Jack Hayter


Jack Hayter is a British multi-instrumentalist and singer-songwriter, he is a former member of Hefner.

Biography

Early years and Spongefinger

Jack Hayter debutedwith the Alt.Country group Spongefinger, who released albums via Volcano Records/Cargo Distribution. The group were referred to as "Dennis Hopper's House Band" by Organ and NME press. They also served as the backing band on the "Immortal Rich" album by TV Smith in 1996. During this time he also contributed to the "Big Stick" EP from Rhatigan.

Hefner (1998–2002)

Hayter came into prominence when he joined Hefner full-time in 1999 as a multi-instrumentalist, alongside Darren Hayman, Antony Harding and John Morrison. In Hefner, Hayter recorded and released numerous albums, singles and EPs for the Too Pure label. They had several top 75 singles and recorded a number of sessions for John Peel and Steve Lamacq.
Hefner would play all over the world, including sets at festivals like Festival Internacional de Benicàssim, Big Chill Festival, V Festival and headline slots at Festivals like Reading & Leeds. They would also play bills with artists like Sebadoh, Elliott Smith, Flaming Lips, Billy Bragg and Life Without Buildings.
Hefner disbanded in 2002 after the "Dead Media" album on which Jack Hayter gave his first lead vocal performance. Jack would later compile the posthumous live album "Kick, Snare, Hats, Ride" and provide liner notes for "The Best of Hefner".

Solo (2001–present)

Since Hefner went quiet in 2001, Hayter debuted as a solo artist with the solo album "Practical Wireless" on Absolutely Kosher Records. Pitchfork complimented Jack's voice, calling it "one of the weariest, most world-beaten voices around" and remarked that "Hefner's just holding you back, Jack."
He made his solo return at the start of 2011. Hayter signed with UK independent record label Audio Antihero and released a new EP called "Sucky Tart". The EP was well received by press with isthismusic? giving it 5/5, The Organ naming it their 'thing of the day' and calling it "his finest moments yet" and The Line of Best Fit praised him for having "the imagination to break from the usually tough grasps of folk".
Tom Robinson played "I Stole The Cutty Sark" prior to release on his BBC 6 Music show and "A Doll's House" was subsequently played by Tom Ravenscroft. Hayter promoted the release with sessions for regional stations like Resonance FM, X-Stream East and Dandelion Radio.
In April 2012, Hayter unveiled his next project, "The Sisters of St. Anthony" – a 12 part singles series, to last a full year. The series was launched with a show opening for The Wave Pictures and live sessions for the likes of This Is Fake DIY, Phoenix FM and Triple R FM. The series has featured musical contributions from Hefner alumni Darren Hayman and Antony Harding and guest artwork from Benjamin Shaw and Sexton Ming. The series enjoyed praise and acclaim from press and radio, including Tom Robinson's Fresh on the Net, 4FM, GoldFlakePaint, 7BitArcade, The Music Fix, This Is Fake DIY, The 405 and others.
In November 2012, Hayter contributed a re-working of his "The West Beach" single for the Audio Antihero produced "Hüsker Doo-wop" Charity EP to raise money to repair damages to independent music organisations in New York following Hurricane Sandy. On 17 December, Hayter gave his final live session of 2012 for "The Wrong Rock Show" on Bush Radio. The show was co-hosted by Audio Antihero and included a session from label-mate and Fighting Kites guitarist Broken Shoulder.
Hayter recorded a session for The Joyzine Radio Show on Croydon Radio in 2013 and the, "Charlotte Badger" single was played FM4. Follow up single "Sisters of St. Anthony" featured guest vocals from Suzanne Rhatigan.
In July 2017 The WIAIWYA label commissioned and released a 77 minute long lighthouse inspired concept piece called "Flashes and Occultations" by Hayter. Tracing the journey of a light-vessel captain and drawing on the imagery of 1940's propaganda films such as Men of the Lightship. The Irish poet Aoife Mannix supplied some poetry This was one of a series of 7 such pieces produced for the label by 7 acts. Hayter also contributed to the Papernut Cambridge contributionto the 77 at 7 series

Other post-Hefner works

In 2008, Hayter and Darren Hayman toured playing Hefner songs. Hayter has contributed to various post-Hefner projects from both ANT and Hayman, and both of them appear on his "Sisters of St. Anthony" singles series.
Hayter has collaborated with progressive folktronica act Dollboy.
Hayter also contributed the music to John Hardwick's short film To Have And To Hold, which starred Susanne Lothar. He has had two poems published in the second Tall Lighthouse poetry review "Automatic Lighthouse". Since 2008, he has also worked with the British Film Institute on various educational film projects made with children in North Kent.
He also contributed to projects from the Gare Du Nord label, performing on recordings and live shows by Raleigh Long and Papernut Cambridge. Hayter also played Pedal Steel on Mark Fry's 2014 album, South Wind, Clear Sky.
Since 2014, Hayter has been a member of Papernut Cambridge, The 1980s inspired electronic soul band FXU2 Ralegh Long's and Non-Blank Non-Blank have performed a number of improvised soundtracks to classic films in South coast independent cinemas and at The Latitude Festival in 2017.
On February 1, 2025, Jack Hayter contributed pedal steel to a WVKR radio session by CIAO MALZ.

Solo discography

Albums

  • Practical Wireless
  • Flashes and Occultations
  • ''Abbey Wood''

EPs

  • Sucky Tart
  • ''Dandelion Sessions – March 2011''

Compilations:

  • ''The Sisters of St. Anthony – A singles series in 12 parts''

Singles

Compilations

  • A Very Cherry Christmas – contributes "Bugger All To Do in Wagin"
  • Bob Hope Would: A charity compilation of exclusives and otherwise with all proceeds to be split between Japan Society, Shelterbox, Red Cross, Save The Children and The Japan Earthquake and Tsunami Relief Fund. – contributes "So Farewell Then Peter Murphy"
  • Five Years: Volume One – contributes "I Stole The Cutty Sark "
  • Audio Antihero Presents: "Some.Alternate.Universe" for FSID: A charity compilation for The Foundation for the Study of Infant Deaths. – contributes "It Will"
  • Audio Antihero's Commercial Suicide Sampler – contributes "I Stole The Cutty Sark"
  • Do I Have to be Alright, All of the Time?' A Jason Molina Benefit Album – contributes "Just be Simple"
  • The Hüsker Doo-wop EP for New York – contributes "The West Beach "
  • Into The Light: Volume One for Pussy Riot – contributes "The Shackleton "
  • Weary Engine Blues: Crossroads for Jason Molina – contributes "Just Be Simple"
  • Audio Antihero Presents: "REGAL VS STEAMBOAT" for Rape Crisis – contributes "Sweet JD "
  • Five Long Years – contributes "Quotes"
  • 21 Songs for John – contributes "Horsemeat for Dogs"
  • A Girl and a Gun – contributes "Die Another Day"
  • Songs About Albums: Volume 1 – contributes "The Stranger Fair"
  • Frog – Catchyalater – Single – contributes "Catchyalater"
  • BERN YR IDOLS – contributes "The Unsent Letter"
  • Audio Antihero Presents: "Unpresidented Jams" for SPLC & NILC - contributes "The New Colossus"
  • A Very Cherry Christmas - Volume 12 - contributes "The Beheading Game"
  • The Desperation Club - A Cloud Tribute Compilation - - contributes "Stomach Pit"
  • Elder Statesman: Nine Long Years of Audio Antihero Records - contributes "I Stole the Cutty Sark"