At this year’s All Things Go festival in Washington, D.C., Australian-born, Sweden-based artist Hazlett made his debut on the Pavilion stage with a performance that was both intimate and refreshing. Known for his soul-stirring lyricism and atmospheric folk-pop, Hazlett brought his full band to the U.S. for the first time, performing highlights from his recently released LP, last night you said you missed me. The setup was warm and inviting, complete with a large rug underfoot, a whimsical black-and-white display of his name, and a relaxed, effortlessly cool look: jeans, a sleeveless tee, a trucker hat, and sunglasses.
Throughout his set, Hazlett cycled through songs such as “Shiver,” “queen of the season,” and “Blame the Moon,” closing with the poignant track, “doing my best.” Midway through, he took a moment to thank the audience and introduce his band, and towards the end of the performance he asked if everyone was having fun. A fan from the crowd yelled out, “You’re doing a great job!” in response. It was a small, spontaneous moment, but one that echoed Hazlett’s entire approach to music: personal, unguarded, and full of heart.
Melodic Magazine caught up with Hazlett after the set, and the conversation started not with music, but tumblr – yes, that tumblr. Hazlett’s official website lives on the platform, a nostalgic throwback to the internet’s simpler days. We reminisced about its quirks and how it helped lay the groundwork for today’s social media landscape.
As we pivoted to his All Things Go debut, Hazlett admitted the moment hadn’t come without surprises – or nerves. Just before his performance, he learned the set would be livestreamed. “I found out just before I walked on stage that it was going to be live-streamed, which shook me a bit. And then I forgot the words to one of my main songs,” he laughed. “I don’t want anyone to go and watch the live stream, but you know…,” he shrugged.
Despite the unnoticed hiccup, fans praised the set – especially the production quality. Hazlett had heard the same feedback. “I received a few messages saying, ‘It sounds really good!’ I’m like, that’s great. Just don’t watch the second to last song and you’ll be okay!” he laughed.
Hazlett is currently on a 23-date North American headline tour, following a sold-out run earlier this spring. Known for his honest lyrics and warm, introspective indie sound, his latest album captures moments of reflection, change, and quiet hope; tracks that feel personal, yet relatable.
When asked which songs have been his favorite to perform live, he didn’t hesitate. “The new album came out last Friday, and when I do an album, I usually find a main song – I call it the ‘sun song.’ It’s the song all the other ones revolve around. Currently, that song is called ‘doing my best.’”
He admitted some initial hesitation about making it the closing track during his live sets. “I thought I was going to have to convince people to like that song more… but surprisingly, I’ve been receiving the biggest reaction to that song. It’s made me really happy; everyone’s stoked to hear it. So, that’s been nice.” It’s the kind of song that has come to define Hazlett’s sound, and featured on an album that fits the season. Especially with this gloomy fall weather, it’s the perfect driving album to let run from start to finish.
“It’s like a running joke on the internet. You know when this weather turns around, people like me, Bon Iver, Noah Kahan just come out of the woods, out of nowhere. We’re like, ‘We’re here!’ – we’re the Mariah Carey meme, but for autumn,” he laughed.
Touring, though, can be demanding, especially for an artist as introspective as Hazlett. This is his first full tour with a band, and the shift in dynamic has made a noticeable difference. “Usually, it’s always been me by myself, and it is a lot more work,” he said. “Now, I feel like I’m constantly being a tour mom – looking after everyone, making sure everyone’s around. Even though I have a tour manager helping out, I just can’t help it.”
But being surrounded by a close-knit crew has also helped him let go. “The guys in the band and the crew have helped me relax a little more. I’m such a stressful person all the time,” he admitted. “Even Greg, the drummer, brought a frisbee. After soundcheck, they were just throwing frisbees in a field. And it was like quite literal grounding… shoes and socks off, just in the grass playing frisbee. Then I got a message from someone saying, ‘Can’t wait to see you tonight, just saw you throwing frisbee in a field!’ I’m like, okay, this is awkward. But yeah, it’s been nice having people along. That’s helped a lot.”
