Somewhere between the first snowfall, a karasine lamp lit fireside and a crowded downtown jazz club you'll find Hayes. The husband and wife songwriting team of Jesse & Arielle Hayes gives a glimpse of their eclectic brand of Urban Americana on their new album 'Chasing Strangers'.
The album's title refers to searching for love in strangers when 'the one' may be right in front of you. This is something the Hayes' know well. Their relationship blossomed out of a friendship and shared love of great music. The songs on the album reflect their eclectic taste and explore longing, searching for and finding true love. The lyrics & atmosphere avoid 'love song' cliches while the melodies feel both familiar and fresh.
The album's intimate and innovative production rides on waves of lo-fi drums, guitar swells, subtle bass lines and acoustic jazz piano. The vocals owe as much to Jill Scott and Curtis Mayfield as the atmosphere does Norah Jones or Joni Mitchell, all the while feeling distinctly original. Recorded over the last four years, primarily in the Hayes' home studio with additional tracks in New York and London, if you listen closely to some songs you can hear snaps and crackles from a fire and chatter from the Hayes' young son.
They write with a true balance of the personal and the universal. Their ability to evoke emotion and reach across boundaries has earned them success overseas with four songs on the 2006 debut of Japanese EMI artist Aika Including the single “Orange Moon” which entered radio charts at # 9.
As vocalists and multi-instrumentalists they have recorded with members of the legendary funk band The Time and Prince’s New Power Generation. As arrangers they have worked with The Hawthorne String Quartet whose credits include “Schindler’s List” and “The Secret of Roan Inish”. In 2006 they were commissioned to contribute a song, “Still Here” to the award-winning documentary 'Prison Pups' alongside folk-blues veteran Chris Smither. Production credits include singer-songwriter Oli Rockberger's debut album 'Hush Now' and music for a number of independent films.
