Harbour – the name we all think of when the emotion and depth of cinematic scoring meets electronic music. For two years now, the Las Vegas based producer continues to pave his own road in the music scene, blending distinct elements of larger-than-life film sound with the progressive and rebellious energy of electronic music. It’s no secret, Harbour truly has cultivated a lush and atmospheric experience in his music that immediately inspires listeners and provokes one to not only listen, but to imagine.
For Harbour, music is all about telling a story and generating a scene, atmosphere or mood that grabs the listeners attention and makes them feel the exact emotion of the storyteller. Mood is absolutely correct. Every Harbour track is rich and true to its own mood. Listen now for yourself.
Where are you from?
I’m a Colorado native currently living in Las Vegas, Nevada.
How long have you been making music?
I think since I was about 11. When I was a kid I really enjoyed Garage Band, and meshing loops together and creating all kinds of different songs. I think I actually still have a folder on an old hard drive with tracks from when I was just messing around in Garage Band almost 14 years ago now.
How many songs /albums have you released to date?
One full album – Unparalleled – which I am actually contemplating kind of updating/remastering in the near future. Aside from that, I have 5 other singles out and my most recent EP, Same Moon. Different Earth.
Can you tell us about your latest release and the background and inspirations behind it?
Same Moon. Different Earth. Initially I had no idea/plans for this EP. But then I met the vocalist, Evangelia Pappas and she showed me this raw acapella video of her singing the track that came to be Remedy. Just listening to her singing and the lyrics I instantly knew I wanted to produce a track for her, just because there was such a powerful story in the lyrics and most definitely behind why she wrote the song to begin with.
10 PM on the other hand is a fully original track and I had been working on it for several weeks before I had met Evangelia. All of my fully original tracks are based off of true stories and real life events that I have personally experienced. For me its a really beautiful and fulfilling way of documenting my life in a way that deeply records the emotional states I was in at that point, as sometimes I don’t think other people really understand what you’re feeling when you simply just tell them. This is definitely a reason why I think other people can identify with my music so well, as all of us share many similar experiences and feelings in this life. This was exactly true when Evangelia showed up to record Remedy. I shared with her this track and the story behind it and she totally wanted to help out – which I was very happy about because 10 PM absolutely needed a female’s perspective on things as the song is about an inevitable expiration date on a relationship that the girl is choosing to invoke unbeknownst to the guy. I’m honestly really proud of 10 PM just because I feel like I nailed the story with that track musically, the conquestive Arabic guitar reinforcing traveling under the stars to find that someone, but then the drop arrives/he arrives, and while it’s beautiful, there’s just this unexplainable deep disappointment in the atmosphere and mood of bereavement.
How have you ended up in the music industry?
Right now, as independent as it gets. I’m definitely still a nobody in terms of where I want to be in the music industry, but hey, you’ve gotta start somewhere, right? I get great feedback from people, so I know I’m on the right path and I know my stuff will catch on eventually, but for now I am just small and telling stories I guess for myself and the few loyal followers that I’m supposing can relate to my stuff.
What do you think of the music industry in 2019?
This is not a good question to ask me, *chuckles.* Honestly, I think the 2019 music industry is a disaster. Talentless and poorly thought through music is produced in mass quantities designed to sell, not to inspire or provoke any listeners to think or feel something. And don’t even get me started on the EDM scene. Music is an incredible tool of expression, and it saddens me that “influencers” chase fame so hard to the point they will throw together pointless beats just so they can have/keep main stage. I truly do like the term musical artist and I think their are a lot of them out there – it’s just so unfortunate that labels and people in the music industry don’t really pay any attention to them. It’s all about money in 2019. I hope the masses will start to notice the rapid decline in music quality and start demanding better artists and support the producers and singers who really love music.
Who do you think the most influential artist?
For dance music, Armin Van Buuren hands down. That guy is the definition of passionate for music. Illenium was great too back in the beginning during the time of his Ashes Album. Porter Robinson will always inspire me, as he is the definition of “do you, do it well, and nobody will turn down your passion.”
Outside of dance music, OneRepublic will always be a heavy influencer for me – just because they inspired me to learn the piano many years ago. Hans Zimmer and James Horner influence me a lot too because they just understand story and how to create music that is absolutely perfect at reinforcing story and mood.
Oh, and Lights – she’s amazing. I love her original sound and how her music is her life.
Who have you collaborated with so far in your career?
A lot of vocalists – BabyGee, ARIANNA, Nat Manibo, Addie Nicole (upcoming release), Evangelia Pappas.
Other producers – just SNOWFYRE as of now (upcoming release), but I have one in the plans with Fourth Horizon.
How do you think you differ from other artists?
My non-pop-music approach to song and sound design. I REALLY like to use cinematic elements and scoring style writing. Also, I think I am very different from other artists because all of my songs come from real life personal experiences. I have yet to write anything that doesn’t have a long personal story attached to it. Also, I don’t really get confined to a genre. I use whatever sound is necessary to best express the feelings I want out of the track.
Dead or alive, who would be your dream collaboration?
Armin Van Burren for production.
Lights or Connor Maynard for vocals.
What was the first album you bought?
I’m pretty sure it was an Anberlin album.
What’s your favourite song at the moment?
Talking Backwards by S1LVA – seriously, check him out!
If you had to sell your music collection tomorrow, what album would you leave in your draw?
3 way tie please?
Lights – The Listening
Illenium – Ashes
OneRepublic – Dreaming Out Loud
These are albums that I seriously can and do listen to from start to finish, no skipping.
What is your favourite saying?
He who says he can and he who says he can’t are both usually right.
What other hobbies or interests do you have?
I really enjoy the Dark Souls series. I’m a PS4 guy and those games are such an escape – I love it. I also enjoy gardening and working out.
Do you have any tattoos or piercings?
None.
When do you think you’ll feel like you’ve made it?
Honestly, the night I play my Unparalleled set at EDC cosmic meadows.
Tell us more about your upcoming project or this new project?
Well, I have a couple of remixes I am touching up that will release soon. I am actually really excited to get these out finally. As far as originals go, I guess I’ll officially announce here that I have started on album number 2! It will be a while before it is out, just because I am really holding out on this album for my very best work. Both musically, but also in terms of telling a powerful story through the whole album.
What’s in the pipeline after this project?
Hopefully gaining some traction in the music scene and start touring/performing.
Thank you for your time and may you carry on making great, fresh music.
Thank you!
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