Harper is Bloom-ing
After talking to Harper Bloom it becomes clear quickly, this is a musician we will have the pleasure of listening to for a long time, one of those artists who will have a longevity that comes with talent. She is a musician, a singer, a songwriter and she has developed her own production skills, allowing her to forecast the end product in her head and then bring that entire vision to life. We sat down to chat to Harper about her latest release ‘Red Rocket’, its accompanying video, and her desire to collab with Adam Newling.
Thank you for taking the time to answer some questions for Music Festivals Australia/Music Kingdom Australia
No worries :) Thanks for having me!
For those that haven’t heard your music before , how would you describe your sound and style?
I’d describe it as upbeat and Australiana indie- folk! I’m quite careful with my lyrics, I want to tell the listener a story, in an easy listening, poetic way. The production is always minimal and lo-fi, I’m not trying to over-sell what I’m saying :)
Tell us about your new song, Red Rocket? What does the song mean to you, and what do you hope the listener takes from it?
This song means so much to me! Lyrically and musically. I love the little ukulele riff, it's nice and cheerful, but the lyrics tell a story of loss. It’s a story about two people who build their lives together, then one of them suddenly passes away. It's a true story. So how do you deal with that? Do you sit and wallow, or do you hold them tightly (symbolically) and celebrate that you ever got to meet them at all? In this story, it's the latter, and I think perhaps that's the best outcome for an incredibly sad situation. So I hope the listener can find comfort in my song.
“My favourite part was versing two kids in a table tennis competition, and being one of the first people to have a beer in the refurbished Kyneton Hotel. They opened it up specially for us which was nice, they also gave us free beer, which was even nicer ”
Who came up with the concept for the video? Any memorable moments during the making of it?
Matt and Lawrence from LP productions worked on the music video with me! They are such lovely guys and we had a very fun road trip down to Kyneton for the day, with the rest of their crew to film the clip. This is the first time I’ve done a video shoot without a script - we decided we wanted to capture a feeling more than a narrative. So we used an old Super 8 film camera and just captured little moments of a day out in the town. My favourite part was versing two kids in a table tennis competition, and being one of the first people to have a beer in the refurbished Kyneton Hotel. They opened it up specially for us which was nice, they also gave us free beer, which was even nicer :D
You have a new EP coming, when is the album out?
Yes, I’m very excited to release more music in an extended format! It should be out in the second half of this year :)
What can fans expect from the new release?
I now have a much better idea of what sound I want to portray as an artist. I think, at the start, I was just writing all of these different songs and getting excited about them, but I wasn't keeping the sound consistent, which I now realize is really important. So, I think, people can expect the next EP to be more cohesive and established production-wise. I want my music to have a particular energy and sound, so when people think of me, they know what to expect - not in a boring or bad way, but they know that I have a particular style and they won’t be thrown by it. There will be more uplifting tracks, more very reflective Australian songwriting, and overall just some really great sing-alongs and fun tunes to have a dance too.
Are there plans to tour for the EP?
Yes, definitely! My last EP tour got rescheduled then canceled due to Covid last year. So hopefully, once my sophomore EP is released, there will be plenty of shows in the works for around the whole of Australia.
What's the one essential you HAVE to take on tour?
Definitely tea. I have some really odd routines before performing. Actually, they aren't odd, but if I don’t do them, I feel really unsettled. On the day of any performance, I have to have lots of tea with lemon and honey, do singing exercises, run through the set, go for a swim or run, suck on throat lozenges and sniff Vicks haha.
How did you get your start in music?
I started writing songs from a very young age - my Dad bought me a guitar when I was pretty young, maybe 5 or 6. I just used to play and write songs as a hobby, it wasn’t until my partner and I moved to New York for a little while, that I realized it was something I wanted to seriously pursue. I started playing open mic nights in the U.S which gave me the confidence and desire to continue to perform, in front of as many people as I could.
Do you play a part in the production side of your music or is this something you leave to the professionals?
When I first started working with producers and getting my tracks recorded, I literally used to just play my guitar part and sing into a microphone and then leave. I was completely disconnected from the production side and didn’t really realize how much it could impact the song. I used to think, great, this is a great song so it's going to do amazing. Then I started to notice that sometimes the producer didn't quite marry my vision of the song with his instrumental/production side. It was a hard lesson to learn, but important. Now I am much more hands on in production, I have ideas of what sounds/instrument parts I need, harmonies etc. Now when I’m writing songs, I am also thinking about, ooo this little drum part will be good here, etc etc. So I play a bigger part now, and I record my own vocals and guitar/ukulele on Ableton too.
“ I want to tell the listener a story, in an easy listening, poetic way”
Who do you credit as your musical influences?
Bob Dylan, Paul Kelly, Neil Diamond, Courtney Barnett, The Mouldy Peaches, Barry Louis Polisar and many more :)
Living or Dead, who would be the ultimate Collab Partner for Harper Bloom?
Right now, I’ve got to say, I think I’d really love to collaborate with Adam Newling. I am a huge fan of his songwriting and his voice is just out of this world. I’m also really into Father John Misty at the moment as well, love his songwriting, it's so simple but it really connects with people and tugs on your heart strings- I love that. They are both alive and kicking!
Who in your crew or team deserves a shout out but never gets one? And what is it they do that keeps your world turning?
David Quested is a great man! He taught me how to use Ableton in lockdown, so a huge kudos to him. He also produced my last two tracks, “Sydney Road” and “Red Rocket”. He’s a really amazing up and coming producer. He’s also my live drummer :) talented dude.
What can Harper Bloom fans look forward to for the rest of this year?
We are shooting for a sophomore EP and a national tour - keep your eyes and ears out and make sure you're signed up to my mailing list at Contact — Harper Bloom :)
Interview by Michelle Symes
April 2022