Gemma Hayes – The “Blind Faith” Interview


Blind Faith and Finding Balance: A Conversation with Gemma Hayes

Gemma Hayes is the kind of artist whose music breathes, emanating authenticity and groundedness. Although it’s been a decade since her last album, her newest release, Blind Faith, feels both familiar and refreshed. It echos her signature introspective style while exploring new musical territory.

She recalls a time during her early career when life on the road was a blur of cities and hotels. “I remember one night I was in a hotel,” she says, “and I woke up in the middle of the night in a pitch-black room. I had no idea what city I was in, what country I was in.” In those days, she toured endlessly, a young artist signed to a major label, shuttling between cities on a tour bus, often waking up with no idea where she was.

“You know, you just take it day by day and try not to look at the mountain of gigs ahead of you,” she reflects, “I’d get so intimidated by the sheer amount, I wouldn’t even look at the schedule.” It was a time when she was hard on herself, “I was just so tough on myself, always convinced I wasn’t good enough.” If she could speak to her younger self, she would simply say, “Chill out and enjoy it… it’s not so serious.”

That self-assuredness has been hard-earned. Hayes explains that the arrival of her children shifted her perspective significantly. “As soon as I took the focus off myself and onto another human being, a lot of stuff just naturally fell into place,” she explains. “They made me realize what really matters. My kids, my husband, my dog, my routine… these are the things that bring me joy.” Music, of course, remains at the core, but her relationship with it has evolved. She laughs as she confesses, “I still don’t listen to a lot of music. I don’t go to a lot of shows, but when I do, it’s almost like a spiritual experience.”

Hayes speaks about her experiences with music as if they’re layered memories, each distinct but ultimately part of a larger story. After all, it has been a journey of finding her voice not only as an artist but also as an individual. Her new album, Blind Faith, embodies this evolution, built during a time of introspection and growth. “The title has a couple of meanings,” she says, “Blind Faith can be this sort of ignorance—like when people follow something without question. But for me, it’s about the faith you have to have when you can’t see where you’re going. You either believe there’s a reason for it all, or you don’t.”

It’s a sentiment that feels like a summation of Hayes’ career. There were certainly times when she considered leaving music altogether. “I was sad about it,” she admits. “The further I got from music, the harder it was to get back. It felt like it was slipping away.” It wasn’t until a friend gave her the nudge she needed that she found the courage to begin again. “There’s this friend of mine, Tessa. One day, she just handed me a guitar and said, ‘Sing a song.’ I was like, ‘No, I can’t.’ But she persisted, and little by little, I got back to it. That’s when the album started to come together.”

The pandemic unexpectedly played a role, too. Hayes found herself with time, space, and, perhaps most importantly, a renewed sense of purpose. “We moved to my husband’s mother’s house during lockdown, and she had this mini grand piano. I thought, ‘Okay, everything I need is here.’” Surrounded by the quiet of the countryside, Hayes was able to reconnect with music in a way she hadn’t in years.

Blind Faith is a reflection of this reconnection, an album that carries an intimacy that only time away could cultivate. Tracks like “High and Low” showcase her growth as a songwriter, and Hayes admits that she pushed herself with this one. “I really worked on the lyrics. I wanted them to be as authentic as possible. There’s a real satisfaction in knowing I got there.”

As we talk more about the new album, it’s clear that this project represents both a return to form and a new beginning. Hayes admits the song “Hardwired” is a departure for her, born out of a fascination with how technology shapes our lives. “Even in this house, we were getting more and more attached to our phones. I’d find myself going down rabbit holes online, and I just had to unplug. The song is really about questioning what we’re doing and how much we rely on all this information.” Performing it live has taken on a new life, she adds, bringing out a rawness that wasn’t fully captured in the recording. “It’s a little harder, a little edgier. I love singing it live.”

When it comes to live performances, Hayes is both grateful and reflective. She acknowledges the effort it takes for fans to attend a show, something she doesn’t take lightly. “It’s a big deal,” she says, “and when people come out, I’m always grateful. It’s like a shared experience—you’ve all taken the time to be there.” Recently, she found herself on the other side of that equation. A friend dragged her to see Dirk Powell, a bluegrass and Cajun musician, in a small pub in West Cork. “I didn’t want to go, but it ended up being one of the best gigs I’ve ever seen. It was such a spiritual experience, and I left feeling so grateful.”

At this stage in her career, Hayes isn’t afraid to acknowledge how much music—and the people who make it—have shaped her. She speaks warmly of long-time friends and collaborators like Lisa Hannigan and Paul Noonan, who both appear on Blind Faith. “Lisa is a brilliant lyricist,” Hayes says. “She came in and completely transformed a song, ‘Feed the Flames,’ giving the verses this swing that woke them up. Her voice adds such beautiful layers. And Paul… he just has this gentle presence. You hear him, and you feel his warmth.”

Looking back, Hayes reflects on the influences that shaped her. Growing up in a large Irish family, music was always a presence, though she was the youngest, quietly absorbing it all. “My sister would be playing Fleetwood Mac in one room, my brother would have Iron Maiden on in another, and I’d sit in the hallway listening to both at once. Sometimes, it even sounded like they were in the same key.” That eclectic musical upbringing finds echoes in her own work, where folk and rock mingle effortlessly.

Even as we touch on more nostalgic notes, Hayes is clearly focused on what’s ahead. While she’s proud of her past albums, she’s equally excited for what the future holds. Asked if she ever thought her last album would be the final one, she pauses. “Honestly, yeah. I was convinced it was over. But I’m glad I was wrong.”

Blind Faith may not be Hayes’ final act, but it feels like the culmination of a journey she’s been on since those days of waking up in strange cities, unsure of where she was. Now, grounded and with a renewed sense of purpose, she’s embracing the path forward, wherever it may lead.


Watch the full interview below:

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