Join this
conversation
Download the Swell app and instantly add your voice.
Hey, it's Deborah here on the south by Southwest 2021 interview Swell Cast Channel I just saw a film that rocked my world, and I had interviewed just a few days ago. Go, the writer and director of this film, Jasmine Stotle. And now we have a chance to meet the protagonist of this documentary, Hayden Pettigo, and he is the star of Kid candidate Hayden. Thank you for being here on this channel for talking with us
hayden pedigo
@haydenpedigo · 0:52
And for people that aren't acquainted with Amarillo, I think that comes across pretty heavily throughout the movie that you can see that there's this deep line of politicians and politics that's running in Amarillo, and I'm someone that's had nothing to do with it and really no connection to it at all. So I think that's it's kind of how I introduce myself. I don't know if that entirely makes sense
Deborah Pardes
@DBPardes · 1:11
Oh, it totally makes sense. And I think that there's a theme of outsider here because, you know, most of us who've been in the field as long as a lot of us have been who are traversing the artist realm and the musician realm understand the advantages of being an outsider because you get to look in and see the world differently. And you as an artist, have been an outsider and then entering into the space of politics
hayden pedigo
@haydenpedigo · 1:18
Well, I think for me it wasn't so much being an outsider. I think it was trying to be just trying to be myself. I think there are some upsides of being an outsider, being a musician and artist going into those things because, like you were saying, I'm not a queer politician. I'm not doing it with that function being primary, but on the downsides, you kind of have to be honest, a certain level of inexperience that you can see in the film
Deborah Pardes
@DBPardes · 0:44
What did you have to adjust to? How did your wife adjust? Like, can you drop us in a little bit to the awkwardness or to the wonderfulness of that? And did you get better at it as time went on
hayden pedigo
@haydenpedigo · 1:27
But since they were there throughout the entire process of the campaign, it definitely was a bit taxing throughout the entire experience just to have them film every single event, the ups and downs seeing me when I didn't feel confident, and ultimately, I think that made a better film. But the time when you're down on yourself and you're feeling like you just got your a** kicked, it was tough to have people there filming you
Deborah Pardes
@DBPardes · 0:47
You know, from my perspective, watching you, your vulnerability represented a strength and not a fragility. It represented the core of who you were. And we loved those moments when we got to know you. And given the political climate that we're in right right now, do you have a perspective on wanting more transparency from other candidates at the local, regional, state, national level? Do you feel like that is missing from the stage of where we meet these candidates?
hayden pedigo
@haydenpedigo · 1:11
Well, I completely think more vulnerability and transparency is much needed in local politics and all politics in general. I think that's the biggest thing is with a lot of politics, the idea of a politician being and open with failing or not entirely knowing what they're doing or not always having the best answer
Deborah Pardes
@DBPardes · 0:27
I think you're right. I think it's a really rough world. And certain personalities thrive in it. And certain personalities dying it what are you doing now? And is this the last time we see you on screen? Or do you have other thoughts? Because I know you're an artist and you're a musician. And where are you right now with your trajectory as a creative in general
hayden pedigo
@haydenpedigo · 1:03
It's just finding a way to do it where I feel like it could be more meaningful and I might have a better chance of making a longer lasting impact. And Luckily, I think this film could potentially have a long lasting impact and inspire more people to run for public office on a local level. But that's kind of where I'm at right now in my life
Deborah Pardes
@DBPardes · 0:51
Hayden, I really do think that this film is inspiring to others will be inspiring to others because you showed the way forward like it's possible, and I won't ruin the movie. But it really is an inspiring story to tell a couple of things I want to ask first in your next reply. Can you do a link that is the best direction for people to discover your music? You could just put the link right in the description when you hit next after you hit reply
Swell Team
@Swell · 0:15
hayden pedigo
@haydenpedigo · 0:33
So the best way to check out my music is probably through my Spotify. I've attached my Spotify account below where you can check out my previous releases. I just had a new one come out with my friend Andrew Weathers. We have a collaborative album we made, and I have a new full Link album coming later this year so you can check those all out with the link below and I am totally open to answering more questions once the film premieres
Deborah Pardes
@DBPardes · 0:12
Oh, that's awesome. Thank you. I will paste your link here and stay tuned, everybody, let's get back to this once the film is released next week. Really excited
Join this
conversation
Download the Swell app and instantly add your voice.