Hayden Phillis: Giving Voice to the Unseen Struggles of Youth with “Too Young”
By Christian Lamitschka for Country Music News International Magazine
In a world often quick to overlook the quiet battles waged by its younger generations, emerging singer-songwriter Hayden Phillis returns with a poignant and powerful new single, “Too Young.” Released just as Youth Week commences, the song delves into the often-hidden realities of deep social issues affecting young people, serving as a compelling herald for his upcoming debut album, also titled Too Young, slated for release in early May.
“Too Young” has already struck a chord with industry tastemakers, earning a coveted spot on Apple Music’s “New In Country” and “Southern Craft” playlists. This early embrace speaks volumes about the song’s raw authenticity and its timely message.
While the lyrics of “Too Young” aren’t a direct transcription of a single event, the song’s genesis lies in a chance encounter that left an indelible mark on Hayden. A conversation with a former schoolmate peeled back the layers of seemingly ordinary teenage life, revealing a landscape of hidden struggles and difficult choices.
“Too Young was inspired by seeing someone I hadn’t seen for a few years,” Hayden explains. “They told me about a lot of things they were struggling with during high school and why they left high school early.”
This candid exchange illuminated a stark reality for Hayden: the often-invisible hardships faced by young individuals, the way they can navigate immense difficulties without anyone in their orbit fully grasping the weight of their burdens. “Hearing about all the things they had been going through highlighted for me how younger people can go through lots of bad things and have no one be aware of it and go under the radar. So, I wrote a song around that idea with many references to the area around where I live.”
Rather than focusing on one specific narrative, “Too Young” paints a broader picture, drawing on a spectrum of challenging issues that disproportionately affect vulnerable young people. The lyrics unflinchingly touch upon the harsh realities of child homelessness, the insidious grip of drug abuse, the instability of broken homes, the toxicity of unhealthy relationships, and the devastating domino effect that can occur when one hardship triggers another.
“It was saddening and a shock to realise they were going through all of these things that I had no idea about,” Hayden reflects. “It is such a pressing issue, so I wanted to add a more personal side to it in song.”
Penned entirely by Hayden himself, “Too Young” serves as a stark reminder of the silent battles fought by many young people and underscores the critical importance of fostering awareness and extending compassion. It’s a call to look beyond surface appearances and recognize the potential struggles that may be hidden beneath a seemingly normal facade.
“I want Too Young to acknowledge how real these issues are and how you don’t really know how your friends are doing,” Hayden emphasizes. “And I hope it might make people be more aware of what people might be experiencing around them.”
The forthcoming Too Young album promises to be an intensely personal offering, with several tracks drawing directly from Hayden’s own life experiences. These deeply introspective songs will explore his personal battles with childhood epilepsy and his internal wrestling with matters of faith. Interwoven with these personal narratives are stories inspired by the lives and struggles of those around him, creating a tapestry of youthful experience that is both intimate and universally relatable.
“The album definitely has a couple of songs that hit home with those more personal issues—songs about my childhood epilepsy, internal struggles with religion, drug abuse, and homelessness for young people,” Hayden shares. “With this album especially, I wanted to focus more on topics that are important.”
The recording process for the album took place at the renowned Rabbit Hole Recording Studios, under the guidance of Brandon Dodd. This setting, known for capturing the raw energy and emotion of live performance, seems a fitting backdrop for Hayden’s honest and direct songwriting. “It was pretty incredible to record with him and he and Kasey Chambers’ studio,” Hayden remarks, highlighting the significance of the recording environment.
With the release of “Too Young,” Hayden Phillis isn’t just offering a new song; he’s opening a dialogue, shedding light on the often-unseen burdens carried by young people. As the world observes Youth Week, his music serves as a potent reminder to listen more intently, to empathize more deeply, and to recognize the profound impact that awareness and compassion can have on the lives of those navigating the complexities of youth. “Too Young” is available now on all streaming platforms, paving the way for an album that promises to be a powerful and important contribution to the contemporary singer-songwriter landscape when it arrives in early May.