From as early as nine-years-old, the drummer, and later guitarist, enjoyed spray painting and creating his original instruments. 

Using baking trays and petrol cans, Hay created personalised sounds he could not perform as a solo artist, recreating different instruments, such as the piano, on his guitar. 

“I’ve always built my own instruments,” he said, counting down his one night show in Goulburn on Friday night as part of his tour, ‘Love no More’.  

“I’ve wanted guitars that suited what I needed. You work out lots of different things that you like.”

It is this process of tuning and creating with guitar synthesisers, chords and necks, which incited his lyrical works. 

“Different sounds spark something in my brain to write something new, it works all the time with me.” 

Initially playing in multiple bands, his decision to become a solo artist came when members slowly separated and started to travel overseas. 

Transitioning from band gigs, Hay hated his first few experiences as a solo artist. “I’d rather go on stage butt naked,” he laughed. “I soon fell into it, it worked bit by bit, and it sort of stuck.”  

For Friday night, he will be performing with central coast drummer Marcus Spiteri. 

Hay performed at the Australian Blues Music Festival in Goulburn this year, and carried fond memories of his time. 

His music has appeared on the USA Billboards Blues Charts, Amazon Blues album of the year and supported Joe Bonammassa and Seasick Steve. 

“It’s nice to do something personable, perform different songs, longer sets,” he said.

“I’ve always like the smaller country town gigs, it’s usually a lot more vibrant. In country towns word of mouth grows a little bit faster.” 

Unlike most artists, who fear the genre of blues might soon be washed away due to a greater shift to electronic and pop music, Hay says it is something he never worries about.

“Ever since I’ve been playing music, the genre has been as strong as day one,” he said.

“It’s one of those genres that never leaves. I think it’ll be strong forever, blues and rock; it’s embedded in our culture.”

‘Roller Coaster’, released late last year, is his fourth and most recent album. He plans to head into a studio next month to create more solo music. 

Hay will be performing at the Goulburn Club on March 24. For more, call 4821 2043.