Page 134 - ION Indie Magazine SeptOct 2023
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RH: There’s quite a lot to it, but essentially, when TB: You followed that up with the maxi single
covid hit, I knew it was time to make changes to release ‘Everything is Black.’ What is the story
my career, ones that I felt would be the behind ‘Everything is Black?’
cornerstones of my career going forward. Black
Harbour Blues had served me well. It was like RH: Early after the release, when I did press
attending music college in a sense, because I interviews and such for ‘Everything Is Black,’ I
learned a lot about the music business. But its spoke about the apocalyptic, anti-establishment
time had come. As a solo artist (although I am kind of rant that I was on during the writing
still working with a band), I had way more control process. I think the story behind the song is less
over the outcomes of things, where Black important than the point of the song. Not even the
Harbour had a very specific vibe. I wanted to ‘meaning’ but what the meaning attempts to do - to
shed that skin. I wanted to create music, be it encourage people to think for themselves. Look at
blues, rock, heavy music, acoustic, whatever, the systems around you, look at the rules, the
and I felt somewhat limited within the Black laws, and the things that are totally flawed that we
Harbour realm. Not to mention I was the last of just take as the way things are. Ask yourself
the original members of the band and there questions. Are you doing anything to change the
would have been no point in changing the band’s world or are you ignoring corruption and deceit that
whole style after that. It was logical to let it go and are being thrown at you every day by the people in
start something new.
power? Specifically, I am thinking about what is
going on politically in my own country, and I think
TB: You are also part of the group Fear of that people cannot sit around and let the country
Falling. How do you balance out the group decay into darkness anymore. The people must
and solo projects? save the country before it’s too late. I never
thought I would take any sort of political standpoint
RH: Honestly, with a TON of planning. That is the in my music, but the corruption and decay in South
crux. Fear Of Falling has actually disbanded after Africa is just too blatant to ignore.
the last release.
TB: You did a cover of the famed Black
TB: Did the group provide a different creative Sabbath song ‘War Pig.’ How did you decide on
outlet for you than the solo project? covering/releasing that song?
RH: For sure. Any time I find myself in a musical RH: We’re all massive fans of Black Sabbath, and
space outside of my norm, it helps me create in based on the previous question, that will give you
a different way to what I usually do. That said, I the answer. The song is probably the most famous
am quite obsessive, and I do look for ways to anti-establishment rock song, and so it fitted
burn through my creative needs based on the perfectly within the context of the ‘Everything Is
music that I want to create. I know what I like and Black’ Maxi Single.
what I want to hear. That’s the approach I take
when making my own music. I am basically TB: I read a quote from your bio that states: ‘My
writing the music that I would want to be listening approach to interviews and questions
to. regarding what my music is about, I’ve decided
to limit, as I feel that the philosophical wave I’m
TB: You released two EPs in 2022, ‘Rest & riding at the moment is all about the listener,
Resurrection’ in January of 2022 and ‘Chapter
their interpretation, and making sure that I
II’ in November. How long had you been don’t too deeply influence their personal
working on the two EPs? connection with my music.’ Do you feel artists
influence a listener’s connection with music
RH: The timeline was constant work in and out of too much?
the studio between 2021 and 2022. I did bite off
a large chunk based on what I wanted to RH: I think if artists want to influence that personal
accomplish, so there was a lot of work to be connection, they can in various ways – social
done. I can, however, see the benefits of the media, interviews, and so on. It’s not that what I
work paying off, and that’s really rewarding and am doing now wouldn’t have that impact, but I do
exciting! Feeling grateful! try to limit adding my own narrative to a (con’t)
