nothing ever changes is out now!
Image: Jade Florence.
Earlier this month, Australian singer-songwriter Will Hyde unveiled his new EP, nothing ever changes. We caught up with the musician to chat about the release, the EP's accompanying short film, his creative process and so much more!
Could you tell us a bit about your background in music and what led you to pursuing a career in music?
Definitely! So i started making music 8 years ago, when i was 14. I started off producing my own beats & finding singers to sing on the instrumentals for a group i was in called ‘SŸDE’. We had a lot of success & it gave me the confidence to pursue music seriously. That gave me a bunch of incredible opportunities to have a career in music!
Now i’m here - writing, singing & producing my own music in my solo project!
Congratulations on the release of your new EP nothing ever changes. How did you approach creating this collection of songs compared to your debut EP, and what did you learn whilst creating with u in mind that you were able to implement this time around?
Thank you! I made a lot of the songs on ‘nothing ever changes.’ completely by myself, which was a big change. With U In Mind gave me the confidence to continue finding myself as an artist. I worked with a lot of friends on that project & it helped me find my identity today. This EP is more an introspective body of work, about myself & my journey - so i thought it was a natural progression to do most of it myself. I still had help on the way from talented musicians! It is what it is today because of those people as well. I think this EP is confident & bold, which i’m growing more + more into as i continue to find myself as a person.
The release documents the latest chapter in your own growth, and touches on themes of mental health, self-acceptance and love and brings a new sense of maturity. Could you walk us through the EP’s conceptual exploration and how important it was for you to document it on this body of work?
Yep, it does! The whole EP really is a realization that i am a work in progress & still figuring out my life. When i think about this journey we’re on, it’s sort of weird to think about… what do i want from life & what’s the purpose of being here? nothing ever changes is me showing how life involves all types of experiences - struggle, loss, faith, joy & peace.
How did you arrive at the sonic realm explored on nothing ever changes?
By making a lot of songs! I write a lot & have a lot of songs ready to release. I’m always working on future songs so when it comes to put together a body of work, i always have options & records to choose from, which is great! I personally only write songs to be the best they can be, i never write them to be a body of work. That’s just how i’ve always done it & so far it has worked well for me so i’m going to continue to do that! I feel as though for me to be authentic as possible i have to show all sides of me as a human, which equates to a body of work that has songs in different lanes & takes you on a journey!
nothing ever changes arrives alongside a superb short film. What prompted you to take this visual route and how involved were you with conceptualising the film and its development?
Thank you! I’m glad you liked it! I always want to do things differently as an artist, so creating a world for the songs to live in was very naturally the next step in my mind! I think what is different is that i’m a developing artist putting out a movie, which is rare considering the amount of work that it takes to put together a project like that! I was involved in the creation of the universe - each room having its own song & it was a lot of Zoom calls with my management + the film crew. This film came out the way it did because of all of the beautiful people that helped me on the way. Wildebeest, the film company, did an incredible job. My label, Pack Records, was so helpful in pushing it along while i was finishing the music! That is what i love about music, it’s about a lot of people coming together to put what you see on the screen out. In that sense, it’s rewarding + extra special to share that moment of creation with a bunch of talented visual creatives!
What’s your favourite scene from the film and what was your most memorable moment on set?
Probably the ocean scene! I feel like it turned out sooo goood.. Especially with the ship in the back! If you haven’t seen it yet, make sure you check it out NOW! Haha. that was probably also my most memorable moment because it was the last day of shooting. We had all given it everything we had & i had to prepare myself to get in the freezing ocean. If you’ve been on a set with me you probably know that i throw myself at anything that i think would look cool, no matter how difficult it is to do! The funniest part of the whole scene was after i got out of the water, the director, Jarred, was like “can you go back in and do a second take just so we have it??”.. I was like okay & we filmed again! Shout out to the crew that day for making it possible.
Could you tell us a bit about your creative process when writing and recording this particular collection of songs?
Definitely! The songs all came pretty naturally for me. I usually only get into the studio when i feel very inspired - so it is when i’m in a flow state. What i mean by that, is the lyrics usually take me 30-45 minutes to write (because i’m in the zone) & then i start fleshing out the production. ‘Obsessed.’ is a song that Tim & i wrote after getting sushi + playing virtual reality. My head was spinning after it & i was seeing a girl i really liked at the time, so we just started playing around with ideas.
In that sense, everything happened pretty naturally & i use my voice memo’s a lot to store song ideas for future EP’s/albums!
How did the EP evolve and change as you were creating it, and were there any tracks left on the cutting room floor that you think might have a life in the future?
