Track-by-Track: Mayday 13 Walks Us Through His Debut Album ‘Dreaming Is Easy’

Independent alt-pop artist  MayDay 13, the solo project of Brian Hadley, has pushed the boundaries of his artistry in his recent debut album release Dreaming Is Easy. An album about never losing sight of the dreams you once held close to your heart, Dreaming is Easy highlights the hardships we experience in life with a sombre overtone that evokes deep introspection.

Having pushed the boundaries of his artistry by creating this album entirely solo, Mayday 13 displays a multi-faceted talent by having recorded all of the various instruments featured on each track, written all of the lyrics, and produced the entire project on his own. The dreamy background instrumentals that flow in and out of each song, combined with the storytelling element of this release, showcase the unique style of this new artist as he embarks on his debut.

Joining us today is Mayday 13 himself to take us through a track-by-track rundown of Dreaming is Easy, sharing more of what inspired each song and giving readers an inside look into what went into making this album.

1. “Rheadish”

“I wanted to create an intro to the album that really fit with the title and concept Dreaming Is Easy. I knew I wanted an atmospheric and spacious sound that would feel like part of a dream. After all, was said and done, it kind of had a Radiohead-like feel to me, which is where the name came from R-(radio) -Head – ISH. It was originally just a working title, but I liked it, and it just stuck.”

2. “Nobody”

“My original plan for the album was to write music with just minimal or even no vocals at all, really more instrumental. I wanted it to have more of a soundtrack or score feel to it. However, after writing ‘Nobody,’ the direction of the album really changed, and the lyrics started creeping in. The song is really about trying to live up to the expectations we place on ourselves. I felt the most relatable way to illustrate this was by writing about a relationship; however, it could be about feeling unseen at work, among your peers or really any aspect of life.”

Mayday 13

3. “Spirits”

“This track was originally quite different. The musical aspects were there, however, the lyrics and vocal arrangement and just the overall feel of the track were very different. I actually shelved this track early on in the project, only to circle back and revamp it later. The latter version is more cohesive with the album. It’s about searching for and ultimately finding belonging. As the chorus changes from ‘I want to find to I think I’ve found a place where I belong.’ The Title of the Album Dreaming Is Easy was pulled from the lyrics of this track.”

4. “I’m Stuck”

“This was the quickest track to come together on the album. While toying around with my synth I came up with the main riff, and all the subsequent tracks came together pretty quickly, in just a few hours. The lyrics were improvised and kind of came about in the moment. The overall feel of the song was different than the rest of the album but the theme remained the same.”

Mayday 13 ‘Dreaming Is Easy’ album artwork

5. “Organs”

“This was the first track written specifically for this project before I even decided what the project would be. I am first and foremost a guitarist, but again back to feeling inspired by my son’s interest in music, I wanted to create a more atmospheric tone, that didn’t rely so much on my native instrument and also with minimal or no vocals. After completing, I started creating other tracks in a similar fashion while trying to tie tracks together. For example, the end notes and organ in “Organs” is the same note and Organ in “Hang Me Out to Dry.”

6. “Hang Me Out to Dry”

“This is a song about feeling the pressure of life and feeling like you are failing to live up to your potential. It’s really meant to be transferable to all aspects of life, your work, relationships or hitting goals and dreams.”

7. “A Better Way”

“This was the last song written for the album. I thought I was actually finished and would have a short 8-track- 30-ish-minute EP/LP, but ultimately, I felt like something was still missing. The idea behind this track is about finding a new way to approach things. People often get trapped in a loop or a cycle and don’t know how to break it. This song is about just that, and at the end, redemption is achieved as a new “better way” is found.”

Mayday 13

8. “These Days”

“I actually wrote this song a few years back and never really did anything with it. As the theme and feel of this album unfolded, it felt like a natural fit. Originally this was intended to be the final track on the album. A bit of an easter egg to this is the synth sound at the end of the track. It is the same synth notes being played at the beginning of the album in “Rheadish” bringing the album sort of full circle.

9. “This Is the End”

“I wanted a kind of epic, cinematic-sounding ending to the album. Which is what inspired this track. It was also a bit playful in that the lyrics “This is the end, there’s nothing left” could be construed as a gloom and doom type ending. In reality, the lyrics are quite literal in that they are letting the listener know simply that the album is over, so Bye!”