Toronto folk-pop singer, songwriter, performer Piper Hayes is now set to release her first solo studio album – a four song EP called ‘Ain’t Nothin’ Like...’ The special guests are Toronto singer-songwriters Joy Phillips (opener) and Carmela Antonio (closer).

WHERE: The Piston, Toronto (937 Bloor Street West).

WHEN: Thursday, September 18, 2014, doors at 8:00 p.m. Set times; Joy Phillips at 9:00 p.m., Piper Hayes at 9:30 p.m. and Carmela Antonio at 11:00 p.m.

HOW MUCH: Tickets are $12.00 in advance; available online at http://pipersings.com, or $15.00 at the door.

FIRST SINGLE: “Love Song” (released today); https://soundcloud.com/piperhayes/love-song.

MEDIA QUOTES:

“I like this girl, Piper. Great name and the accessibility of her voice. That 'Love Song' is reminiscent of Carpenters doing Bacharach, in modern times.” – Mike Benhaim, Metro Toronto, August, 2014.

Re “Love Song” – “Great track! Sounds like: Some decade or many.” – Larry Lootsteen, ajournalofmusicalthings.com/Alan Cross, August, 2014.

ARTIST QUOTE: Hayes states, “In 2011, when home for the holidays from my musical theatre studies in New York (at Collaborative Arts Project 21; professional training conservatory and Off-Broadway theatre company), I picked up my guitar and started writing songs. When I went back to New York I brought my guitar with me. At first there was no intention of playing them for anyone, but eventually I did and the response was overwhelming.”

ARTIST INFO: http://pipersings.com.

‘Ain’t Nothin’ Like...’ is set for release (CD via her website and off-stage, Bandcamp and iTunes) on September 18, 2014. The album was produced by Toronto songwriter, multi-instrumentalist and co-founder of Little Noise Records Mike Schlosser (You Say Party! We Say Die!, Rekha Patel, Anna Cyzon, Kendal Thompson). It was recorded at Little Noise Records and Toronto West Sound (drums and bass), and features musicians Piper Hayes (voice), Mike Schlosser (guitar/keys), Tony Rabalao (drums), Kyle T (bass), Brenna MacQuarrie (keys), Bryden Baird (trumpet), Gene Hardy (saxophone) and Steve York (harmonica).

‘Ain’t Nothin’ Like...’ is about love; in all its traditional and non traditional forms. Each song is based on an experience straight from Hayes’ life; songs about a romantic love affair in Mexico and fleeting intense Brazilian heartbreak, a song about uninhibited love from a child and a song literally from a dream that is about finding one’s tribe – the people that get you and want to walk by your side.

In just a couple years, Piper Hayes has taken the world of music by storm; making a name for herself on the list of hot spots in Toronto and New York City. And recently (fall of 2013), she headlined her first international European tour, with shows throughout The Netherlands, Denmark and Iceland.

Hayes’ first show as a solo musician (December 2012) was at New York’s premier showcase venue Arlene’s Grocery. She recorded her performance and made her first live album. ‘Live In NYC’, independently released on January 24, 2013, was produced by Danny Garcia of FirstLive Studio, NYC and mastered by Ray Montford (Shawna Caspi, Autorickshaw, Cris Cuddy) in Toronto.

Hayes (a graduate of a two-year Second City conservatory program) got her start in legendary Toronto venues such as The Horseshoe Tavern, El Mocambo, The Rivoli and The Cameron House, and has shared the stage with artists including Angela Saini, Julian Taylor, Laura Barrett and Kevin Hearn (Barenaked Ladies).

Hayes (who considers her voice as her main instrument) thrives on stage and her inspiration comes from the need to perform, to heal people through song and to inspire change. Some of her musical influences include Nina Simone, Lhasa De Sela, Bob Dylan and Erykah Badu.

ABOUT:

New York-born, raised in Toronto, soul/folk singer, songwriter and performer Piper Hayes captivates audiences with her truly authentic live performances; she is a one woman party and her evocative yet powerful voice will take you to other dimensions. She released a full-length live album ‘Live In NYC’ in 2013, and her latest, ‘Ain’t Nothin’ Like...’ (debut studio album), is her most personal effort to date.