Formula Indie Sessions _ Interview with Harry Cash
Harry Cash is a 26 year old songwriter, producer and highly respected multi-instrumentalist. Harry began busking at 8 years of age in Portugal and since then has played in many towns in Essex, London and even Times Square, New York. With over 15 years experience performing at famous music venues, functions, private parties and weddings, covering many different styles of music. Harry has experience playing in bands and as a solo artist performing popular music from artists such as Stevie Wonder, Billy Joel and Bruno Mars.
Harry has been fortunate to work with many different artists and supply session work on piano & vocals for the likes of TV jingle writer & producer Roger Dexter and former Sony Sweden songwriter Alex Hummingson.
“My main influences are Prince, David Bowie, Arctic Monkeys, Muse, Red Hot Chilli Peppers, Nirvana, Bruno Mars and Michael Jackson.”
What is your earliest memory connected to music?
One of my earliest memories of music is asking for a Red Fender Stratocaster for Christmas when I was five.
How did your passion for creating music begin?
I started creating guitar melodies and riffs not long after starting guitar lessons; I couldn’t have been much older than 9. I would record the ideas and jam them with my Dad who’s also a musician. It wasn’t until my teens when I was part of a band named ‘Jump Stone’ where I experimented with writing mood lyrics and full songs mostly leaning towards the funk rock genre with references to bands like The Red Hot Chilli Peppers.
What’s the story behind your current music project?
My latest project comes from a song I had already gigged numerous times over the last few years and was originally written with a friend. I’ve never been a lyrics first kind of person so for me and to this day they carry practically no weight in the excitement that comes with this track. Instead its the energy and nuances in the production such as reversed piano, diminished harmonies during the outro and subtleties like the feed-backing guitars that paint the dystopian picture that the lyrics are trying to tell. “You f*** with my brain” – how can I get that across sonically, is that question I kept asking whilst writing and producing this song.
How would you describe your sound to someone who has never heard your music before?
Well my latest song has been described as an eery entrapment. Adding to that I would say my music is a dynamic representation of modern alternative rock in its rawest form.
What is one thing you’ve learned that completely changed the way you make music?
Less is more. Every time!
What tools, instruments, or software are essential in your creative process?
My trusty Rode M5 condenser mic’s for sure and then I have to say Universal Audio’s native plug ins like their compressors because I would be lost without them.
Which indie artist or song are you loving right now?
Nuns of the tundra. Their riffs are mad and a more local choice for me, Headrush. They’re going places!
How have your personal experiences influenced your music and artistic vision?
I think your parents influence the music you listen to a lot but then aside from that I’ve always found myself most drawn to the technically more interesting and equally emotionally powerful type of music such as anything by Jeff Buckley, early Arctic Monkeys and Radiohead.
What emotions or messages do you hope listeners take from your work?
I’ll be completely honest. I am not a preacher. I don’t write hoping to play on anyones heart strings. Above everything I want them to feel the music how they chose to and I want them to experience every frequency as deeply as possible. If they enjoy my lyrics also, then that is purely a bonus as a musician first.
What’s the most important lesson music has taught you so far?
That this can never die. The feeling we all get from the music we love most. That will always be there; when life gets heavy and when life is at its peak. Music will always be there.
What is a dream venue or festival you would love to perform at?
I would loved to have experienced Woodstock along side Hendrix haha. But these days I would say Download Festival would be pretty cool too haha.
If you could collaborate with any artist, past or present, who would it be and why?
Easy, one name. Prince. I think the reasons speak for themselves.
Where can our listeners follow and support your music? (Website,Spotify, IG, links)
Harry Cash on most things. But here is my linktree with all socials:
Looking toward the future, what’s your dream for the next chapter of your musical journey?
Never say never to cutting through and ‘making it large’ in this dog eat dog world but right now I hope to keep expanding my successful music education business that sees me teach some amazing students every day!
What do you hope listeners will discover about you along the way?
Aside from discovering my passion for the craft, I hope they discover themselves first.
