Blending tradition and exploration, Clay Hazey takes what he wants from country and western and fills in the blanks as he pleases. A true gateway to the world of twang, his unique aesthetic combines sharp, earnest songwriting with a raw voice and earworm melodies to create a sound both fresh and familiar.
His self-titled debut EP (2024) was recorded by Nick Lanyon (Rapallo) and mixed by Jonathan Anderson (Andy Shauf, Ocie Elliott). The release earned spins on CBC Radio 1, charted on college radio in Burnaby and Toronto, and featured the standout single “Past Two” feat. Ocie Elliott’s Sierra Lundy — which played for over six months on SiriusXM’s NorthAmericana.
That same year, Clay landed performances at NXNE and Festival sur le Canal, and was a Mariposa Folk Fest showcase finalist. Exclaim named him one of their “Emerging Artists You Need to See.” His November Daylight Savings Tour with Jade Hilton and School House sold out Toronto, Kingston, Montreal, and Ottawa.
Clay’s next record, to be released spring of 2026, continues his alt-country exploration, drawing influence from Mule Variations (Tom Waits), Songs (Adrianne Lenker), and Foxwarren’s self-titled debut. His most personal work to date, the project blends his signature dark humour with reflections on addiction, self-acceptance, and the diminishing returns of romanticism.
