Having already spent the last few years turning out a flurry of bold and enigmatic anthems, which have already caught the attention of BBC Radio 1, Cambridge-based artist HRTLSS is back on the grind once again with his thunderous new single 'Final Lullaby'.
Bringing back more of that raw and emotive alt-rock energy he is known for, 'Final Lullaby' makes for an incredibly rich and immersive listen. With its broad and driven production perfectly elevating his heartfelt vocals throughout, he is returning to the fold with one of his most impactful efforts to date here.
So with the new single available to stream now, we sat down with him to find out more about his origins and what has inspired him most over the years.
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What was the first instrument you fell in love with?
Drums! Drums were was my first love. I played a little guitar too, but it was around the 10/11 years old mark, I just had to get my hands on a kit. Poor neighbours.
What kind of music did you love when you were younger?
Growing up I loved The Undertones, The Clash, Cold Play and ABBA, what a mix. But then around the age I had the craving to begin learning drums, I would save up for the Kerrang complication cd’s and I swapped my Coldplay and Abba tapes for complications full of Slipknot, Korn, and Linkin Park. Around the same time I was also gifted an old electric guitar from a neighbour of mine, who used to jam with members of Iron Maiden. The obsession for guitar grew from there. As did my love for Metal and Rock music.
What was the first album you remember owning?
The first album I owned, I genuinely can not remember but the one I would argue is most worthy of bringing up would be Hybrid theory. That thing was on repeat, in my clunky portable cd player at every given opportunity. I do think it’s a shame that there is less value these days in buying, listening too and looking after physical cd’s.
What is the one song you wished you could have written yourself?
A song I wish I could have written myself would be hallelujah by Jeff Buckley. Beautifully written. You could cover it in any genre of music, and I don't know, it just does something for me/to me every time I listen to it. There’s a few oldy goldy’s in a similar style to that, such as Mad World, those haunting, sad songs that make you feel emotionally available, vulnerable, and sad but at the same time make you feel uplifted.
Do you have any habits or rituals you go through when trying to write new music?
Generally it starts on the guitar. And depending on my mood on the day, and however I’m feeling with influence the tone and whether I’m picking up the axe that’s down tuned to A# or staying in the much brighter drop d haha. I’ll play a few chords, hum a melody, untill I get ‘that feeling’ of, ‘yes this is a song / single / banger’.
Who are your favourite artists you have found yourself listening to at the moment?
My playlist mostly consists of my favourites from back in high school. So we have Underoath, Paramore, Linkin Park, Silverstein and then I’ve also added recently bands such as Sleep Token, and I’m loving Bad Omens.
If you could open a show for anyone in the world, who would it be?
I’d love to open up for someone like Mike Shinoda, or Papa Roach, someone I grew up listening to.
What do you find is the most rewarding part about being a musician?
It’s the creating something out of nothing. It’s the creation of a sound that didn’t exist before you started writing. And genuinely, I can say my stuff is original in its sound, yes you may hear elements that remind you of bands you used to listen too, and you may hear similar sounds to bands you currently listen too, but in its overall landscape, the HRTLSS sound is a new sound. It’s a blend of all genres. That’s the most fun part for me is creating something that has a familiarity yet sounds so brand new!
And what is the most frustrating part?
This could get me in trouble, but I think the thing that frustrates me the most is the success of a musician used to be down to their work ethic, consistency, and how good the music was. Now it seems to be more of a popularity contest and who can post the most on social media in a day to provoke the algorithm?
And what is the best piece of advice you have received as a musician?
Make music for you. Don’t be like anyone else. Don’t try to sound like anyone else. Be you.
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HRTLSS' new single 'Final Lullaby' is available to stream now. Check it out in the player below.