Interview: Harry and the Chicks
East London-based pop artist Harry and The Chicks create pop music with purpose. Building her own unique world, Harry and The Chicks combines her ‘poptimistic’ music with her own internationally-selling fashion merchandise store. With creativity running through her veins, Harry’s colourful sound and style leaves an unforgettable imprint in your mind. After appearing on BBC News at Breakfast to speak out against street harassment, BBC Introducing in Essex described Harry and The Chicks as ‘leading the way in campaigning for important issues through her music.
Preview “Miss Obliovious”!
What led to you becoming an artist?
I knew I wanted to be a singer from the age of 3, and I never fell out of the dream. I started learning guitar at age 9 and songwriting and gigging, at age 12. I had posters of Avril Lavigne and Green Day across my walls as a kid and I wanted to be just like them. I got into Katy Perry and Marina and The Diamonds a little later and that made me want to make pop music just like them with flamboyant costumes, music videos, and stages.
What inspires your music?
Mostly things that happen in my daily life. Miss Oblivious was written when I was fourteen about all my failed crushes from my school days. It was about falling for people before really getting to know them, and making it overtly obvious to everyone around me, almost like I was playing a game. I often talk about not being able to keep secrets in my songs and how I play myself at my own games. I like to keep my music uplifting no matter the subject, so I’d call my music ‘poptimistic’.
Who are some of your influences?
Last night, I went to see my biggest influence for the third time, Green Day. The last time I saw them was on their 99 Revolutions tour. I fell out of touch with their music for a while and whilst waiting for them I was worried my tastes had changed, but they stole my heart again and I think I’ll be going to see them for as long as they continue touring the rest of my life. This band has over an hour of hit songs and how they engage the audience is unlike any other artist I’ve seen live. Seeing Green Day fill out West Ham’s, my favourite football team’s football ground was so special to me since they are both big pieces of my identity. I’m also influenced by artists like Marina and The Diamonds, Lana Del Rey, and Katy Perry.
What are some of your favorite memories from your career?
In 2018, I won a contest called Undiscovered as Undiscovered Best Solo Act which I think helped kickstart everything I do now. The following year I met my band mates who were competing in that year’s Undiscovered contest. Since then, we’ve created my releases together and at my last launch night showing my music video for my song ‘Snakes in the Streets’ before it came out, over 60 people came to our show which filled out the venue and I’m so grateful to have had so many people come to show their support. I recently featured in Wonderland, Metro.co.uk, and I was even on TV on BBC News at Breakfast talking about my experiences with catcalling, which is what ‘Snakes in the Streets’ was about. I released my debut single ‘Colour Me In’ in 2020, and with that I also started my handmade to measure fashion brand that is Harry and The Chicks merchandise. It might be the fanciest music artist merchandise you come across. My mum makes the clothes that I design. My fashion brand has sold internationally and I’m really proud that people are wearing my designs across the world!
What have been some of the greatest challenges of your career?
Building my fanbase and getting connected with the industry! Finding ways to give Harry and The Chicks a platform as a fully independent artist has been and still is difficult to achieve, but since releasing my debut single ‘Colour Me In’ in 2020, I have gained over 27k followers across platforms, and have started an internationally selling clothing line which is merchandise for Harry and The Chicks. It is hard to keep everyone interested in this busy world but I’m out here doing my best!
What was the creation process like for “Miss Oblivious”?
Long! Since I wrote it at 14, and it's one of my longstanding songs that stays in my set, it’s been in the archives for a while. It took me a really long time to find a producer that understood what worked best for my music. We worked on loads of new songs and then out of nowhere one day I suggested we work on this song together. I’m really happy with the outcome. I hope listeners also enjoy it!
Who are some of the collaborators that helped you create “Miss Oblivious”?
Imad Salhi produced this song and helped shorten it. There used to be a line that came after ‘love is such a horrible game, like snakes and ladders you climb and slither down again’ which said ‘and like Cluedo, it’s very hard to find, whether we can figure out clues without straight-up telling all of our clues’, but it was just so long and convoluted. Imad helps refine my songwriting. @ImSalhi Dante Coates played guitar on Miss Oblivious. He and Imad worked together on layering it to thicken the production. Dante works with me at most of my gigs and on all my songs that have guitar in them. He’s such a talent and one of my chicks. @DanteCoates
What are you most excited to bring to your fans in the next year?
More new music, merchandise, and videos. The more the fan base grows, the bigger the projects can be.
What are your goals for this upcoming year?
My dream right now for the near future is to play I’m Forever Blowing Bubbles on the pitch at West Ham. I’m hoping to release my own version of it on Spotify, but nothing is settled yet. I just love my club!
How can your fans best support you right now?
You can buy handmade to measure or my screen-printed tee shirt merchandise at harryandthechicks.com/online-store, stream my new single Miss Oblivious and add my music to your playlists… also come out to Harry and The Chicks shows, we wanna put on a show for you!
Harry and the Chicks’ Links":