After spending well over a decade as a part of the rhythm section in full bands, Hatfield has metamorphosed into a versatile solo artist. And his latest single, ‘This Dragon Heart,’ captures the quintessence of his sound. Or rather (as he calls it) “Drummer’s heart, songwriter’s soul”.

Hatfield is best known for his unique combination of a soaring vocal and poetic first-hand-experience-style lyrics. Pair those two up with acoustic rhythms, and you get a sound that is masterful, yet unconfined. Additionally, this release opens a new chapter for the artist, as it’s his first single released with Bigger Beast Records. Without further ado, let’s dive into the track that listeners are dubbing “An epic”.

First, a melancholic guitar chord is struck. The progression continues, stepwise, organic. There’s a curt moment where we wonder if we might get a feeling of being uplifted, but this is a mere nanosecond of sonic trickery. We step right back down into a minor chord (and thus begins the verse).

However, none of these chordal motions or instrumental peaks could prepare listeners for Hatfield’s vocal quality. In ‘This Dragon Heart,’ Hatfield has taken on a timbre that’s just like red velvet. It’s dark, complex, full… with just a touch of tang and sweetness around the edges. (And) Like the confection, his voice is deliciously vintage-feeling. As he sings of a broken past, we don’t just listen to the feeling; we absorb it.

The energy picks up, and the urgency intensifies, along with the lyrical imagery. A castle, crumbling…he is the angel of darkness, and them? They are the holy ghost.

Though the events that take place in this track could be interpreted in a plethora of ways, one thing about ‘This Dragon Heart’ is certain: It tackles the life experience of being the one who gives (but never takes). It enraptures us in the act of rising up again (like a phoenix), while simultaneously never quite letting go of that magnetic torment of by one’s past…at least, not until the very end.

This raw, pure wisdom is not gained through reading novels or consuming art, but rather, from authentic journeys. Next, we swim in a bridge of (brief) reprieve. Sonically, ‘This Dragon Heart’ is a cohesive blend of rock and Americana, injected with granite-hardened soul.

The echoing voices, a final testāmentum after the battle cry fades away- leaving nothing but a single guitar bend in its wake. And as it comes to a close, we don’t linger on the pain we endured…but rather, we marvel at our resilience.

Your cover art for ‘This Dragon Heart’ showcases these stunning green tendrils of smoke. How was the art/photography created, and what inspired it?

o I created it with a rendered image imposed over CGI smoke. I actually started with an entirely different idea for the artwork, which blended my sphere logo with this Celtic dragon theme, but I decided it didn’t fit with the tone and message of the song. I wanted something more intimate, so the “stoic smoke” idea came to me as a way of reflecting that the narrator has endured something that scorched him but didn’t bring him down.

You and Frank Viele wrote the track together. What was the collaborative songwriting process like for this one?

o We’ve talked about linking up to write for years, but life and schedules hadn’t lined up until now. We finally got a writing session on the book and the morning it was scheduled, I woke up with this idea in my head that ended up being the chorus for This Dragon Heart. I sent a quick recording over to Frank, and by the time I got there that evening he had the verse idea laid out. We just took it from there. It was easy working with him. Frank’s got this knack for knowing what a song does or doesn’t need, so I was able to trust in that. Definitely look forward to writing together again.

In 2021, you opened for Viele. Now, you guys are writing together. Have you two always been friends? When did you first begin collaborating musically?

We grew up about 30 minutes from each other. Both of us being in music, it was inevitable we’d cross paths. But I don’t think Frank remembers the first time we met. We just happened to be at an open mic that mutual friends hosted back 2012, and had a quick introduction and convo. 8 years later we happened to be on the same bill at this club in Southern CT and had the chance to see each other perform. We had a longer talk after that show, and kicked around the idea of writing an album together. The very next day the state shutdown for the pandemic. Needless to say that pumped the brakes on music. I remember how quiet that first year felt. It was rough not seeing and hearing live music. So when Frank reached out to open for his release show in 2021, I couldn’t have been more excited to be a part of it. Now 5 years later, joining Bigger Beast and working together on so many amazing shows and ideas, Frank’s become a brother to me.

You chose the first stop of your first-ever tour to be for a benefit for a shelter, and centered the tour around fighting homelessness. Can you tell us a bit more about this?

My Mom had a dress shop in downtown New Haven when I was a kid, and I was down there a ton. I remember wondering why people were so cruel to the homeless. Most of them looked like they just needed a little help, maybe someone to listen. I wanted to join the first Shelter from the Storm in 2025, but schedules didn’t allow for it. When Frank told me it was coming back this year, I made sure I was available. As far as being my first tour date, that part was really by chance, but I’m glad it fell that way. Coming together with so many artists I respect at a venue like that would’ve been memorable on its own, but letting all that positivity drive awareness and support toward a cause like Neighborhood Promise was something I’ll never forget.

What are you most looking forward to at your upcoming release party?

The chance to tell the stories behind my songs. It’s at this cozy little venue in my hometown, so there won’t be any separation between me and the audience. I couldn’t imagine a better way to introduce This Dragon Heart for the first time.

Have you ever seen the ‘96 movie ‘Dragonheart’? Did it play into this song at all, or is it pure coincidence?

Haven’t seen that one, but I was a big sci-fi and fantasy kid growing up – The Hobbit, Neverending Story, Dungeons & Dragons. I guess it’s only natural that the same imagery would find its way into my music.

What do you mean by your allegory about one of the people in ‘This Dragon Heart’ being the holy ghost?

The narrator is someone who’s gone from seeing their scars as weakness, to realizing all of it was proof of their will to survive. The “holy ghost” analogy refers to the person or people the narrator wants to protect from the darkness, so they can enjoy the light.

Lastly, what is it that draws you to the imagery of the dragon itself?

It’s about the vulnerability within resilience. Dragons are classically fearless and invulnerable, and it can be natural for someone who’s been hurt to put those qualities out there as a line of defense. I’m more interested in the story behind the armor, and the truth that people who survive aren’t invincible, they’re the ones who choose to keep going.

Headline photo: Britni Pastyrnak

Hatfield Website