next week.

  8. 4 May

    Drew White on kindness, diabetes, and Concrete Americana

    In this episode I sit down with Nashville-based singer/songwriter Drew White.  Drew and I talk about his fantastic 2025 release, Concrete Americana, life with missionary parents, choosing kindness, battling diabetes, touring the Southeast, So Far Sounds and more.   Songs featured in this episode: Medicine Concrete Americana Kings Street Blood Sugar Blues Dandelions Dreaming in the City Introduction music Blood Sugar Blues by former First Spin guest, Drew White. If you enjoyed this episode, it’d mean a lot if you left a quick review—it's one of the best ways to help new listeners find the show. And if you want to hear more artists worth your time, follow First Spin on social: 📱 TikTok 📸 Instagram Official Spin Podcast Spotify Playlist Official Spin Podcast Apple Playlist Thanks for listening—see you next week.

See All (42)

About

Hey, I’m Hayden Thomas—musician, lifelong music fan, and the guy who still makes mixtapes for road trips. First Spin is my weekly interview show where I sit down with emerging artists who I genuinely believe are doing something special. You might not know their names yet, but if you’re anything like me, you’ll want to change that. This show isn’t about hype. It’s about real conversations—about the first gigs, the late-night doubts, the sound that finally clicks. It’s a space for new voices to tell their stories, and for all of us to listen a little closer. If you’re always on the hunt for the next song that’ll mean something to you—welcome. You’re in the right place. New artists. Real stories. Weekly drops. Let’s give ‘em their first spin.

Information

  • Creator
    First Spin
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    42
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © 2026 First Spin
  • Show Website
    First Spin