Berklee College of Music was one of several schools that
Elise Hayes applied to. Temple University, University of New Hampshire, even a
few universities in New York – but none of them had a contemporary music
program like Berklee.
Hayes wasn’t looking to study classic music or musical
theater. She wanted to immerse herself in current music and the current music
business, so immerse herself she did.
“I feel like I learned so much there that it's hard for me
to even put it into words,” she said. “It really was such an intense three
years but a really awesome three years too. It's so inspiring there.”
After graduating, she knew that her final destination was
Nashville. It was the perfect blend of living affordably, making sure the bills
were paid and honing in on her songwriting. The songwriting community of
Nashville was exactly what she was looking for, and she’s called it home ever
since.
She learned right away that she had to be open to new
opportunities and however she could get her name out there, she was going to
try. Not only was she writing and performing for herself, but she was writing
and performing for others.
“When it came time to be writing for other people or writing
for film and TV projects or singing backup, I think it's really important in
the music industry to be flexible and to say yes to things and let your path
unfold from that,” she said. “I was really big into just going for things even
if they felt like it wasn’t exactly what my dream was. I feel like it all lead
me to where I am now.”
Her first TV placement was on Grey’s Anatomy through a song
she co-wrote with folk singer Jill Andrews. She was hired as a backup singer
and keyboard player for country artist Carly Pearce, who was touring with Blake
Shelton. However, she knew she didn’t want to do that forever.
“I didn't want to get too far away from my dream and my own
goals as an artist and a songwriter,” she said. “I decided to step away and it
was tough but I'm glad that I did it and I'm glad that I had that experience as
well.”
Her latest single, “Float”, is getting radio play on SiriusXM
and she is planning on releasing more singles in early 2019. Elise Hayes has
come a long way from Berklee College of Music, but her experience and her
ability is sure to leave a mark beyond her Nashville songwriting community.