What is your names?
My name is Harry and I go under the name Waiting For Smith named after the first drummer who never turned up.
What is your genre of music?
The latest stuff is Indie Folk/Indie Pop.
Give us a little bio about you.
I always flirted with music but it was only when I broke my back and spent a year in bed that I realised I wanted to dedicate my life to it. Something changed in me, I knew it was the right thing to do. So I moved from the French Alps to London to do it and now I live in Amsterdam. I went from the mountains to the flattest place on earth.
Since then I’ve had write ups in GQ, been played on over 190 radio stations, had a track on a Netflix series, played some big festivals and I’ve just been booked on my first USA & European support tour. I love to make people feel good through music and write about why we are here and how to be the best version of ourselves while we are.
What made you go into music?
My accident. During my year in bed recovering I learnt guitar, wrote a lot, read a lot, watched a lot of good film and planned how I would begin my journey into music.
Who are your influences?
Bob Dylan, David Bowie, Toots & the Maytlas, The Eagles, Gerry Rafferty, Oscar Peterson, Frank Sinatra, Nick Mulvey, Dire Straits, Fleetwood Mac, Beck, Lou Reed, Gotye, The Kinks, Vulfpeck,The National, Mac de Marco, The Beatles, Paul Simon, A Tribe Called Quest, Big Bill Broozy, Sam Cooke,James Brown, Cat Stevens, Otis Redding,Talking Heads, Leanoard Cohen, Post Malone, Nick Mulvey and JJ Cale.
Are you a signed?
To my own label Four One Seven Records, which I co-own with a partner. I’m looking for distribution though if you know anyone?
Your new EP ‘Hopelessness Of Love’ is out, tell us more about the EP.
Listening to the music one night I realised that the theme tying all the songs together, was very much all about the “Hopelessness of Love” and communication within relationships.
At the same time, my creative director Lian, was putting together the artworks and had the idea to express each song through visualizing different ways of communicating. It was like the idea was already there, we just had to see it when listening to the songs.
Inspired by the five senses sight, sound, smell , taste and touch, each track would have it’s own colour and form of communication attached to it:
Hopelessness of Love – writing – WORDS
Little Old Book – braille – TOUCH
As I Saw You Then – Sound waves – LISTENING
Tired Mind – Clouds – The MIND
Best Side for You – musical notes – MUSIC
What is the meaning behind the EP?
The underlying theme is all about communication & relationships. The second lockdown inspired it, as we all suddenly had to spend way more time again with others and ourselves then ever before. Producer Jan Schroeder and I wanted to explore that together – we had some great chats about it all over morning coffees, a few croissants, cups of tea and French bread and that’s where the songs basically came from.
Who did you work with on the single?
Music: Jan Schroeder was co-writer and producer on the whole EP. We both played pretty much everything on It in Amsterdam, apart from the horn arrangements which were done in London with Paul Frith. It was all mixed by Ian Grimble at his studio , who’s worked with the likes of: Mumford & Sons, Travis, Blanco White and Bears Den. Then the tracks were mastered by the wonderful Simon Francis.
Visual: We had a small but wicked creative team in Amsterdam for the photos & design of the covers Ruud Jaansen, Noah klokkers and Lian Schreuder
What else can we expect in 2021?
-A new EP all about mental health. It gonna be called “Trying Not To Try” and will be full of gospel influence and piano led pop tunes with big string sections. I’m super excited to get it out.
-Some epic new music videos.
-And my first USA & Europe support tour. 30 dates!
Where do you see yourself now in 5 Years?
Very happy…living on the beach in Amsterdam tucked away in the dunes, studio under the house, doing big tours to millions of people and getting involved in education & mental health.
What quote or saying do you always stick by?
In dwelling, live close to the ground
In thinking, keep to the simple
In conflict, be fair and generous
In governing, don’t try to control
In work, do what you enjoy
In family Life, be completely present
When you are content to be simply yourself and don’t compare or compete
Everybody will respect you.
(Tao Te Ching, Lao Tzu – Stephen Mitchell translation)
When you are at a gig, what are 5 things you cannot forget?
A guitar pick, a funky hat, capo, my hair stuff and a sense of humour
Do you have social media accounts so your fans can follow you?
Yes course.
Youtube
Spotify
Instagram
