New Song and Video

by Hardwood Records

“Make Believe” is a new song I wrote with my friend, novelist Colin McAdam. Over the last couple of years, Colin would send me chapters as he wrote and I would send him back music based on his ideas. Titled Black Dove, the book will appear in Fall 2021. “Make Believe” is about finding the beauty in truth, its bruised melody also acknowledging that as much as we need to stay on the ground and be honest, we will always make things up.

You’ll notice this new song is released under my full name, Hayden Desser. Please follow this full name on your favourite streaming service to keep up with new music. The song is available now on all streaming and digital services.

Like many of us lately, I’ve been confined to small spaces. I made the video by hanging my nephew’s green picnic blanket on the wall next to my dining table, conjuring images of cities and trees out of nowhere. It’s about the heartache we feel and the magic we crave, living in the real world and wanting to fly above it.

You can watch the video for “Make Believe” here.

I’m currently finishing a new record with producer Aaron Dessner, and co-writing songs with Matt Berninger for his solo debut album Serpentine Prison, due this Fall.

Thanks for listening.

Stay well,
xo H

Dream Serenade 2019 Line-up Announcement

by Hardwood Records

Toronto’s annual Dream Serenade benefit concert is back for its sixth year supporting and celebrating the Toronto community of children with developmental and/or physical disabilities and their caregivers. This year, on Saturday, November 2 at 8pm, the concert will feature sets from Matt Berninger (lead singer of The National), July Talk, Barenaked Ladies, Hayden, Shad, U.S. Girls, Donovan Woods and very special surprise guests. Once again, Dream Serenade will take place at Roy Thomson Hall, sister venue to its regular home at Massey Hall while it undergoes an historic revitalization.

Tickets for Dream Serenade are on sale now at the Roy Thomson Hall box office, by phone at 416-872-4255 or web at roythomsonhall.com.

Dream Serenade has become one of Toronto’s most highly anticipated annual events, combining a celebration of a hard working community while raising money and awareness for schools and services for children with developmental and/or physical disabilities and their caregivers. The popular annual event has now expanded to support other like-minded schools and care-centres in the GTA and raise funds that directly assist Toronto area families with a large summer camp bursary fund. This past summer, Dream Serenade audiences helped send 100 children to summer camp and/or specialized summer programming.

To support Dream Serenade with a tax-receipt eligible online donation, please visit us here.

5th Annual Dream Serenade

by Hardwood Records

It’s hard to believe that we are about to celebrate the 5th annual Dream Serenade Benefit Concert. This year’s show will take place at Roy Thomson Hall (as our regular home, Massey Hall, is undergoing its two-year revitalization) on Saturday, November 17 2018.

City and Colour, Barenaked Ladies, The Rural Alberta Advantage, Owen Pallett, Hayden, Weaves and Iskwé will be all be performing this year. And as usual, there will be some exciting special guests (past surprise guests have included Gord Downie, Jim Cuddy, Kevin Drew and others). The silent auction will return and take place on the night of the show for attendees in the Hall.

Tickets for Dream Serenade will be on sale this Friday, September 14 at 10am EST and available at the Roy Thomson Hall box office, by phone at 416-872-4255 or web at roythomsonhall.com.

Proceeds from the Dream Serenade support Toronto’s community of children with physical and developmental disabilities and their caregivers, and will continue to fund the year-round respite Family Relief Fund as well as an extended Summer Bursary Program. This past summer, Dream Serenade was able to assist over 50 families in the Greater Toronto Area in accessing Summer camps and programming through the initial Summer Bursary offering.

To support Dream Serenade with a tax-receipt eligible online donation, please visit us here.