The new album, remarkably, came together in just a month – a creative burst that took even Hazlett by surprise. “It was an album that kind of happened by accident,” he explained. After months of touring, he had planned to fly home over the holidays but got sick and couldn’t travel. “I picked up my guitar one day, and ‘doing my best’ kind of fell out. And I was like, oh, maybe I’ve got things I need to write about.”
That one song opened the floodgates. “The album came together in January. It was very quick. Me and Freddy, my producer, went out and recorded it. I almost wrote it on autopilot… I wasn’t thinking about stuff, I wasn’t trying to rewrite things. I was just writing and moving on to the next thing.”
Only after getting the mixes back did he realize what he’d poured into it. “That version of me was going through something I hadn’t figured out at the time,” he said. “The weight of living overseas away from friends and family, touring, the end of a long-term relationship – it all kind of caught up. I think it’s probably why the album is cohesive and a bit all over the place. It’s a somber recognition of things happening and kind of getting through them and finding the other side.”
Hazlett has worked with producer Freddy Alexander for a while, and their creative process has become second nature. “We kind of do everything in a very [cohesive manner]… we don’t even talk about things much anymore,” he said. “I’ll go away, come back with ten voice memos. He’ll say, ‘Yeah, I like this, this, and this,’ and we go record them. It just happens that way now.”
Even with such an efficient process, the emotional weight remains. When asked about lessons learned since his debut, Hazlett didn’t shy away from the deeper thoughts. “I think the biggest thing is realizing you can’t do it by yourself, as much as I want to,” he said. “I would much rather be like, if something goes wrong, it’s on me. But sometimes you just have to let people help you.”
He spoke honestly about learning to accept support – on stage, from his band, from his crew – and off stage, from his community. “I like being the solitude guy; the one that moves to Sweden and just writes music and hides away in his apartment. But it becomes very difficult to do without people around you.” It’s a striking admission from someone whose music often embraces that very solitude.
Thinking back to when he was just starting out, he offered a piece of advice to his younger self: “Maybe start singing earlier instead of at 26,” he said with a smile. “But I probably wouldn’t have written the same songs if I started earlier. I probably would have quit music for like the third time if I had started earlier. So, I think just general advice would be: one, it’s not that serious, and two, no one really cares.”
“You have to be happy first and foremost at the end of the day,” he continued. “And you’ve got to take care of yourself before you take care of other people sometimes.”
That mantra even applies to tour. While some artists may opt for junk food, Hazlett’s band keeps it surprisingly clean on the road. When asked about their favorite snacks to keep stocked, he responded, “People think our tour is very funny because we’re very healthy. Blueberries, dates, and coconut water,” he said, grinning. “I don’t know if I’ve forced this on the band guys or if they actually want them, but I’m just like, ‘We’re getting fresh berries and fruit today, guys!’”
Before wrapping up, we discussed what he’s been listening to lately. Hazlett pulled out his phone to check titles. “I have a little playlist called Inbox. That’s all the new stuff that comes in, and it’s almost like my to-do list to listen to. “The Price” by Abby Holliday, “Hemingway” by girl in red, “Nose Job” by Caity Krone, “Lie Down” by Saya Grey. Oh, and “Feeling” by Billie Marten, that’s sort of the heavy rotation right now.”
Need a post-festival wind-down soundtrack? Hazlett’s got you covered. “You can put all those songs at the end of the playlist when you want to chill out.” he suggested.
With over 500 million global streams, 3.3 million monthly Spotify listeners, and a growing fanbase across TikTok, Hazlett is no longer just a quiet figure in the indie-folk space – he’s a melodic storyteller for anyone walking alone with headphones on or chasing clarity in a chaotic world. And whether you’re driving with the windows down, watching leaves fall, or just trying to get through the day, last night you said you missed me offers exactly what its title promises: a quiet reminder that you’re not alone, even in the silence.
Be sure to catch Hazlett on his current North American tour this month.
Portraits and interview by Sarah Peter
Festival photos courtesy of Respective Collective/John Cotter
