AJT: Where are you wanting to go with the new record?
HH: I was thinking about the idea of cosmic country and, it’s very much a philosophy, whereas I wanted to shape it into a more holistic concept, with the music, the aesthetic, everything. So making these celestial sounds, using chorus and different effects. Actually, one of the biggest influences to me for this album was Brian Eno’s track Weightless from his record Apollo. That was a huge influence, I wanted to do that sort of sound but with traditional country songs. There’s a lot of new country music challenging the tradition, but I think a lot of it still has the same aesthetic, I’m really wanting to shift that. For me, the closest person who has done that kind of idea is Kacey Musgraves, she had a cool aesthetic and sound. [Fussell puts Brian Eno’s track Weightless on the record player] You hear that amazing pedal steel and DX7? It’s all over my record.

AJT: It’s funny that when people want a futuristic, cosmic sound, they tend to go back to vintage, 60s, 70s equipment, rather than the latest crazy technology. In those eras they had such an optimistic view of space travel.
HH: That’s true, also the analogue sounds are so pure. I didn’t want it to be a throwback record though. I wanted it to sound fresh, so I mixed in new equipment too. As I was listening back to the record and going through all the lyrics again… I find it really hard to write happy music, so I’m always trying to find something to complain about… well it’s more about finding darkness in happiness and vice versa. This record is my biggest opportunity to make music that hopefully a lot of people will hear, so it’s that sense of putting all my time, effort and work into this record and creating this persona that people will resonate with and remember – a star. While also battling with daily life and love, there’s an inner struggle in that story of art versus love. If you can find a balance, that’s amazing, but this record is about the complexities of that struggle. That’s why the record is titled Starmaker.

Honey Harper plays at The Courtyard Theatre, London, on 7th May.
Follow him on Instagram here.

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