Liam Hayes

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Liam Hayes
Background information
Also known as Plush
Origin Chicago
Years active 1994–present
Labels www.candlewick-lake.com
Website www.liamhayesandplush.com

Liam Hayes, professionally known as Plush since 1992 is a songwriter and performer from Chicago.[1]

His discography includes three critically acclaimed records: More You Becomes You (1998), Fed (2002), and Bright Penny (2009).

In 2000, Hayes appeared as himself performing Soaring and Boring in the film High Fidelity.[2]

Early Recording Years, More You Becomes You (1994-1998)

Between 1994 and 1998 Liam Hayes recorded and released two singles, 1994's debut single Found A Little Baby,[3] and 1997's No Education.[4] 1998 saw the release of Hayes' debut solo album More You Becomes You.[4]

Fed (1999-2002)

After the release of More You Becomes You, Hayes began writing and collecting songs for his second studio album. The album combined rock arrangements with big band instrumentation and full string sections.[5][6] The end result was Fed which was released in 2002.[4]

Bright Penny (2005-2009)

Around 2005 Hayes began to work on his third proper studio album. The sessions were spread between L.A., New York, Michigan, and Chicago and involved numerous musicians including Brian Wilson's rhythm section and legendary Chicago Blues and Jazz drummer Morris Jennings.[7] Almost a year to the day of the belated UK release of Plush’s Fed, Broken Horse Records announced the release of its follow up album, Bright Penny.

Although Bright Penny appeared relatively quickly after the UK release of Fed, its roots go as far back as the initial release and subsequent non-release of Fed. Whilst dealing with the frustrations that accompanied this situation, and dealing with profound personal loss, Hayes managed to maintain his love of music and his craft of songwriting that had been at the centre of his life since he was a child. As recording began and the album’s track listing began to take shape by selecting songs both old and new from his expanding songbook, a narrative of hope, loss and the love of music began to emerge as the record’s theme.

”Music has defined me and it has always been there with me. I have had a lifelong relationship with it. It pretty much saved me when nothing else could. It has also, at points, pushed me close to the edge. That’s the kind of friend it is.”

The idea of music being one’s greatest ally is explored in “ So Much Music”. Other songs such as “Take A Chance”, present a theme of self transformation, while “Look Up, Look Down” offers a picture of the struggle to survive.[7]

Bright Penny was released in 2009.[4]

Current activities

“It was surreal,” says the Chicago composer and performer Liam Hayes, about appearing in the Roman Coppola film A Glimpse Inside the Mind of Charles Swan III. “I haven’t played many gigs on a beach with a Hammond organ, you know?” Hayes, who has made music under the name Plush since the early ’90s, was contacted by Coppola after the director became a huge fan. “I just got so absorbed by his music,” Coppola recently told GQ (UK) about Hayes and Plush.

The result of this appreciation was Hayes and Coppola making a soundtrack out of Hayes’ music. “It evolved,” says Hayes. “When we met to discuss the project we talked about possible songs. We talked some more, added a few more songs, and I ended up doing the score.” Hayes also appears in the film performing the tune “So Much Music.” It isn’t his first time onscreen: In 2000 he appeared in High Fidelity performing his song "Soaring and Boring". His imaginative, atmospheric, cinematic style is well suited to movie soundtracks, and his Charles Swan soundtrack is made up of songs from Fed, Bright Penny and the forthcoming Korp Sole Roller along with music written specifically for the film.

Discography

Singles

Studio albums

Soundtrack albums

References

  1. ↑ Bogdanov, Vladimir; Woodstra, Chris; Erlewine, Stephen Thomas (2002). All music guide to rock: the definitive guide to rock, pop, and soul. Hal Leonard Corporation. pp. 868–. ISBN 978-0-87930-653-3. Retrieved 13 August 2011. 
  2. ↑ Layne, Joslyn. "Plush - biography". Allmusic. Retrieved 10 July 2012. 
  3. ↑ "http://www.scrammagazine.com/plush-conversation-with-schroeder-liam-hayes-meets-jonathan-donaldson
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 http://www.discogs.com/search?q=Liam+Hayes+Plush&type=all
  5. ↑ http://grownupallwrong.blogspot.com/2007/08/plush-fed-us-lost-ork-pop-masterpiece.html
  6. ↑ http://candlewick-lake.com/press/uncut-200212.pdf
  7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 http://www.brokenhorse.co.uk/brokenhorse2.html

External links

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