After establishing himself with his brilliant breakthrough offerings 'Cut & Dirty', 'Accelerate' and 'Running Out Of Time' last year, Sydney-based artist Harry Klein has now looked to cement his legacy to date with his spellbinding debut album 'And Then There Was None'.
Filled with more of that rich and dynamic electronic aesthetic he has already built for himself, 'And Then There Was None' makes for a wonderfully infectious listen. Jam-packed with warm and technicolour textures, a sweeping atmosphere, and his own mesmerising vocals at the helm, he is definitely one to keep a firm eye on for the months ahead.
So with the new album available to stream now, we sat down with him to find out more about his origins and what has inspired him most of late.
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What was the first instrument you fell in love with?
The bass guitar was the first instrument I played and it is still the most enjoyable instrument to play. When I was 14, a friend handed me the bass guitar and I joined a pop punk cover band called ‘None of the Above’, named after a lyric in Green Day's epic track, Jesus of Suburbia.
What kind of music did you love when you were younger?
In None of the Above we played lots of pop punk, but my love for music began with 80’s pop electronic. I remember my Dad sharing his music collection with me and I particularly loved Pseudo Echo, Spandau Ballet and The Thompson Twins. In my teenage years I was very much an indie rock, indie pop and New Rave listener. It’s the space where indie rock meets electronic beats/synth, is where the magic happens for me.
What was the first album you remember owning?
It probably would have been Dookie by Green Day. I remember learning the bassline from Longview, a track which revolves around an amazing melodic walking bassline.
What is the one song you wished you could have written yourself?
I’m not really sure I could wish to write someone else’s song. I fell in love with songwriting because I love exploring ways of creating new sounds. I’m glad I’ve moved on from pop punk covers.
Do you have any habits or rituals you go through when trying to write new music?
Lots of coffee! I usually write in big stints of a few weeks then have big breaks and use the breaks to revitalize. And Then There Was None was primarily written at night and was written quite quickly. I spend lots of time tweaking lots of little things and re-recording parts. Apart from that I like to get away on residencies, where I just focus on the writing.
Who are your favourite artists you have found yourself listening to at the moment?
I can’t stop listening to Grimes. Her experimental polyphonic production is incomparable to anyone else. I have been taking a lot of inspiration from Grimes as I'm writing album 2.
If you could open a show for anyone in the world, who would it be?
It would probably have to be Thom Yorke. I admire his musicality and bittersweet songwriting both as a solo musician as well as in Radiohead and his other projects.
What do you find is the most rewarding part about being a musician?
I’m not sure where I would be without music. It’s probably been the most consistent part of my life and I’m only just starting to feel accomplished at it. Sharing stories and sounds, meeting people and encouraging friends to make music and DJ are some of the highlights.
And what is the most frustrating part?
Working on your own can be tough and isolating. I lean on my partner and community a lot for morale and encouragement. I get in cycles of feeling like I'm not doing enough, or not making good enough music or not spending enough time on it. I can find it tricky sometimes to balance my musical addiction and everything else in my life.
And what is the best piece of advice you have received as a musician?
Take your time. Always be yourself and not to worry about competition that the industry has created. There will be an audience for you, no matter what you make.
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Harry Klein's new album 'And Then There Was None' is available to stream now. Check it out in the player below.