First Spin
First Spin
Podcast Description
Hey, I’m Hayden Thomas—musician, lifelong music fan, and the guy who still makes mixtapes for road trips.First Spin is my weekly interview show where I sit down with emerging artists who I genuinely believe are doing something special. You might not know their names yet, but if you’re anything like me, you’ll want to change that.This show isn’t about hype. It’s about real conversations—about the first gigs, the late-night doubts, the sound that finally clicks. It’s a space for new voices to tell their stories, and for all of us to listen a little closer.If you’re always on the hunt for the next song that’ll mean something to you—welcome. You’re in the right place.New artists. Real stories. Weekly drops. Let’s give ‘em their first spin.
Podcast Insights
Content Themes
The show focuses on themes of artistry and vulnerability in music, with episodes exploring the creative processes of new artists, such as Eliza Harrison Smith, and the stories behind their songs, including discussions on their debut efforts and personal reflections on the music industry.

Hey, I’m Hayden Thomas—musician, lifelong music fan, and the guy who still makes mixtapes for road trips.
First Spin is my weekly interview show where I sit down with emerging artists who I genuinely believe are doing something special. You might not know their names yet, but if you’re anything like me, you’ll want to change that.
This show isn’t about hype. It’s about real conversations—about the first gigs, the late-night doubts, the sound that finally clicks. It’s a space for new voices to tell their stories, and for all of us to listen a little closer.
If you’re always on the hunt for the next song that’ll mean something to you—welcome. You’re in the right place.
New artists. Real stories. Weekly drops. Let’s give ‘em their first spin.
LA singer-songwriter-producer Louis Metric drops in for a freewheeling, funny, and thoughtful convo about art, algorithms, and why brunch might be the enemy of your creative goals. We dig into why his breakout single “Take It Slow” came together in two days while other tracks marinate for months. He talks process like a builder: looping simple chords, chasing a feeling before theory, then sending mixes out when the DIY line gets too fuzzy.
Louis unpacks the not-so-secret logic behind running multiple TikTok accounts, what “burner virality” looks like, and how he converts comments into real listeners—plus the weird reality where a tossed-off clip can outpace a polished shoot. As a working photographer/videographer, he’s blunt about how AI, short attention spans, and the endless content treadmill are reshaping the job—and how doing it yourself is often the only way indie artists can keep up.
There’s life in here too: summiting Mt Whitney with his dad and landing in LA before the world shut down. He shares the story behind the wry “Should’ve Been Better (My Bad),” his collab “Lower East Side” with Backtalk and the thrill/“never enough” feeling of hitting one million streams in the last 12 months. We kick around whether “pop” even means anything anymore (Harry’s House comes up), the unexpected power of nostalgia for CDs, and the odd little trends (hello, Group 7) that hijack the internet for a week.
If you’re into clever songwriting, DIY brains, and honest talk about making art in 2025– this one’s for you.
Songs in this episode:
Should've Been Better (My Bad)
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Thanks for listening—see you next week.

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