It’s rare to find an artist that so easily overtakes you and provides you with a new way of experiencing music, but then, there are few artists like Harper Bloom.
Born in Perth but based in Melbourne, 25-year-old Bloom is something of a fresh face on the Australian music scene. However, even the most cursory listen to her powerful compositions shows that she is far talented than even many of her veteran contemporaries.
With a sound reminiscent of Alex The Astronaut, Courtney Barnett, and Paul Kelly, Bloom’s immersive works easily portray some of the finest songwriting in this country right now. Sharing debut single ‘Mary’ ahead of the release of her forthcoming EP, listeners are treated to a powerful, narrative-driven look at the notion of taking control back over your life.
Recorded alongside Benjamin McCarthy (G Flip, Thelma Plum, Megan Washington), Bloom notes that the tune’s inspiration comes from a place of letting go and allowing yourself to seek the happiness you want out of life.
“The single is essentially about not being afraid to be vulnerable and take risks, no matter who you are or how old you are,” she explains. “It’s about having the strength to leave a comfortable, mundane existence behind in search of enriching experiences and a new lease of life.
“The idea really came from observing people on trains and buses…some of the verses came from overheard conversations or things I saw on public transport, and watching the body language and expressions of people doing a job they didn’t really want to be doing.”
Paired by a moving, David Hansen-directed video clip, viewers are treated to touching footage of an elderly woman who liberates herself from the dull minutiae of everyday life, bucking expectations of older people and having a ball in the meantime.
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“The story begins in Mary’s run-down suburban home – which was my sharehouse at the time – with her husband drunk and unresponsive on the couch,” Bloom explains. “After moments of taking in her life over the past 60 years, she gains clarity and decides to finally leave. The story then follows Mary on her journey of rediscovery.”
While ‘Mary’ is officially released on April 2nd, you can give the music video a sneaky peek below. The track’s release was set to be accompanied by a live performance at Melbourne’s Old Bar, but the live show consisting of “unreleased originals and a classic cover or two” has since been postponed due to COVID-19.
Check out ‘Mary’ by Harper Bloom:
