Harry J Hart Calls Out

Tell us about yourself and your music

I am based on Australia’s Gold Coast.

I was 14 when I was named alongside Amy Shark as a Gold Coast Musician to Watch by Samantha Morris of the Gold Coast Music Awards and I have shared the bill with Tones and me, Casey Barnes, Rick Price, Adam Brand, and Daniel Champagne.

I scored a spot at Bluesfest in 2018 and 2019, and in an article on the Starving Kids blog, JBeavis wrote, “Harry J Hart is a young fella but has some serious singing and guitar chops. Whether he plays with a full band and cuts sick or by himself, you need to check him out.”

At the 2018 Bluesfest Busking Competition and won Best Overall Guitarist which was a massive confidence booster as I was just 16 and up against people who kept telling me they had been playing longer than I have been alive!

Developing my craft is important to me, as is learning from the best in the business. In January I flew to LA to study guitar under Tom Morello (Rage Against the Machine), Nuno Bettencourt (Extreme), John 5, Bibi McGill (guitarist to Pink & Beyonce) and other guitar royalty.

It was the last few months of my senior high school year in 2018 when I did my first trip to Boston to study guitar at Berklee College of Music’s Summer School. I went back again last year (2019) as it was a great experience being surrounded by like-minded and very talented musicians.

Along with the chance to grow as a musician, it also provided crazy travel experiences like having to spend $2000 on an Uber from New York to Boston to make it to my audition on time after my flight was canceled.

Talk to us more about your latest release

This debut single tells of the anguish caused by getting caught up in your headspace.

Some of the feedback I have had for this song has been amazing – Nuno Bettencourt, guitarist for the American rock band, Extreme, observed, “…Song sounds great. Beautiful changes in the verses. And you played a solo for the song. That’s important. Nice work man” whilst Australian ex-pat and pop icon, Rick Price said, “I think it’s great! Well done mate.”

It is due for release this Friday – July 10th.

What inspired you to write this release?

I don’t remember the exact moment, It Calls Out came to me.

It is a narrative of the loneliness and the despair of depression was written through observing the struggles of mental health, which is ever so prevalent in the music industry.

Describe the writing and recording process

The dark pop-rock anthem that is ‘It Calls Out” has punchy drums and heartfelt lyrics with guitars remaining the driving force of the song, which, in demo format, sat for weeks at number 1 on Triple J Unearthed charts and saw me named a Queensland Music Awards Finalist (Schools Division) all as part of a school assignment.

After playing It Calls Outlive for about two years, I hit the studio to record it.  Working with Joel Myles of Head Atlas Studios has been an experience that has been nothing short of transformational for my songwriting and creative process.  We take my songs further than I could ever imagine them going.  With Joel, I am learning so much about songwriting, production, and music in general.  We have a very similar set of musical influences that bounce off each other nicely.

Any plans to release a video?

Any plans to hit the road?

This song was due to be released in May to coincide with my gig at Jungle Love Festival, but thanks to COVID, that is an opportunity that will have to wait.

There had been plans to tour but here in Australia – probably like everywhere else at the moment – the regulations keep changing making it hard for venues, bands, and music lovers to plan too much when it comes to living performances.  You can check out my socials to keep up to date, and Facebook is where I post my gigs.

• IMPORTANT NOTE PLEASE


• PLEASE refer to me as Harry J Hart (not Harry Hart) otherwise if you Google me all you will find is references to Colin Firth’s character in The Kingsmen.  Thank you!

As an indie artist, how do you brand yourself and your music to stand out from the rest of the artists out there?

From a logo perspective – ever since I was little kid my Mum used to write my name as HJ (love heart symbol) on my lunchbox, so when it came time to create a brand – that was the first thing that came to mind.

I want to have an alternative rock sound that has pop production so that recordings are more mainstream, but when playing live we are an alternative rock band.

Who have you been listening to lately?

Lots of Silverchair, Guthrie Govan, The Fray, Nothing But Thieves, Karnivool, and early Maroon 5 have been my go-to lately.  I also love listening to the music put out by my friends, so do yourself a favor and check out Lovegrove, Tylah Vineyard, India Dupriez, Stray Dog Saviours, and Marco.

Who are your biggest influences?

My influences are very varied as you will always hear a bit of whoever I’m listening to at the time.  Some reoccurring influences include John Mayer, Highly Suspect, Silverchair, Tool, Nothing But Thieves, Karnivool, Jeff Buckley, Alice in Chains.  I also have a playlist called “Go Practice, nerd” where I put the more technical music that makes me want to pick up a guitar and work hard to get better.  It has bands such as Snarky Puppy, Eric Johnson, The Aristocrats, Guthrie Govan, and Toska.

Tell us about your passions

I love my cat – he’s cool.  He acts like he’s not a cat.

I have way too many guitars and pedals – I hope that’s a personality trait!!  I’m a gear nerd.

I play a lot of Wii because it is fun.

I also bought a cookbook recently and it has been a game-changer – as the outcome is always food!

What else is happening next in your world?

More Music!  I am back in the studio – with Joel – working on my first EP.

The plan is to share a few singles before releasing the whole EP.

 

 

Thanks for an awesome interview, Harry J Hart

 

 

Connect with Harry J Hart

Website: https://www.harryjhart.comFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/harryjhartmusicInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/harryjhartmusicTwitter: https://www.twitter.com/harryjhartmusicYoutube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCppZ6iSUxPdwTx8GeQSUKIw/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/harry-j-hart-198039112/Soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/harryjhartmusicReverbnation: https://www.reverbnation.com/harryjhart

Genres: Rock

Source: ArtistPR Indie Artist Interview