What is your name and role within the band?
My name is Hayden & I play guitar & sing for Cheap Fakes.
How did the band start?
I’d written and recorded an album & needed a band to help me perform the songs.
Where are you based?
Brisbane.
Please give an example of your music writing process?
Someone will bring in an idea, a riff or a hook & then everyone puts their heads together, we jam a bit, talk a bit & whoosh!…. we have a song!
What are you working on right now?
We’re working on a brand new album.
How did you find the recording process?
Its a lot of fun, we have no epic time restraints, we’re experimenting, it’s easy going and very creative.
How you wanted the EP/album/single to sound at first, how that changed during recording?
We didn’t really have any expectations of how it was going to sound, we’re just playing it by ear and seeing what we can come up with.. there’s definitely a plan but it’s only a loose plan and it changes frequently.
Stories from recording/writing?
We have a folder with about 60 songs/ideas. We pick the ones we like and then develop them in the studio. We change the styles, mess with the sounds and do different versions until we find something we like.
What is your gear setup?
Live we are Drums, bass, guitar x2, vocals, sax, trumpet, keys… in the studio we use whatever we can find.
What do you like to do outside of music and does it affect your music?
Some of us are teachers, we have studios, we’re artists and tradesmen. Life affects music, music affects life.. everything is connected and influenced.
How would you describe your music genre?
I think there are 2 music genres.. good & bad. I’m hoping we fall into the good category.
Do you know any music theory?
Everyone in the band are accomplished music theory nerds.. except me.. I know nothing. I play by ear.
What are your plans for the future?
Who knows! Plans change. We definitely have goals but life keeps throwing curveballs at us so you just have to roll with the punches. We have a lot of touring/recording coming up so we’ll be getting amongst that.
How did you get into music?
Just growing up listening and catching the bug from an early age & that bug festered and continued to grow.
What are you listening to at the moment?
Eric Clapton, the Pretenders, Pantera, Puscifer.. that’s just today.. tomorrow will be something different.
Who are your top 5 influences and icons?
Mike Patton, Neil Finn, John Lennon, Maynard James Keenan & my Pop.