"Mediocre White Boy" Incoming: An Interview with Fiona Hayes

(Image by Katy Kelly Photos; @katytothekelly_photos on instagram)

Fiona Hayes is your new favorite female alt-rock artist. Her powerful voice and punchy tracks are reminiscent of the 90’s riot grrrl movement – elevated into the 21st century. She brings a rebellious and relatable spirit in her music, that is all too relevant in today’s world. 

Despite being 15, Fiona has already carved her way into the alt-rock scene, tackling topics such as misogyny, survival, and heartbreak within her music. Her most recent music release, "Models," is both invigorating and deeply relatable. It opens with, “Gotta call my mom in case you try to murder me / Don’t come with a label that says satisfaction guaranteed,” – boldly commenting on the normalized danger in the world of dating. The track closes on “She’s who I blame”, a pointed message that leaves a listener with something to reflect on. The song questions societal norms with frustration, playful digs, and hard truths all bundled into a great alt-rock tune. 

And she’s not slowing down. Fiona’s new single, "Mediocre White Boy," drops this week. I had the chance to talk with her about the release and her musicianship. 

(The Real Musician): I love your style, your voice, your identity. You are a catapulting young artist, with great drive towards advocating for yourself. Can you speak on your upcoming new single "Mediocre White Boy," -- what it is about? How did you come up with the idea?

(Fiona Hayes): Mwb (Mediocre White Boy) is about the deteriorating dynamic between men and women on both a personal and cultural level. I think most femme-identifying individuals would agree that it is exhausting to walk through the world having to calculate every word, gesture, and outfit. Meanwhile, men just get to exist, and are often rewarded for mediocrity. I hope this song connects with a lot of listeners, either through personal relationship experiences or the broader impact of the patriarchy on women.

How do you write your songs? Do you have a specific process? Or does the music just come to you and you channel it into what it needs to be? 

I can’t say one specific event that inspired me to write this song, but I have experienced being dismissed, feeling afraid, and not being taken seriously because I am a girl. So many of my friends and the femme mentors in my life have had similar or worse feelings and experiences. This song was a way to process some of my frustration and rage. The way the song builds really reflects that built-up anger. There is a point in the song where I seem to take a pause and take a deep breath to calm down, but the rage comes right back to the surface. I am really excited for this song to be released. I hope it resonates with people.

Generally, I start with the lyrics- a bridge or chorus, and then build the verses. From there, I will start working with my guitar and bass. I bring the acoustic version of the song to my producer, Abe Anderson, and we start filling it out from there. 

Inspiration can come from anywhere really. Sometimes a phrase, a single word, a song lyric, a paragraph in a book will send me down a spiral that ends in an all-night song writing session in my bedroom. When I am not feeling inspired, I like to read, find new music, or watch something where people are creating something (think Ru Paul’s Drag Race, Project Runway, Top Chef), or just walk away for a day or two.

What’s the first song you ever wrote? And what’s your favorite song of yours that is released right now?

The first song I wrote was also the first song I released, called “Cry About It.” That one was actually inspired by a guy I know who is often rude and dismissive of my feelings. When I confronted him about it once, he told me to cry about it. Instead, I wrote a song about it and I haven’t stopped. My favorite song is always my most recent one! I feel like I am always evolving and improving, so whatever I am just finishing up is the song I am most excited about.

Would you say that any of your current releases are similar to Mediocre White Boy? Is it its own new thing?

I think all of my songs have a similar vibe. Heartbreak, survival, conflict, and misogyny are recurring themes in my songs. I’m always trying to find the balance between power and vulnerability, while processing through my feelings and experiences.

Along those lines, how would you describe your sound? For people who have never heard of you or your music, what would you tell them to convince them to listen to you or attend a show?

I would describe myself as a pop-punk and contemporary alt-rock artist. I combine signature layered harmonies, emotive and powerful vocals with gritty guitars, distorted riffs, and punchy basslines. I am heavily inspired by female-led 90s alt-rock legends like Veruca Salt, Hole, Sinead O’Connor, and Fiona Apple, but I add a modern twist that mirrors today’s vibrant female-driven pop-punk resurgence. My music is very dynamic live and audiences really engage with me. I have awesome fans! I am so grateful for and inspired by them.

---

I want to thank Fiona Hayes again for taking the time to answer my questions! I am super excited for her next ventures and will have my countdown running to listen to "Mediocre White Boy" as soon as it's out. 

Catch Fiona at her show on March 20th, and listen to "Mediocre White Boy" when it's out on January 22nd!

(Click below for more Fiona Hayes)

Everything Fiona Hayes

Listen to "Models" by Fiona Hayes