Hunter Hayes is closing the loop on an ambitious three-album journey. The country-pop hitmaker has released his 10-track album ‘Evergreen,’ along with an official visualizer for the title track, filmed at the lush Cheekwood Estate & Gardens.
The record completes a trilogy that began with ‘Wild Blue’ and ‘Red Sky,’ tracing a journey from optimism through conflict to resolution. Across its 10 tracks, Hayes weaves together pop, country, folk, R&B, and indie rock, with lyrics centered on renewal, self-discovery, compassion, and presence, the foundation for a healthy relationship with himself, the world, and others.
He has a clear vision for what he wanted it to feel like. “I wanted to make an imaginative album, not a reaction to the world around me, but rather a dream of the world I want to create,” Hayes shares. “I want the music to feel like free therapy. Something that makes you feel better, more understood, more alive.” He describes the album as “a letter from your future self,” an emotional reset and a statement of manifestation, guided by his motto, “Be good to yourself and the world around you.”
Recorded with co-producer Alex Flagstad, ‘Evergreen’ captures the full scope of Hayes’ creativity with songs that are as emotionally rich as they are musically daring. The high points run deep, from “Until She Comes Along,” a bluesy number that blossoms into a fun rock tune showcasing his growth as a songwriter, to the cinematic “Around the Sun,” an affirmation that whatever you’re going through, you’ll come out the other side. There’s also the playfully vulnerable “Every Piece,” the infectious “Wait,” and the atmospheric, scene-setting title track. It’s Hayes at his most fully expressive chapter yet.