“I read in the headlines today / They sent my granddaughter off to war / But it wasn’t the war of yesterday…”
“Most of All Be Safe” by Ted Hajnasiewicz
Today’s Advent Calendar feature is Ted Hajnasiewicz! Ted Hajnasiewicz is a singer-songwriter who creates and performs under his own unpronounceable name (hi-nah-SHEV-its). He has been in and out of the Minneapolis music scene for over thirty years, and has opened for Soul Asylum, the Lemonheads, and Smashing Pumpkins over the course of his career so far. Upon his comeback in 2018, Ted’s previous releases include singles, “This Town is Not for Me” and “If I Could Leave This Place Tomorrow,” benefit album Quarantine Dream, Tony Wanted to Make a Record, and his recent EP, Shelter In.
Recorded during quarantine with the help of some friends, the five track EP includes tracks that discuss Ted’s life during the pandemic, including on social media. One of the tracks, titled “Most of All Be Safe,” was inspired by a post on Facebook about the mistreatment of frontline workers. The words “My love, be safe. Be brave. But most of all, be safe.” stuck with Ted, and he dedicated the track to all the frontline workers who were experiencing violence, harassment, and unfair wages as they worked to keep society afloat. “Most of All Be Safe” and the other tracks of “Shelter In [are] an attempt to capture the uncertainty, the fear, the moments of joy within a great time of unknown. Isn’t that what life is all about?”
Connect with Ted:
Website
Facebook
BandCamp
Tony Wanted to Make a Record, so Ted Made a Record
This is What Ted Does: A Review of Ted Hajnasiewicz’s Upcoming Album
Coronavirus: Musicians Speak Out (Episode 3)
Quarantine Dream: Musicians Sharing a Vision of Hope
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