Queer-country singer-songwriter Paisley Fields recently released his new single “Hands Off The Hat,” a fun country tune based off of a real incident. The single comes right before the release of his new album “Are U Mad At Me,” an album he describes as a “journey.” Beyond his own music, Fields is a mentor to young music industry professionals through Grammy U and the Recording Academy. To learn more about Paisley Fields and his new music, read on.

Where are you based?
Brooklyn, NY

What inspired you to start making music?
When I was 12 years old my parents bought an electric keyboard, mainly for my sister to learn piano on. I had already started playing saxophone, and piano just came naturally to me. I picked it up really quickly, and after a year or so of learning the basics I started writing my own music. I grew up in rural Iowa, so country music was everywhere. I loved a lot of those songs, but I also rebelled against it and gravitated towards music with more of an edge. That music, and the piano itself was what inspired me to start writing.

Congratulations on your new single “Hands Off The Hat!” What was the inspiration behind this song?
I wrote this song with Melody Walker when I was coming through Nashville on tour. It came out of a real incident where someone at a show was completely out of pocket, and actually got up on stage and tried to take my hat. That wasn’t the first or the last time it happened. There’s this weird entitlement that some people feel towards performers and this song is a reaction to that.

You also have an upcoming album set to release early May titled “Are U Mad At Me.” What’s the story behind the creation of this album?
This is the first album I’ve released where all the songs are co-writes. It’s been a pretty long process; I started writing songs for this album over four years ago. I ended up with about 30 songs and we narrowed it down to 12 tracks.

Without giving too much away, what are some potential themes and details listeners can expect to hear from it? How does the name “Are U Mad At Me” connect back to what we might hear from the tracks?
It’s sexy, it’s funny, it’s sad, it’s joy, it’s messy. The whole album is a journey. Musically I wanted to blend genres on this one. I’ve never fit into a box, and my music is a reflection of that. It was important to me to create something that was authentically true to my entire self, not just a part of me. “Are U Mad At Me” is meant to be funny at times, but it’s also the truth.

What do you hope to inspire within your listeners?
I want people to feel seen. Whether you’re a queer person from a small town, or just someone who has ever felt like they don’t quite fit in, I want these songs to remind you that you belong.

You’ve worked with the Recording Academy as a mentor and advocate for songwriters rights. Can you tell us more about your involvement and what songwriters rights are?
Each year the Recording Academy has District Advocacy Day, where we have the opportunity to meet with congressional representatives in our district. We discuss our concerns with the current industry and what legislation would impact us as songwriters.

You’re also a mentor though Grammy U as a part of their 2026 mentorship program. Can you tell us a bit about what you do? How can this program help young artists and music industry professionals?
This is my second year as a mentor with Grammy U. I’ve found it to be a very rewarding experience. My mentee is a student here in NYC and it’s been great to share what I’ve learned from my years of touring, recording and working within the music industry. The program can be helpful to give real world guidance to young people just starting out in their careers.

You do a lot of protest and advocacy work for queer and trans rights. In 2023, you even released a song called “Burn This Statehouse Down” in protest of the legislative campaign against trans people. Can you tell us more about your efforts and why it’s so important to support the LGBTQ community right now?
The queer community, and especially trans people, are under attack right now by this current administration. There are a lot of ways to support us, but I think a very clear and easy thing to do is to hire trans people.

As a queer artist, what changes do you hope to see in the future regarding representation within the music industry?
Most major festivals, especially in country music, are predominately straight. I want to see queer people and especially trans and nonbinary people represented on these lineups. It goes back to my previous answer; if you want to support our community, book us, hire us.

What advice do you have for individuals who may be afraid to be fully themselves because of the current political climate?
Find your community. Talk with your friends and see how they can support you. Come out when you are ready, when you are safe, and do it on your own terms.

Are there any upcoming projects you are currently working on that we should be on the lookout for?
My new album comes out May 1st and we are doing a big release party at Industry City in Brooklyn on May 3rd. After that I will be going on tour with my band. We have dates all across the US and the UK.

It has been a crazy few years, and we expect at least three more. How have you been staying positive?
We gotta be easy on ourselves. I make time to see friends, be in nature and appreciate small things has helped me. I live near Prospect Park so I try to go there whenever I can to watch the birds and see the flowers bloom.

What is your motto in life?
Have fun, party hard, don’t be mad at me, and don’t touch my hat.

To learn more about Paisley Fields, please check out the links below:
Paisleyfields.com

Instagram: @paisleyjamesfields

TikTok: @paisleyfields

Paisley Fields: Sexy, Funny, Messy