What do you do when you’re stuck on the ground but really need to fly?
Hayden Desser, the singer-songwriter who has recorded as Hayden for more than twenty years, is sharing a new song and video entitled “Make Believe.” Through his long career, Hayden has always found beautiful, musically interesting ways of singing our aches and wants. He describes “Make Believe” as "finding the beauty in truth, the bruised melody acknowledging that as much as we need to stay on the ground and be honest, we will always make things up."
“Make Believe” is based on a novel written by Hayden’s friend, the writer Colin McAdam. Titled Black Dove, the book will appear in fall 2021. The song was produced by Hayden and the lyrics were written by both McAdam and Desser.
Like many of us lately, Hayden has been confined to small spaces. He made the video hanging his nephew’s green picnic blanket on the wall next to his dining table, conjuring images of cities and trees out of nowhere. The video is a testament to imagination, part of the song’s conversation about when and why we need to make believe. Desser explains, "It’s about the heartache we feel and the magic we crave, living in the real world and wanting to fly above it.” Watch the video for "Make Believe" AT
bit.ly/33Oc3sR
Desser is currently finishing a new record with producer Aaron Dessner (The National, Taylor Swift, Sharon Van Etten). He's also been co-writing with Matt Berninger for The National frontman's solo debut album Serpentine Prison, due this Fall. He's released eight studio albums, and is the co-founder of Dream Serenade, one of Canada's most highly anticipated annual concerts, which raises funds for children with exceptionalities and their caregivers by gathering musical talent from all over the world.
released August 12, 2020
Written by Hayden Desser and Colin McAdam
Recorded, mixed and produced by Hayden Desser at Skyscraper National Park