Christian Hayes is stepping into a new chapter of his rising career with the release of “Good As It Gets,” a luminous folk-pop track out now via Capitol Records. Known for his heartfelt storytelling, the 26-year-old singer-songwriter captures the joy of slowing down and savoring love’s quiet moments.

“I’ve always wanted to rush love – never been the type for a slow burn,” Hayes says of the single, written with Steve Solomon, David Hodges, and Andrew Jackson. “This song is about letting love take its time and actually enjoying that time, enjoying the pursuit.”

Produced by Brett Truitt, the song blends acoustic strumming and cascading banjo with Hayes’ tender vocals, painting the afterglow of a first date. Its chorus delivers the heart of the track, contentment in love’s simplicity.

“Good As It Gets” follows Hayes’ breakout single “Something To Lose” – later reimagined with Corey Harper and continues the momentum from his 2024 debut EP Last I Love You, which featured viral hit “LILY.”  Hayes has the rare gift of making the personal feel universal — his songs don’t just tell stories, they invite listeners to live inside them.

Raised in Appalachia and a former U.S. Navy Reserve member, Hayes has quickly carved out a space in the folk-pop scene, recently performing at CMA Fest and Jackalope Jamboree. He’ll return to the stage this fall at Born & Raised 2025 (Sept. 11), Beer City Music Hall in Oklahoma City (Nov. 5), and Revel in Albuquerque (Nov. 8). 

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Fandom Daily: “Good As It Gets” feels both timeless and deeply personal. What inspired you to write a song about letting love take its time?

Christian Hayes: I've never been one for a slow burn - I used to be a little impatient. As I've matured and grown, I've learned that the best things take time, and that you shouldn't rush the beginning of something great. You should enjoy every moment.

Fandom Daily:The production has such a warm, intimate feel. How did you shape the sound to match the emotion of the lyrics?

Christian Hayes: It all started in the writing room with David Hodges, Steve Solomon, and Andrew Jackson. We wrote this song on piano which gave it such a delicate feeling. We then added the guitar walkdown and it came out beautifully. Then I got with Brett Truitt to fully produce it, and we gave it a John Mayer vibe. I wanted the song to sound exactly how it felt driving home after that date. 

Fandom Daily: The bridge of the song feels especially vulnerable. How important is it for you to include that level of self-reflection in your music?

Christian Hayes: I think every song should be authentic and vulnerable. I pour every bit of emotion that I can into my lyrics and into my recording. There's nothing that's off limits in my mind when it comes to songwriting. I do this to share my life and share my experiences and that's what matters most is being open and honest. 

Fandom Daily: This is your follow-up to “Something To Lose,” which found a whole new life in your collaboration with Corey Harper. How did that experience shape the way you approached “Good As It Gets”?

Christian Hayes: “Something To Lose” is definitely a more upbeat anthemic jam, as it should be, because that's the emotion behind the song. I knew that with “Good As It Gets” I would be making a softer sweeter tune. Something that could work as a first dance at a wedding.

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Christian Hayes: I want them to fall in love, or remember why they fell in love in the first place. It's such a euphoric feeling and there's nothing in the world like it.

Fandom Daily: What did you learn about yourself while writing this track?

Christian Hayes: That I'm a hopeless romantic - I was definitely made for a different era of love then we live in today.

Fandom Daily: You grew up in the foothills of Appalachia, surrounded by storytellers, including your grandfather. How has that shaped the way you write songs today?

Christian Hayes: I mean my songs are stories, they're real... Stories are who we are as people - it's how we keep things alive and pass things along. It's how we learn and it's how we grow. Stories help us celebrate and remember and I'm so grateful for a family that takes so much pride in our stories. 

Fandom Daily: You’ve had quite a unique journey – serving in the U.S. Navy Reserve, attending the University of Alabama, and then moving to Nashville. How do those life experiences influence your artistry?

Christian Hayes: With anything in life comes experiences, good and bad, and those experiences shape who we are. I've been fortunate enough to have lived a pretty invigorating life and I'm eternally thankful for that. The Navy gave me an incredible work ethic, Bama taught me the ins and outs of relationships and friendships (I skipped class a lot so I should've learned more), and Nashville and LA gave me the most amazing new friendships within music and opened my eyes to what my music can do and be.

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Christian Hayes: It's so hard to put my music in a box - I really don't care what genre it is as long as the songs are good. I listen to such a wide variety of music, so I grab inspiration from so many artists. If I HAD to give it a genre to live, I would say it falls more in the folk pop, popish, indie, singer songwriter lanes more than anything. I've really been working to evolve the sound and take it to that next level. It will always be a sound unique to me though. 

Fandom Daily: What do you think it is about your music that resonates so deeply with listeners?

Christian Hayes: I really think people can feel and hear the realness and the raw emotion in my lyrics and my music. I think my songs are relatable - I write about things we all go through. Now more than ever people appreciate honesty and that's what I strive to give.

Fandom Daily: You’ve got some tour dates coming up! How do you like to connect with fans during your live shows?

Christian Hayes: First off I LOVE playing live - there are going to be a LOT more live shows next year.. I love telling the stories about the songs before I play them, I like to talk to the crowd like it's a one on one conversation, I make it as personal as I can.

Fandom Daily: With your music gaining momentum and your audience growing, how do you plan to keep that personal connection with fans as your career continues to rise?

Christian Hayes: It is my hope that I will always just be me - no matter how big this whole thing gets. I always want to remain honest, open, and vulnerable. I know if I keep that at the root of who I am as an artist the connection will always be there.