This week I sit down with Dylan Grantham, who released music under the name Young Ritual. Dylan and I talk about his OCD, not rushing his music, and the trend away from short form content and towards platforms like Substack. Dylan's unique childhood set the stage for a life in music, even if it looks a bit different than his family envisioned. Hope you enjoy my conversation with the immensely talented, Dylan Grantham.

Songs featured in this episode:

Float

You

Julianna

Wild Child

I Could Never

Famous

Introduction music Blood Sugar Blues by former First Spin guest, Drew White.

If you enjoyed this episode, it’d mean a lot if you left a quick review—it's one of the best ways to help new listeners find the show.

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Thanks for listening—see you next week.

In this episode of First Spin, I sit down with indie-folk artist Will McCartt for a conversation about creativity, emotional vulnerability, and the process of finding your voice as an artist.

We talk about how music was always present in Will’s life — from playing guitar in church bands growing up to eventually writing a song for a major life event — but how it took years before he truly viewed songwriting as something personal and essential. What started as a hobby slowly evolved into a way for him to process emotions, experiences, and seasons of life.

Will touches on how songwriting became a space where he could finally process things honestly. That shift not only transformed the music itself, but also changed the way audiences began responding to it. We also dive into the atmospheric nature of indie folk music and discuss artists like Gregory Alan Isakov, Novo Amor, Lord Huron, and The Paper Kites. Will talks about building songs that feel immersive and cinematic — music that creates a sense of place as much as melody — and how layering textures and emotion together can completely change the way a listener experiences a song.

Beyond the music itself, we spend time talking about the realities of trying to build a career as an independent artist today: balancing demanding day jobs, navigating social media algorithms, staying authentic online, and trying to create meaningful art in a world that constantly demands attention. Will shares the philosophy behind his TikTok presence and why he intentionally focuses more on emotional connection than traditional promotion.

Along the way, we also get into conversations about family, marriage, creativity, growing up in Appalachia, and the strange tension between modern digital life and the desire for something slower, quieter, and more human -- discovering that honesty might be the thing connecting most powerfully with listeners.

Songs Featured in This Episode:

Coastline

anymore

Baby, Keep on Drivin'

So Long

With Her

Introduction music: Blood Sugar Blues by Drew White

Introduction music Blood Sugar Blues by former First Spin guest, Drew White.

If you enjoyed this episode, it’d mean a lot if you left a quick review—it's one of the best ways to help new listeners find the show.

And if you want to hear more artists worth your time, follow First Spin on social:
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Thanks for listening—see you next week.

In this episode I sit down with Nashville-based singer/songwriter Drew White. Drew and I talk about his fantastic 2025 release, Concrete Americana, life with missionary parents, choosing kindness, battling diabetes, touring the Southeast, So Far Sounds and more.

Songs featured in this episode:

Medicine

Concrete Americana

Kings Street

Blood Sugar Blues

Dandelions

Dreaming in the City

Introduction music Blood Sugar Blues by former First Spin guest, Drew White.

If you enjoyed this episode, it’d mean a lot if you left a quick review—it's one of the best ways to help new listeners find the show.

And if you want to hear more artists worth your time, follow First Spin on social:
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Thanks for listening—see you next week.

This week I sit down with the incredibly talented Khatumu. We talk about her experience of racism with a kid at work, how she passed time during covid lockdowns, the influences that developed her unique sound, and the neighbor that heard her singing through the wall and changed her life.

Songs featured in this episode:

hunting days

exposure therapy

blackout

matador

psuedo doctors

Introduction music Blood Sugar Blues by former First Spin guest, Drew White.

If you enjoyed this episode, it’d mean a lot if you left a quick review—it's one of the best ways to help new listeners find the show.

And if you want to hear more artists worth your time, follow First Spin on social:
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Thanks for listening—see you next week.

This week I sit down with Noah Thomas who releases music under the name American Fraternity. Noah and I talked about his brief experience in Greek life, graduating college during Covid, life in Los Angeles, and the importance of displaying confidence. You can catch American Fraternity live in Los Angeles on May 13th!

Songs featured in this episode:

Nights Like This

In Your Room

Sometimes

California (Is Heavy On My Mind)

Introduction music Blood Sugar Blues by former First Spin guest, Drew White.

If you enjoyed this episode, it’d mean a lot if you left a quick review—it's one of the best ways to help new listeners find the show.

And if you want to hear more artists worth your time, follow First Spin on social:
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Thanks for listening—see you next week.

On this episode of First Spin, I sit down with Wesley Phipps, current Belmont University student who just released his first EP, "Worst Of It." Wesley and I chat about how the guitar helped him overcome depression as a kid, life since leaving Dallas for Nashville, and wanting to do it all.

Songs featured in this episode:

Few Reasons

Drive to Ohio

Curtains

Leaving Houston

Still Gone

Introduction music Blood Sugar Blues by former First Spin guest, Drew White.

If you enjoyed this episode, it’d mean a lot if you left a quick review—it's one of the best ways to help new listeners find the show.

And if you want to hear more artists worth your time, follow First Spin on social:
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Thanks for listening—see you next week.

In this special, first-of-its-kind episode, Hayden sits down with HAFFWAY (Sam Westhoff) for a conversation before his headlining show at The Moroccan Lounge on February 12, 2025. Sam talks about almost giving up, writing for himself, mental health, the recent coverage in Rolling Stone, his latest album 'Wither.'

Introduction music Blood Sugar Blues by former First Spin guest, Drew White.

If you enjoyed this episode, it’d mean a lot if you left a quick review—it's one of the best ways to help new listeners find the show.

And if you want to hear more artists worth your time, follow First Spin on social:
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Thanks for listening—see you next week.

This week I sit down with Colorado-raised, Nashville-living, Montana-loving Seth Beamer. Seth and I talk about his time in the Denver music scene, why he left for Nashville, writing for syncs, how Spotify numbers influence things and how he balances running a business while promoting his music.

Songs featured in this episode:

Drive

You Can't Change Me

Picture Perfect

Ready To Go

The Runaround

Introduction music Blood Sugar Blues by former First Spin guest, Drew White.

If you enjoyed this episode, it’d mean a lot if you left a quick review—it's one of the best ways to help new listeners find the show.

And if you want to hear more artists worth your time, follow First Spin on social:
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Thanks for listening—see you next week.