LISTEN: Clay Hazey’s “Another Couple Miles” Pairs Subtle Experimentation With Romantic Acoustic Folk

Blending tradition and exploration, Clay Hazey takes what he wants from country and western and fills in the blanks as he pleases. A true gateway to the world of twang, his unique aesthetic pairs sharp, earnest songwriting with a raw voice and undeniable earworm melodies—creating a sound that feels both fresh and familiar from the first listen. His self-titled debut EP (2024), recorded by Nick Lanyon (Rapallo) and mixed by Jonathan Anderson (Andy Shauf, Ocie Elliott), earned spins on CBC Radio 1, charted on college radio in Burnaby and Toronto, and introduced the standout single “Past Two” featuring Ocie Elliott’s Sierra Lundy, which spent over six months on SiriusXM’s NorthAmericana.

Set for release in July 2026, Clay’s follow-up EP continues his alt-country exploration, drawing inspiration from Mule Variations (Tom Waits), Songs (Adrianne Lenker), and Gillian Welch’s Soul Journey. It’s his most personal work to date, blending his signature dark humor with reflections on addiction, self-acceptance, and the diminishing returns of romance. 

“Another Couple Miles,” Hazey’s latest single, is a dreamy acoustic ballad brimming with longing while implementing nuanced experimentation. With a noticeable lack of sappy tropes, this moving ballad is the deeply personal poetry the artist has promised on his anticipated new EP, and this is just a slice of it. Romance is in the air throughout “Another Couple Miles,” but Hazey is painting a Bonnie and Clyde-type noir portrait on his new single. The lyrics tell the tale of escaping with the one you love, leaving the hectic nature of everyday life behind, in search of a deeper meaning. With breezy acoustics that ground the arrangement’s more unpredictable elements, “Another Couple Miles” is a dramatic, cinematic introduction to Hazey’s individuality and the refreshing approach he brings to contemporary folk.