It changed a lot! Because i had so many songs to choose from, it can actually make it tricky to find the right track listing. There were so many different vibes that i had to sit down & be like - “what feels like me?”. The answer to that question is getting more intuitive as i continue creating art… there were some bangers that i definitely want to put out in the future! I just want the songs to make sense in terms of the progression of what is being released. I write all types of music, so it’s about finding the right arc to put them in! This EP had a lot of last minute changes - no matter how solid i think the track list is it always seems to keep me on my toes until it is released. We added a last minute song ‘when u need me.’ to the track list a month before the EP was due. I’m glad i did! Haha, it just hit 100 thousand streams in 5 days! Good call on that one.
How do you find it differs writing and recording in a collaborative environment with your previous musical project SŸDE, vs solo where you’re completely in charge of the process and outcome?
I think collaborative writing is so cool when you find the right person to do it with. For my solo project, i did a lot of cowriting so i could find my feet/taste as a writer. Personally, it is my favourite thing to be in full control of the writing & direction of a song. When i was starting in music, collaborating was a great way for me to get confident & realise what i liked when creating. It can be a challenge too, because you can sometimes get into a place of having to compromise your idea to meet someone in the middle. That’s just the reality of collaborating. I like that compromise in doses however i realised i needed to have my own say, more of the time - at the end of the day, i’m the one that has to market/promo these songs so i want them to reflect who i am!
Which song from nothing ever changes would you play to someone, who had never heard your music, to make them an instant fan?
Hmmm. That’s a great question! I love the ballad nothing ever changes or when u need me... Both are songs that really encapsulate the types of questions & struggles i go through as a person. I think those songs give an insight into the types of thoughts i have/my view on the world!
What’s one line from the EP you find at times can be stuck in your head? Or a line that you come back to?
“I don’t know how to say things that i know are gonna hurt u…. I don’t know how to carry this burden but i still do.”. I feel like there’s just something powerful about those lines. It’s a relatable feeling that i haven’t heard much in songs. I want to be kind to you yet i also have to say how i feel.. How do i do that ?! confrontation can be hard.
If nothing ever changes was a piece of pre-existing visual art, which artwork would it be?
Hmmm. A Mona Lisa. i’m kidding !!! but actually maybe that? It would DEFINITELY be the statue of Socrates in a thinking pose lmao. I think it actually sums up the whole body of work perfectly! Deep in thought and reflection. That’s me.
Australia has a diverse and vibrant music scene, who are some of your favourite Aussie acts you think everyone should be listening to and why?
It does! I would say: Matt Corby, Ruel, Blake Rose, JOY, Chase Atlantic, Ashwarya & The Kid LAROI! I love those artists because they’re pushing the boundaries & doing Australia proud overseas.
Do you have any live performance plans for the near future? And what does one of your live shows look like?
Definitely! I will be touring in the second half of the year. My live show looks like me playing piano/guitar & singing with a band (i think). Part of me also wants to do something that nobody expects - i just have to figure out what that is. Stay tuned! Watch this space!
RAPID FIRE
Biggest influences?
Sasha Sloan, Jeremy Zucker & Chelsea Cutler! I love how honest their music is.
Dream collaboration?
Chelsea Cutler, 100%. I actually spoke to her the other day & she has listened to my music, which is crazy to think about!
Album that has had the most impact on you?
Chase Atlantic - Phases!!!
How do you define your musical style in 3 words?
Vulnerable, honest, pop.
Best song of 2021 so far?
Hmmm. there have been so many that have inspired me this year. Reminds Me Of You - Kid LAROI & Juice WRLD.
If you could create the soundtrack for any film, which one would it be?
Definitely Inception. Me + Hans Zimmer have to connect asap .
What’s your favourite Christmas song?
The one that goes It’s Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas by Michael Buble.
What was the first song you loved to sing?
Matt Corby - Brother.
A song you would love to cover on tour?
Higher Love!! I have a version out on Spotify & i think it would be fun on stage.
Album you would listen to on repeat on a road trip?
Chase Atlantic - Phases! ;)
First concert you went to?
A Wiggles concert. When i was 5! After that though, I think it was a Billie Eilish show - she was in Melbourne & played to 200 people. I got free tickets & took a friend. Later she played a stadium lmao!!!
Best concert you have been to?
I loved seeing Odesza in Melbourne or Khalid at Splendour.
First album you ever bought?
Probably something by the Black Eyed Peas!
Most memorable show you’ve ever performed?
I played to 20,000 people at Aami park! That was special!
Guilty music pleasure?
G-Eazy. His raps are insane.
If you could support any artist on tour, who would it be?
Ruel or Lewis Capaldi!
An artist you think has had the most influence on the music industry.
In the last 10 years - Kanye West!
What advice would your current self, give your future self, for a year from now?
Please keep enjoying the process - it’s the fulfilling part in all of this. Continue to work on becoming better at what you do whilst also being gentle with yourself. Take some time rest because you are probably working super hard!
The moment you knew you wanted to be a musician?
When i realised there were lots of people like me struggling with mental health that needed a voice to connect with!
nothing ever changes is out now!