Hedley Expertly Weathers the Storms of Show Biz

Canadian rockers Hedley talk to Youthink about their latest record, Storms, and living in the moment.

Since 2004, Canadian rockers Hedley have been turning heads wherever they go. Known for their inexhaustible stage presence, outspoken ideas and legions of fans, Hedley, composed of lead singer Jacob Hoggard, bass player Tommy MacDonald, guitarist Dave Rosin and drummer Chris Crippin, has released four studio albums to date, each one more successful and polished than the last. Youthink recently had the chance to chat with Jacob (pictured far left) and Dave 
(pictured far right) about their latest record, Storms, as well as their success and living in the moment.


YT: When we spoke to you a couple of years ago, you mentioned that due to the success of your first two albums, there was pressure that came with the release of your last album. How are you feeling this time around?

JH: Even more nervous! But even more excited! There’s a lot that we put into this record under very similar circumstances [as the last one] and the same amount of pressure hangs over our heads as far as whether or not our fans are going to like it. And that itself is a major motivator for us – not to want to please our fans – but to make music that our fans are going to like. ‘Cause that’s who we’re doing this for… it’s who we’ve always done this for and I think keeping that paramount in our minds is pretty important.


YT: Do you find that pressure can be helpful 
to push yourselves to grow as artists?

JH: I think that a certain element of pressure really pushes us to succeed and to strive for that next step, and to never settle. I mean, I think everybody feels pressure in their own lives in different ways, whether it’s to succeed at work or at school, and it’s that same element of – maybe it’s competitiveness – or it’s just in our human nature to feel that need to compete or to do better. 

DR: Setting goals for yourself and trying to achieve them. That’s a good kind of pressure. Because that’s pressure you’re putting on yourself.

JH: Like today I said, “Don’t spill any milk on your shirt.” I’ll have to try again tomorrow. 


YT: Since 2005, you’ve released a new album pretty much every two years. How important do you feel it is for the band to not be out of the spotlight for too long? 

DR: I think less being in the spotlight, more just delivering something to our fans. When we get home from touring, we don’t just all of a sudden split to four corners of the globe. We take a week or two off and decompress for sure, but right away – even right after we finished Storms – we were already thinking about what’s next.

JH: Yeah, the momentum is also really important to us and, you know, once we get going, none of us really wants to stop or slow down. There’s always something else we can be doing.

DR: Just remember, just ‘cause we’re not on your TV doesn’t mean that we’re not busy working on something else. 

JH: We’re in the laboratory.


YT: Storms has been described as a full-length concept album. What’s the story or underlying theme behind the album? 

JH: Well, we call it Storms because of how consistent that word was with the lyrics throughout the entire record. There’s a song called Stormy, and just the use of the word “storms” to symbolize difficulty in life or just any sort of trouble is very consistent throughout the record.


YT: Invincible and One Life are very inspirational and optimistic tracks. Is this a common thread that runs throughout the album? 

JH: No, there are some more songs that come from a little bit more, not a desperate place, but almost just what you’d be thinking or saying during a storm, as opposed to what you’d be saying afterwards, having that positive perspective of the fact that everything’s going to end. And I think for us that’s very evident because even making this record, as a band we went through a lot. And there was a lot going on in our own lives that we found ourselves having to help each other through. We kind of got through this process, as opposed to just making another record, and that was really important, and really began to just become evident in the lyrics as well, because it wasn’t always easy and it wasn’t always difficult. The beauty of it is that it kind of came full circle.


YT: When you think about the band’s future, does the idea of leaving a legacy ever come up, and if so, what would you want it to be?

JH: (Sarcastically) I think of leaving a legacy in the morning when I go to the bathroom. That’s about it. But I just mean like, whether I should shut the door or leave it open. Essentially. But outside of that, I think we try to focus on what we’re going to do next and sort of what’s happening in that moment because that is just as important as what’s going to happen [in the future]. There’s a lot going on in our lives right now and for us it moves very quickly. So it’s far more important for us to be focussing on what we’re doing right now, and what we could be doing tomorrow, as opposed to what it’s going to look like behind us.

DR: Yeah, it’s made us really learn to savour the moment. Be here in the now.


Enter to WIN tickets to see Hedley LIVE!

Catch Hedley on tour 
in the following cities:

• February 16th in Lethbridge 
@ Enmax Center

• February 17th in Medicine 
Hat @ Medicine Hat Arena

• March 20th in Calgary
 @ Scotiabank Saddledome

• March 21st in Edmonton
 @ Rexall Place
• March 24th in Vancouver @ Rogers Arena