 Photo by Rebecca Petersen
Ted Hajnasiewicz has been writing songs since before he knew how to play a note. His 30 year career has spanned many genres, reaching, as he writes, "tens - maybe even dozens - of listeners." The singer-songwriter recently released a new song, "This Town Is Not For Me" and here, answered his e8 where he spoke about the song, his new album, Ozzy, Bon Jovi, and more.
Please share the story behind "This Town Is Not For Me." “This Town Is Not For Me” – This song is not about a PLACE, more a state of mind, “I don’t belong here”, or “I don’t fit in”. The song started innocently with the title, as I was flying into Nashville. Laughing to myself, I was thinking, “I’m not cool enough for this town – this town is not for me”. But as I started to write the song, it sort of took on its own life – something I never expected. From feeling like I was never cool enough in my younger days to be in the “it” band, or have a hit song – to today, as I’ve aged (I’m 48), and feel like my own silly fears have caused me to miss the boat a bit. Those feelings, while describing a musician’s journey, go much deeper – that “I’m not cool” feeling, is what I would struggle with at family gatherings, parties, work functions – even with people in my church family. All of this, by no fault of the other. All of this, due to believing a lie that I’m not good enough. I figured, this feeling, “I don’t belong here”, is something most everyone struggles with, to some extent – I’d bet even the cool kids struggle with this. So my hope is, while the song is incredibly sad, anyone could relate to that feeling and maybe find comfort in the fact that they are not alone. Is there a story behind your album’s title? “This Is What I Do” – this record is a collection of my favorite work over the past 8 years or so. It’s sort of a “greatest hits”, from a guy who never had a hit. ? So, instead of calling it “Greatest Hits” (which could have been kinda funny), I came up with “This Is What I Do”. This is who I am. I’m a songwriter, who is moved by music and wants to move others with his songs. I’m a husband who loves his wife greatly. I’m a father who loves his children greatly. I’m a person who fails, but is forgiven. I’m loved, even when I don’t feel it. I’m no different, really, than anyone else. I’m planning a fun little campaign, shortly after the release, “This Is Who I Am” – where I’ll set up some cool shows, tell my story, get everyone to know “Ted”. I am hoping the songs will be a nice intro, a sort of “resume”, or portfolio – not as much of my work (though a recorded offering is portfolio of my work, as well), as hopefully of who I am as a person. Why did you choose to anchor the album with the songs you did? These are the best of my songs from almost a decade of song crafting. This record is sort of my business card, as I try and branch out – locally in Minnesota, regionally – God-willing, nationally. I don’t anticipate every release I do will be on a CD (I will likely do many digital-only single, EP, album releases, as I have in the past) – but this one, I’ll carry with me for quite some time. So, I wanted to insure I put the best of my best foot forward – maybe my pinky toe? ? Do you write about personal experience, the experience of others, observations, made-up stories, something else or a combination? Most often, it’s personal experience. But there are songs where I’m writing of someone else’s experience – a friend, a family member, someone close typically. I want to get into the “made-up” world, with regards to songwriting – Tom Petty did this incredibly well, telling stories, creating interesting characters in his songs. But no matter what – I have to be able to relate, put myself in this person’s shoes as best I can, or I don’t think I can pull the song off – not well anyway. So even those about someone else, or even if I get into made up stories, they will always be deeply personal to me. Who would you love to collaborate with? Immediately, I think of Tom Petty, but of course that cannot happen… Willie Nelson maybe? I could give you a HUGE laundry list/wish list – but for some reason I think Willie would get me beyond my star-struck nervousness that would kill any sort of songwriting vibe, quicker than most. He’s so dang laid back, he’s bound to make me relax (Or maybe I’d make HIM nervous with my awkward fan-boy behavior?) Favorite (or first) concert you have ever attended? First – Ozzy Osbourne, with Blue Oyster Cult opening. I was 15. It rocked… I could give a monstrous list of favorites – but my mind could change with each concert I think of that I’ve been lucky enough to attend. So, I’m going to stick with the Ozzy/BOC concert as my favorite also, as that very first experience was confirmation, this is what I want to do… Is there a recent release you cannot stop listening to? I’ve been on a huge local (Minnesota) artist and band kick recently. So, I’m going to mention two for you. Kari Arnett’s “When the Dust Settles”, which was very recently replaced by Almighty American’s “Somewhere Ride”. Granted the Almighty American record is over a year old now, it was brand new to me recently, and I can’t stop playing it. But I am still an album guy. I want to hear your story, and while a song tells a story, a well-done album takes you on the journey. So, the two I listed were two of maybe a dozen or so records of the past year that have captured my ears – and there will be another soon I’m quite sure. And not because the records I mentioned aren’t still great. It’s just that so much great music is being made in Minnesota (and beyond, of course). And that is so incredibly cool… Do you have a guilty pleasure song/artist? I’d probably go with “I’ll Be There For You”, by Bon Jovi. It was/is a solid ballad. And I have always loved the ballad, and Jon Bon Jovi’s ability to put a hook in every song he writes. Even their bad songs, had a hook. “I’ll Be There For You”, was one of the songs as a teenager that I would secretly listen to over and over. That, and anything by Journey. And any rendition of “Baby Shark” – but who doesn’t love that? Website/Facebook/IG
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