Darren Hayman - Christmas in Essex

Hi Darren, 

The 'Christmas in Haworth' 10" comes with some tea and a Christmas cake recipe. Whose idea was that?

I think both the Tea and the Cake Recipe were Tom's ideas (Fika Recordings) anything to keep things interesting is good to me.

In an increasingly competitive environment, what do you think are the greatest changes you have felt in the music business since you started out?

That records sell less. It's an inescapable fact. It's made the good guys more resourceful and creative. It's made the bad guys more desperate. I'm not assuming I'm good.

John Peel was an early champion of your music. Do you think the gap has now been filled, in British music radio?

I think he was a one off, but I also think Jon Kennedy, Marc Riley and others are one offs. I don't think he's been replaced but I don't think that means there aren't equally great but different DJs. I hear his influence everywhere.

When on tour where are the places you most like to visit? Any culinary delights discovered on your travels recently?

We always have the AA pub guide in the car. It gets you away from the service stations. It rarely disappoints. 

 There are a few of us from Brentwood on our website; any of your own recollections of the town you would like to share? 

Got my head kicked in outside the chippy on Ongar Road when I was about 19.

Do you think ‘˜The Only Way is Essex’ has been a good or bad image of ˜Gods Own County?

Me and my Wife call it 'The Fatherland'. TOWIE is what it is, isn't it? It's a bad thing clearly. but also nothing to do with us, or the things we hold dear, right?

Do you come up with the idea for artwork for your music yourself or, are there other creative artists at work here?

It's all me but I've started to loosen up a little and have other people help me out a bit. It might be nice to have a cover designed by someone else soon.

Any bands/artists you have discovered this year that you would like tor recommend to us?

I love this album by the Hardy Tree on Claypipe.  

Hmm... Nitzer Ebb some up the frustration and the claustrophobia of small town Essex life don't they?

Plans for Christmas, feet up? and 2012? 

Yes, Xmas will be a rest. Next year = Instrumental album about Lidos (inc Brentwood) and album about Essex Witch Trials.

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Lexington, London: Sunday, January 01 - Hangover Lounge Matinee - Darren Hayman

 1pm-8pm free entry

Darren Hayman plays a selection of his January songs with some special guests - the perfect New Years hangover treatment! A soft comedown club for hard drinkers, The Hangover Lounge is the place to eat Sunday lunch, drink hair of the dog, meet like-minded souls, read the papers and make idle chit chat all to some soothing sounds. That might mean country rock or deep soul or psychedelia or soft pop or lovers rock, or anything else which sounds great and will make your head feel so much the better.  

FIKA RECORDINGS ADVENT CALENDAR .. free mp3’s for Christmas