First Spin
Hey, I’m Hayden Thomas—musician, lifelong music fan, and the guy who still makes mixtapes for road trips.
First Spin is my weekly interview show where I sit down with emerging artists who I genuinely believe are doing something special. You might not know their names yet, but if you’re anything like me, you’ll want to change that.
This show isn’t about hype. It’s about real conversations—about the first gigs, the late-night doubts, the sound that finally clicks. It’s a space for new voices to tell their stories, and for all of us to listen a little closer.
If you’re always on the hunt for the next song that’ll mean something to you—welcome. You’re in the right place.
New artists. Real stories. Weekly drops. Let’s give ‘em their first spin.
First Spin
Latest Episodes
Dogwood Tales' Ben Ryan on the Shenandoah Valley, NewPort Folk Festival, and Their Current Tour
This week, I’m joined by Ben Ryan, guitarist and vocalist for Dogwood Tales, an indie rock band from Harrisonburg, Virginia. Ben and I talk about growing up in Virginia, the band’s beginnings, and the Shenandoah Valley’s place in th...
Lume's Co-Founder & CEO Duncan Greive on Why Albums Deserve Better
This week's episode is a little different. Instead of featuring an up and coming artist, I sit down with someone who is genuinely trying to make the music industry a better place for artists. Duncan Greive, co-founder and CEO of Lume, a new mus...
Theo Kandel on bowling, Miller High Life, and the upcoming West Coast tour
On this week's episode of First Spin, I chat with singer/songwriter Theo Kandel about his brand new album "A Horse Named Friday," his love of riddles, life in New York, inflation resistant Miller High Life, bowling, and his upcoming West Coast ...
verygently (Live at the Moroccan Lounge)
In this special episode of First Spin, I sit down with the three members of verygently (Tristan Bushman, Drew Erwin, and Joey Hendricks). We chatted about the origin of their name, how what started as a "what if" turned into an actual ban...
Danny Golden on Sobriety, Austin, and The Big Blue
In this episode of First Spin, Hayden sits down with singer-songwriter Danny Golden for a conversation about his new album, The Big Blue, and the life experiences that shaped it. The discussion centers on the emotional terrain behind the record...