Hey all! Thanks so much for checking back for yet another Artist of the Week Series! This week we have young U.K. dance music artist, Harrison!
Born and raised in the UK, Harrison has accomplished a lot within the music industry as a raw, talented vocalist and DJ still only in his early 20s. With an impressive live show that combines these talents and which Harrison has taken across Europe, Asia, North America and Africa, his talented songwriting and individualistic voice has led to support from the biggest names in dance including Tiësto, Avicii, Dimitri Vegas & Like Mike, Radio 1’s Danny Howard and beyond.
Harrison's creative process really differs from that of a typical young artist. We got a chance to sit down with Harrison and really talk about the way he creates music:
My creative process is simple, really, it’s just me in the studio writing what comes into my head; like with most of my records I start with the drum pattern. Getting the drums working together is the base of any great record and so creating that groove makes the process of writing that much easier. Once the drums were in, in this case, it was then creating a memorable hook with the lead melody, layering different elements creating a full sound to then finally record my vocals on. Once the vocals were in, I mixed the record making sure every channel had space to breathe – you can pick apart certain elements differently for each track, but my process is never overcomplicated, I know what I want to make.”
This creative process has allowed Harrison to appeal to the best of the best with his distinct, catchy lyrics and one-of-a-kind voice which, after early collaborations with the likes of David Guetta, also enticed the #1 DJ Mag Top 100 DJ at the time, Hardwell. Joining forces for the controversial track ‘Sally’, the unique stance of risqué lyrics paired with main stage dominating production became one of the most played and most spoken-of tracks on Hardwell’s album ‘United We Are’, also reaching #1 status in the Netherlands.
Cranking things up another gear, Harrison went on to release a slew of tracks with Laidback Luke on his first artist album in 13 years (‘Never Rave Again’), EDM-pop powerhouse Steve Aoki (‘Holding Up The World’), Dannic & Lucky Date (‘Mayday’), also continuing his collaborative streak with Thomas Gold (‘Take Me Home’) and VINAI (‘Sit Down’), spanning the emotive to the party-starting – yet 2018 is his year to step out of the shadows and shine of his own accord.
His newest record, a medley of future bass, incredible vocals, and master level production talent, “Blinding My Vision”, really takes modern music and cranks it up for 2018. Harrison's ability to portray his own image and ideas about dance music, while staying true to himself, allowed him to create a record that not only appeals to Summer Festivals, but also clubs and radio play. This unique talent to process his idea and realize them so vividly through a creative endurance really shows Harrison is the real deal! When we asked Harrison about his newest release he said:
“It’s actually about the anxiety that I get before I go on stage and start performing, and the pressure that everyone puts on you with the idea to always make something better than what you have done before.”
Like many young artists breaking the mold of striving to get signed to a label who really doesn't fit your exact style, Harrison has made leaps and bounds to build his own record label, Outlaw Records.
Launching his own Outlaw imprint after the success of his Armada, Spinnin’ and Revealed Recordings releases, a new dawn emerged for Harrison with his NOW released ‘Blinding My Vision’, laying out an ambitious path of future bass that merges with his vocal flair. Fuelling the excitement of his upcoming ventures and proving his passion in stepping out solo, his sound is one that could only reside from a true artist taking control of his own destiny.
Harrison has proven to be one of the hottest up and coming artists right now and we're really excited to feature him as our Artist of the Week. Check out Harrison as he plows his way through 2018!
“My plan for 2018 is that I want to really push my new label Outlaw Records hard this year, releasing a lot of new music: I feel like I have a lot to prove but it is fully going to be quality over quantity. My next track I’m excited to release mid-April is with Kill The Buzz called ‘2 White Lies’ – get ready, 2018!”
