THE BEST NEW MUSIC COMING STRAIGHT OUTTA NORWICH brought to you by


AUDIOLINE


On Saturday 7thDecember all the BBC Introducing programmes throughout the UK will be announcing their breakthrough act for 2020. BBC Introducing in Norfolk we have nominated Harry Edwards – and here’s why…


Photos: Kalina Pulit


What about music then? How did that come in? "In middle school, we had the drummer from Status Quo come in. It was an assembly with him doing a demonstration and it just blew my mind a little bit. That's when I was first like 'oh cool, this is what I want to do.'" By the time we got to know you, it was the era when bedroom producers were emerging. Were you using electronic stuff on computers or were you using real instruments? "I was using a combination. I got into composing with laptops and because I had an accident with drumming I had to stop, so I had to think of a different avenue that I could pursue music down. Laptops or PC seemed like the most viable and efficient way of doing that." Second gig you did you won The Next Big Thing; fourth gig you played the BBC Big Weekend - that's quite a fast rise from someone who was producing in their own bedroom. How comfortable were you with all of that? "Very uncomfortable. It was a


Aſter winningNext Big Thingin 2014 and playingRadio 1's Big Weekendin 2015, Harry Edwards disappeared into the world of producing: taking his unique mix of piano, acoustic and electronic sound with him. Several years later, he's back. Aſter working with producer Paul Epworth – well known for his work with artists such as Adele and Rihanna - he has something to say about his own music.


bit of a steep trajectory. When we played the BBC, I had my best friend in my band, and that was his second ever gig and he's not a musician. So not just his second ever gig, but never being a musician and then for your second gig you're being recorded on the BBC..." You've moved to London - how did that come about? "When you are an act beginning out you have to be hounding people with your music and getting it to the right people, and really hustling - but for me it was just one serendipitous moment aſter another. The right people heard it and the right things clicked into place, and suddenly I was offered this dream position down in London working for Paul Epworth." It's taken quite a while for you to produce your own music. Obviously, that is now coming about. Plan to release an album, is that where it's at? "It definitely feels like it's been a long time coming. We have an EP that will be released soon, and we have an album pretty much ready to go which will follow


34 / DECEMBER 2019-JANUARY 2020 / OUTLINEONLINE.CO.UK


suit." Where's all that music come from? "Once I was released of my task of helping Paul with a lot of his music, I found myself back in my bedroom with a lot of time on my hands. I went on a bit of a rampage to just make as much music as I could, and it definitely felt like a sort of catharsis." What's the plan for you next - once the album's out, are you going to be gigging a lot more? "I'm hoping it's going to be a lot of gigging, because I feel like I need to get into the swing of gigging; it's not something I do very oſten. I don't think of the live aspect of what I'm doing when I'm making music - so I just make the music and then when it comes to performing it live we'll think 'okay, how have I done this and how can we recreate this in the a live setup?'" Are you excited for what's to come? "Yeah. Excited, nervous...we'll see how it goes."


Words Frances Butler


Listen to the Sound of 2020 with Harry Edwards and the other BBC Introducing nominees on BBC Radio Norfolk, Saturday 7thDecember at 8pm.


Also watch out for a live Harry Edwards session, recorded exclusively for us at Maida Vale studios in London.


Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28  |  Page 29  |  Page 30  |  Page 31  |  Page 32  |  Page 33  |  Page 34  |  Page 35  |  Page 36  |  Page 37  |  Page 38  |  Page 39  |  Page 40  |  Page 41  |  Page 42  |  Page 43  |  Page 44  |  Page 45  |  Page 46  |  Page 47  |  Page 48