What is your name and role within Harves?
My name is Matthew Wright and my role in Harves includes singing/songwriting, playing keys and panicking about things I don’t need to.
Where are you currently based?
Based in Melbourne, Australia.
How did Harves form?
Sam and I spent many years sending song files back and forth and loosely collaborating over the internet. Until mid-2020, we didn’t really have a clear vision for what we were attempting to do. Our first single (Do Your Worst) was placed in a film through our publishers, and that was really the catalyst for us getting our shit together.
What’s been happening recently and how has your Covid experience been so far?
We’ve mostly been writing and preparing for our next release. Covid has certainly made things tougher for us. We’ve worked together in person only a handful of times this year, but in that time we’ve managed to launch the band, and finish and release 2 songs. We’re adapting I guess.
Your new single ‘The River’ is out now, what influenced the sound and songwriting?
Harves take influence from wherever we can. Between the two of us, our taste in music is incredibly broad. We don’t really make a conscious effort to sound any particular way. I think our music is a perfect blend of everything we like, and the River is a great representation of that.
How did you go about writing The River?
Sam sent through the instrumental idea about a year ago and the vocal came to me almost instantly. It was one of those songs that takes on a life of their own. Apart from some changes the chorus, nearly everything was written within a couple of hours.
Where and when did you record/produce/master and who did you work with?
We record and produce our own songs. Sam is also Produces/Mixes/Masters by trade. Harves are a pretty self-sufficient unit.
How did you approach the recording process?
Due to Covid, The River was recorded entirely from our respective houses. I did the vocals in my bedroom and Sam took care of mostly everything else in his home studio.
What does The River mean to you?
The River is a metaphor for the place that my mind goes when I create music. It can be a really dark and often lonely place, but coming out the other end is almost always worth it.
Who are you listening to at the moment?
Right this very second I’m listening to John Coltrane. Also been giving the new HEALTH record a lot of love. We’re both massive fans of nearly everything they do.
What do you like to do away from music?
We’re both pretty avid gamers. I’d say we’re nearly as passionate about video games as we are about music. We draw a lot of inspiration from that world. Writing for video game soundtracks is a big goal for us.
What’s planned for the remainder of 2020 going into 2021?
We’ll be spending the rest of the year writing and preparing for our next release. We’re still undecided on what that release will be, but time will tell. Now that Covid restrictions are easing, we’ll no doubt start looking into playing some shows.
Favourite food and place to hangout?
Honestly, my favourite place to hang out is in the comfort of my own home. I’m a bit agoraphobic, so the thought of going out makes me kinda anxious these days. My favourite food is dill pickles – I could (and often do) eat them all day, every day.
