Catch Of The Week: Hayley Giovinazzo
Meet Hayley Giovinazzo from Stow, MA
With her roots deeply embedded in New England, her head in a book at Wisconsin Lutheran College, and her heart in Nashville, Hayley Giovinazzo’s journey has finally led her to recording and releasing her first single. And to think it all happened during a pandemic. She has dreamed about making music in Nashville since she was a young girl singing and dancing around her home, where there was always music playing. Hayley’s mother raised her on country, and it was Taylor Swift who inspired her to pick up a guitar.
Giovinazzo can’t escape the influences of Taylor, Kacey, Kelsea and Dolly. And why would you want to? She clearly conveys her lyrics, with a crispy poppy passion that is infectious. Using the analogy of wanting to ignite an old flame, with a vinyl record is cleverly communicated in the chorus, “Baby in time we’ll come back in style, like old school vinyl,” and “don’t leave me singing the blues, about how we lost our tune.”
Hayley’s music is like a pop of color on a grey palette. Her fun, fresh vibe may just be what our ears need to hear right now.
Hear Hayley
Take a listen to Hayley’s clever, heartfelt and hopeful debut single, “Old School Vinyl.” More on the song from Hayley: “The song was one of the first songs I finished when quarantine started. I wrote it as kind of a hopeful heartbreak song. When I was writing it I liked this idea that a relationship could “come back in style” and so I started thinking of things that have come back in style, and vinyls came to mind! I liked the vintage imagery of that and I wanted to capture that in the sound of it as well.”
Get To Know Giovinazzo
From: Stow, Massachusetts
Grew up in: Stow, Massachusetts
Now lives in: Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Current single: My debut song “Old School Vinyl” is out now, and I just released a new song
“Lipstick On Your Car”
What led you to music: My family really led me to music, I grew up in a household that was
always singing and dancing and my mom raised me on country music and that’s really where my
love of country music started.
How old were you when you started: I was singing since pretty much before I could talk, but I
started songwriting and playing guitar when I was about 11.
First country song you learned: A Place In This World by Taylor Swift
Instruments played: Guitar and a little bit of piano
How would you describe your sound: A fusion of classic vibey country and contemporary
country.
Who inspires you: Kacey Musgraves, Taylor Swift, Dolly Parton, and Kelsea Ballerini are huge
inspirations to me. They all are so honest with their music and lyrics, and they’re also such
amazing role models. I’m also very inspired by Eric Church and Chris Stapleton’s music.
Dream duet partner: If I ever got to sing with Dolly Parton my life would be complete, but I’d
also really love to collaborate with Kelsea Ballerini!
All-time favorite country songs: Oh gosh there are so many “Merry Go Round” by Kacey
Musgraves, “You’re Gonna Miss This” by Trace Adkins, “Cowboy Take Me Away” by The
Chicks, and “My Wish” by Rascal Flatts just to name a few that come to mind.
First country concert: Martina McBride and Trace Adkins
What songs do you like now on Country 102.5: “Hole In The Bottle” by Kelsea Ballerini is
definitely an anthem for me, I’ve also been loving “Things A Man Oughta Know” by Lainey
Wilson, and “More Than My Hometown” by Morgan Wallen
If you weren’t a musician, what would you be doing: If I wasn’t a musician I would love to
own a clothing boutique, I love clothes!
Day job: I am currently a full-time college student and when I’m not in school I’m a barista at
Starbucks.
Most proud moment: Releasing my first single “Old School Vinyl”. Releasing music is
something I’ve been dreaming about since before I can remember and actually doing it just filled
my whole heart. My friends threw me a surprise release party when it was released and they gave
me a “reverse autograph” poster of my album cover that they all signed and left messages on,
and it was the sweetest, cutest, most thoughtful gift ever, and I just remember thinking I can’t
believe it actually happened, I can’t believe people are really listening to my own music.
Crazy thing that happened in your music career: Craziest thing that happened in my music
career was definitely being able to record and release music during a pandemic. During
quarantine I posted a video on my Instagram singing “Red, Wine, and Blue” by Hailey Whitters,
who is one of my favorite artists, and she noticed it and reposted it which was insane to me in
and of itself! But the studio I recorded at, Off The Row, followed her and through the repost
found me and reached out to me about recording down in Nashville. It was all so insane and just
felt like a dream being down there making music in a city I’d been dreaming about since I was
about five years old.
Other things you like to do: I love travelling and exploring new places to go, and I also just
love hanging out with my friends being crazy and goofy.
Fun facts: I watch The Bachelor every Monday night it’s definitely a guilty pleasure, I’m related
to the Munchkin Mayor in the Wizard of Oz, and I drink coffee like it’s water.
Mantra: “Don’t be so busy making a living you forget to make a life” -Dolly Parton
Hayley Over Here
Every week, Kruser’s Local Catch highlights New England’s homegrown country music talent, and tells you where to catch them locally and in Nashville. Click here to view previous catches.
*Singer/songwriters with original music: Please submit for consideration on The Local Catch by emailing Kruser at [email protected]
