Hazlett - Goodbye to the Valley Low EP (2023) Hi-Res

Rising folk star Hazlett returns with new single “Stolen Seasons” alongside his new EP Goodbye to the Valley Low via Nettwerk.

“Slow Running” is an exciting addition to Hazlett’s already stellar catalogue, a serene soundscape that seamlessly blends feather-light guitars with Hazlett’s harmonious vocals to deliver a soothing slice of ambient folk. The understated “Cemetery” takes Hazlett back to his childhood; a bright-eyed kid whose universe was filled with unimaginable dreams. The atmospheric surroundings follow his timeless tone as he longs to find that feeling again, fading smoothly into the EP’s focus track and echoing finale “Stolen Seasons.” Here he emphasises “Everything happens for a reason. But in the heat of some moments, it’s hard to not just throw your hands up in the air and shake a fist at the sky.”

Indie songwriter Hazlett was born and raised in Australia but if the past few years are anything to go by, he’s very much bloomed in Sweden. An old friend, one big break-up and playing Oasis’ ‘Wonderwall’ three times a night was the unplanned cocktail of moments that saw him throw adulthood to the wayside and venture to the other side of the world.

A pocket full of nerves and a tangled mess of memories became the start of Hazlett’s unique brand of “Indie Ballroom Folk”. But everything crystallised one summer in Stockholm after finding the fabled collaborator chemistry in now close friend Freddy Alexander. A lot has changed since then and what started as a way for him to “figure out some things in his head…” has now become a whole world of music and beautiful details to move through. Emphasised by the release of his debut album Bloom Mountain in early 2023.

His propensity for figuring things out himself and turning chaos into some kind of nostalgic lesson hasn’t gone unnoticed either, with The Line of Best Fit noting that “Hazlett is offering up a hazy, textured version of the classic singer-songwriter sound.” Praise also comes from the likes of Americana UK, NME, Atwood Magazine and CLASH, who called Hazlett “A potent songwriting voice.”

Even though the nerves never quite go away, there’s this newfound quiet confidence to the troubadour from down under. You may not have met, but sometimes when you’re listening to Hazlett he feels like the only friend you’ve ever had.