Henry Green

Where are you currently based?

I’m based in a small, sleepy town in the countryside, about half an hour outside of Bristol, England.

How did you first start playing music?

Like a lot of children, I asked for a guitar for Christmas one year and that was my first introduction to music. I had lessons for a couple of years, but my interest was always in discovering the instrument myself, working out how I wanted to play it and that carried through to other instruments, and eventually production.

What’s been happening recently?

I finished the new record early this year, and now I’m taking this time to experiment with ideas for the next record. I rarely have these sustained periods of flow, my inspiration generally comes in short bursts, so I’m just enjoying this moment and trying to understand what the next record will be.

Your new album ‘Half Light’ is out now, what influenced the sound and songwriting?

The main influence was a struggle to express. I never intended for this record to be so intimate, but the sound of Half Light reflects the process.

How did you go about writing the album?

The process was kind of fragmented. Off the back of the last record, I jumped in to a few different projects and didn’t really focus on album two for a while. I’d be working on very loose ideas, sketches that I thought had potential.. but rarely structured, never taking on a solid form. We moved out of the city mid 2019, and I knew that I’d have to dive properly in to the process as soon as we moved in. But I just hit a wall, self doubt started to creep in and I didn’t believe that I was capable of making a record. It was only September time that I made a breakthrough.. I wrote the opening track ‘All’, and the rest followed in four or five months.

Please tell us about your mindset before, during and after the release and how this contributed to the album and how and what affected you:

It certainly feels strange now it’s released. It’s such a personal record, I really wrestled with these tracks and it’s difficult to see them in any other light than the one they were conceived in. I’m so pleased that these songs are connecting with people, that they can take on a whole new meaning to others.

Where and when did you record/produce and who with?

I produced the whole record in my loft. In hindsight, I wish the process had been a little more collaborative. I love working at my own speed, and I enjoy having that flexibility and control, but I really missed that connection with others. The brightest moments were with other creatives.. Andreya came over for a couple of sessions, my friend Jade came to record saxophone. I also worked remotely with Ghostly Kisses, Melis and Niamh Fahy (strings).

What programs/instruments did you use?

I work in Logic Pro, but I try to work outside of the box as much as possible. I’m always trying to find a balance between electronics and acoustic elements. I used a lot of acoustic guitar on Half Light, but not as a writing tool or a human element to anchor each track down, but more as a texture. I’d resample or manipulate a lot of takes, almost forming parts out of smaller fragments as opposed to writing them on the guitar itself. Most of the synth sounds on the record are from my Prophet, or Moog. Alongside that, most of the percussion on the record is formed out of found sound, field recordings etc.

What did you find most challenging and rewarding during the creation of the album?

The reward definitely came in those moments of quick release. After prolonged periods of little movement, having those days where the ideas would flood were special. The challenging part was not being able to express myself or manifest those ideas more regularly. I’d spend days trying to force ideas and would end up feeling so much worse because of it.

What do you like to do away from music?

I really enjoying cooking! It’s always been another passion of mine. I can see a lot of similarities between the two.

Who are you listening to at the moment?

I’ve been listening to my label mates Zola Blood’s recent EP, and my friend Liam Mour’s new EP. Both are ace. Also, two of my best mates have started releasing under the name Aforest. They’ve been holding on to these brilliant songs for a long time, so it’s great to see them finally released and being well received.

What’s planned for the remainder of 2020?

A lot of plans are on hold, due to the pandemic, so I’m focusing on new music for the rest of the year. I’m so fortunate to have my studio space at home, I love having a space that’s always accessible. I’m taking it slow at the moment, not forcing anything but thankfully, the ideas are flowing naturally. So I’m just trying to enjoy that, enjoy the process.

Favourite food and place to hangout?

Favourite sweet food.. Almond Croissants. Favourite savoury food.. I love Nasi Goreng, or a Thai Curry. Or a burger.. I love burgers.

And favourite place to hang out.. not particularly adventurous but I just love walking my dog around the fields around where we live.