John Hayes Releases New Single “Closer” – OUT NOW

Acclaimed producer and live performer John Hayes returns with “Closer,” the lead single from his upcoming full-length album on Nettwerk. Out now, the track signals a new chapter for Hayes — one defined by a fresh and genuine sonic identity that departs from the intimate piano work of his recent EP.

“Closer” unfolds as a meticulously layered piece that blends atmospheric textures with pulsing rhythms, vocals, and cinematic production. Where Hayes’s last piano-driven project revealed his nuanced touch and compositional depth, this new single offers a glimpse into the fuller, genre-expanding world he’s building for the album. Fans will also be able to expect an accompanying live show in conjunction with the more immersive, lively style.

➤ Download/Stream

“This song represents the truest reflection of where I am right now as an artist. It’s a more accurate and vulnerable direction than anything I’ve released before, and I want fans to know this is what they can expect from me moving forward,” shares Hayes.

Born and raised in Minneapolis, John Hayes has steadily carved out a reputation as a boundary-pushing artist, balancing his background as a classically trained pianist with a fearless curiosity for modern electronic and ambient production. His catalog spans collaborations, solo piano records, and explorations across electronic soundscapes, earning him a growing audience that connects deeply with his ability to tell stories without words.

With “Closer”, Hayes bridges his classical roots with a forward-leaning production style, creating a sound that feels both deeply personal and universally resonant. As the first glimpse of his upcoming album, the track sets the tone for what promises to be his most ambitious and cohesive project to date.

More about John Hayes

After taking a massive step forward with his five-song project, Bloom, Denver-based producer and multi-instrumentalist John Hayes, continued to expand his own sonic boundaries with his 3 track EP, Dawn Creek. Across these tracks, Hayes immerses himself in the world of body-moving electronic music, resulting in music that’s energetic and propulsive but still containing the emotive streak that’s marked his work thus far.

Recalling the hypnotic dancefloor psychedelia of artists like Jon Hopkins, Tourist, and Lane 8, Bloom and Dawn Creek make for the start of an exciting new path for Hayes as well as a full realization of his influences and ambitions.

Growing up with the piano as his primary instrument, Hayes eventually abandoned classical studies in college and started immersing himself in the intricacies of score work, as well as the limitless opportunities of electronic music production. Inspired by Nils Frahm’s hybridic neo-classical electronic approach, Hayes has since amassed an impressive and expansive body of work, with releases via Nettwerk (Neil Frances, il:lo), Western Vinyl (Kaitlyn Aurelia Smith, Balmorhea), and Moderna (Tom Adams, Lycoriscoris.)

Along with his studio releases, Hayes has gained recognition in the Denver electronic scene, known for his live performances. He has shared the stage with prominent artists such as Duskus, Luttrell, Christian Loffler, and Two Lanes.

When Hayes was 23, he lost his best friend to a rare form of cancer—an experience that pushed him to dive headfirst into his musical ambitions. The result is an inspired sound that is deeply expansive and freeing.

“That feeling that it could all be gone is why I make music; it drives me. Why would I not do exactly what I want to do with my time? We only have one shot at this.” Emma Orland

CONNECT WITH JOHN HAYES

YouTube | Facebook | Instagram

---

References

Unfolded PR. (2025). John Hayes Unveils New Single “Closer” – OUT NOW Marking New Direction Ahead of Forthcoming Album. Retrieved from [Email communication].