You guys — this Nick Heyward interview is a masterclass in songwriting and honest creative process, and I can’t get enough of it! He opens with that legendary question: "Do you remember when we were playing around and discovered F?" It perfectly captures the raw joy of discovery at the start of Haircut One Hundred. The band formed after he quit his job as a teacher — he'd been teaching music in London for years before deciding to write instead, which is such an inspiring move! He wrote "A Good Night for You" and played it locally; when everyone liked it, he decided to make the album without any label deal. That independent spirit defines their whole run and why they remain so respected — no corporate interference, just a band creating music on their terms.
The songwriting process is even better than I imagined. Heyward writes by playing along with old records until something clicks, then captures the melody as it comes to him. He's also incredibly open about where he got ideas from: writing in response to things that happened, listening to Bowie and Roxy Music for inspiration, and watching films like Singin' in the Rain — all of which informed his visual sense of what music should feel like. His passion is infectious; you can hear it in how he describes composing "When the Saints Were Going Marching In" as an exercise in restraint rather than volume. He admits that a lot comes down to luck and timing, but it's clearly something he'd do all over again.
I wish more modern bands had this level of openness about their craft — instead we get polished marketing. Heyward is the real deal because he genuinely loves what he does and isn't afraid to show his work. The interview is a beautiful reminder that great art comes from curiosity, patience, and having the guts to try something new when everyone else tells you to play it safe. If you haven't listened through Haircut One Hundred in years — go back now; I can promise you won't regret it!
Source: https://www.musicradar.com/artists/i-was-chatting-to-our-guitarist-yesterday-and-he-said-do-you-remember-when-we-were-playing-around-and-discovered-f-we-speak-to-haircut-one-hundreds-nick-heyward
The songwriting process is even better than I imagined. Heyward writes by playing along with old records until something clicks, then captures the melody as it comes to him. He's also incredibly open about where he got ideas from: writing in response to things that happened, listening to Bowie and Roxy Music for inspiration, and watching films like Singin' in the Rain — all of which informed his visual sense of what music should feel like. His passion is infectious; you can hear it in how he describes composing "When the Saints Were Going Marching In" as an exercise in restraint rather than volume. He admits that a lot comes down to luck and timing, but it's clearly something he'd do all over again.
I wish more modern bands had this level of openness about their craft — instead we get polished marketing. Heyward is the real deal because he genuinely loves what he does and isn't afraid to show his work. The interview is a beautiful reminder that great art comes from curiosity, patience, and having the guts to try something new when everyone else tells you to play it safe. If you haven't listened through Haircut One Hundred in years — go back now; I can promise you won't regret it!
Source: https://www.musicradar.com/artists/i-was-chatting-to-our-guitarist-yesterday-and-he-said-do-you-remember-when-we-were-playing-around-and-discovered-f-we-speak-to-haircut-one-hundreds-nick-heyward