Singer-songwriter Harrison Storm is proving to be a wild force to be reckoned with. Coalescing classically-inspired fingerpicking with hard-learned lyrics, Storm’s musical output is decadently beautiful as he tackles frustrations of the heart.
Today the artist from Melbourne’s Mornington Peninsula has released his new single ‘Breathe Again’, penned after a challenging year in his personal life.
Written and recorded in the UK with producers Nick Atkinson and Edd Holloway (Lewis Capaldi’s Top 10 hit ‘Grace’), Harrison Storm articulates more in three minutes and 20 seconds than some artists can in a full album. It’s any wonder his total stream count is now over 150 million.
Check out three tracks from Harrison Storm’s Breathe Again EP:
With the full EP coming later in the year via Nettwerk Records, we helped Harrison Storm hit ‘pause’ for just a while. In the below Q&A, Storm tells us the story behind ‘Breathe Again’, the best advice he’s ever received, why a collab with Phoebe Bridgers is on his wish list, and so much more.
How would you describe your music to your grandma?
It is the sort of music you could really relax into your comfy armchair with. A nice cup of warm tea in hand after a long day and enjoying the sunshine coming through the window onto your face sort of music.
Tell us about a few of your tracks; their titles and what they’re about:
My new track ‘Breathe Again’, which is out on June 5th, is about coming out the other side of a break up with a few metaphorical bruises but a huge sense of clarity. The song came about in response to a very revealing poem I’d received around it all that was a bit of a shock to the system, but something I definitely needed and highlighted a lot of truths to me.
Myself, Nick Atkinson and Edd Holloway wrote it together in their barn when I was in the UK in September last year and I think it’s one of my favourites to come out of our sessions together.
My last single ‘Be Slow’ is a song about having those moments when you think, “where has all the time gone”? Almost like an acknowledgment to a long period of time where you haven’t been present and you’re wanting to get out of a certain thought pattern you’re stuck in.
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Check out ‘Breathe Again’ below:
What do you love about your hometown in Mornington?
It’s definitely changed a lot of the more recent years but there always remains this quiet buzz to it which I love. It’s kind of hard to describe but it happens more on the weekends in summer where the streets are filled with people who have just come from the beach and are looking to have a drink or an ice cream or whatever.
There’s this nice mix between being a social place but also pretty relaxing. A perfect combo.
Career highlight so far?
It was surreal to open for Ziggy Alberts at the Paradiso in The Netherlands last year. Such a historic venue where a lot of incredibly inspiring artists have played.
There were a lot of people in the room and it was tough to start off with to win the audience, but by the end it felt like there was a real connection to the city. I loved that show.
Fave non-music hobby?
I do enjoy getting out into the surf as much as I can. I’m lucky where I’m living at the moment. The surf is only a few minutes drive for me so it’s sometimes a bit distracting when I need to get some work done.
What’s on your dream rider?
To be honest just give me vegetables haha. When I’m on the road, especially in the US, I find it quite hard to eat healthy. So a nice big broccoli makes me happy, and a bottle of nice whiskey.
Dream music collaboration?
I’d love to sing a song with Phoebe Bridgers one day. She writes the best songs.
Where do you see yourself in 10 years?
I feel really good where I am at the moment. So maybe just doing the same thing, continuing to learn as much about myself as I can while making music and sharing it with people. Hopefully in 10 years I would’ve travelled around the world a bunch more and done some exploring outside of touring. And really just focussed on art, creating and connecting.
What’s your go-to karaoke song?
‘Take On Me’ – Ah Ha.
What’s the best advice you’ve ever received?
I think to just find out why you make art in the first place and to do it for the right reasons. There’s a big ego battle sometimes as an artist and learning to navigate that into a healthy means of creating is a crucial thing to learn. Also, to take care of your mental health.
What’s one obsession you have that no one would guess after listening to your music?
I quite easily and also quite happily eat an entire block ofWhittakers’ Rum and Raisin chocolate in 1 sitting. Absolutely no shame.
Check out Harrison Storm’s clip for ‘Feeling You’:
