General News
12 September, 2024
Aaron Hayward makes his mark on hit TV show
TERANG’S Aaron Hayward has taken the nation by storm following his incredible performance on the hit TV show ‘The Voice’.
Mr Hayward has earned widespread praise following his performance during the show’s blind auditions last week, but before the bright lights of one of the nation’s biggest television shows he was just a kid at Noorat Primary School with an unshakable interest in music.
When he reached high school he attended Terang College, where he would graduate before moving to Melbourne to pursue his dreams.
Now 29-years-old, Mr Hayward has nothing but fond memories of developing his passion for music during his formative years in Terang - a community he hopes to one day move back to.
“When I was growing up from a really early age I was interested in music, along with my twin brother, Cameron, and older brother Nathan,” he said.
“They are both really good at singing and guitar - I was the odd one out because I didn’t play an instrument until later, and I had to teach myself how to do that.
“I have fond memories of us singing together in the car, but I’m not too sure where it came from because not many other people in our families are musicians.
“I think I was intrigued by music because my older brother was, and I just never stopped because I was always singing around the house, around my friends and family, and everyone was always super supportive.”
Mr Hayward said he felt compelled to audition for ‘The Voice’ after last year getting vocal lessons when feeling his pursuit of music had began to dwindle among the pressures of conforming to life.
“I was getting out of my routine of singing often, getting caught up in the grind of work and just being an adult,” he said.
“I was noticing I wasn’t seeing progression, which was getting in the way of how I felt about music.
“I decided to have vocal lessons and through that process I met a close friend, who was my coach at the time.
“She validated how far I had come - when you’re by yourself you don’t see that, and she prompted me to audition and put myself out there.
“I felt I had something to prove to myself – that I’m not doing this for everyone else, but to prove it’s a worthy passion and I’m good enough to be doing it for the rest of my life.”
The years of singing marked a culmination as walked on stage for the blind auditions on ‘The Voice,’ the crowd silently watching him standing before the four iconic red chairs where the judges sit, all pointed backwards to create a the blind audition.
If they like what they hear, the judges can press their buzzer to turn their chairs and face him.
He steadied himself to perform Duncan Laurence’s ‘Arcade,’ a powerful ballad which won the Netherlands its first Eurovision Song Contest in almost 50 years.
“I was beside myself, I couldn’t believe I was there and one of my coping mechanisms is to switch my brain off and do the task at hand,” Mr Hayward said.
“I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t petrified - I certainly was, but when it came time to step on the stage I knew it was time to turn it on.
“This was the moment.”
Mr Hayward said he grew more comfortable with every word which came out, shaking the nerves as he dissociated into his own world.
The next thing he knew, the performance was over – and all four judges had turned their chairs.
He had captivated the judges, with quick recognition from Queen frontman Adam Lambert followed by iconic Australian musician Guy Sebastian.
It didn’t take long for remaining coaches Kate Miller-Heidke and Leann Rimes to hit their buzzers in approval too.
As the music ended, the judges and studio audience alike rose to a standing ovation.
“I was in absolute awe – I was speechless,” Mr Hayward said.
“I cannot describe that moment, it is the coolest thing which has ever happened to me and it’s probably the coolest thing that will ever happen to me.”
It wasn’t just the judges, but also the wider south west community as word of his success on the show had spread – a recognition he had not realised had happened.
“Some people may say it’s a small community but that community, in my heart, is so big and I think about coming back all the time,” Mr Hayward said.
“I’ve been in Melbourne for 10 years now but I always think about going back to Terang.
“Just singing locally and in the pubs was the most fun I’ve had performing, and I’d love to come back.
“I would have thought that everyone would have forgotten the young boy bashing away at his guitar, but it’s so good to hear everyone is supporting me.”
Mr Hayward will next appear on ‘The Voice’ this Sunday, September 15, from 7pm on Prime Seven as he moves to the battles phase – competing directly with other singers in what has been touted by fans and critics as one of the most talented line-ups the show has had.
“With the battles, it’s going to be epic,” he said.
“It’s a real showdown, so people should 100 per cent tune in to see how it pans out.
“Everyone is super talented, I can’t divulge who I will be battling, but it’s a worthy opponent.”