Hunter Hayes’ New Way Of Releasing Songs: It’s ‘Important To Listen To The Fans’

Hunter Hayes is trying something new with his music – releasing songs one at a time.

“What we’re doing now is not necessarily – it’s not an album, it’s not an EP, it’s not anything,” Hunter told Billy Bush and Kit Hoover in New York City on Friday as he sat down for an interview on Access Hollywood Live.

“It’s just we’re releasing songs,” Hunter continued (the first song, “21,” is out now). “And this is going to give me a chance to listen to the fans and [learn] how they want to listen to the music, how often they want new music and what way they’re gonna listen to it, when they’re gonna want it at the shows and how they’re gonna respond to each song. It’s so important to listen to the fans and see what they want from the music.”

One person Hunter listened to recently was music legend Elton John. Hunter was able to call up the musical legend, one of many who he has crossed paths with despite his young age, and get some career advice.

“He has been an unbelievable voice of reason and encouragement,” Hunter said. “He’s somebody that I respect because he’s so driven and he’s so passionate, and he’s so true to himself musically and everything.”

WATCH: Hunter Hayes Shares Details On His Elton John Call

Hunter said the call with Elton started out with him just joking with someone about how he should get advice from the British star, and it actually happened.

“We talked for a couple minutes and it was a short conversation, but it was – it was awesome,” Hunter said. “It’s absolutely mindboggling to me. I got off the phone call and I just, I couldn’t believe that it had just happened because it’s just — the fact that that could happen at all,” Hunter said.

Before the call happened, Hunter e-mailed Elton, whose song, “Goodbye Yellow Brick Road,” he covered on the 40th anniversary release of “Goodbye Yellow Brick Road.”

“I was just asking advice on just decisions and things and art and all this stuff and you know, you’re looking to someone who you respect because they’ve made so many just great artistic things,” Hunter said. “He’s written songs that I absolutely love and his shows are awesome. … You respect somebody like that and you sort of see them as a professor and you want to learn from them as much as possible and sometimes a direct conversation is the best way to get that sort of education.”

— Jolie Lash