An Interview With COREY HARPER on His Brand New Album, ‘Barely Put Together’ and More!

Earlier this month on August 2nd, the singer-songwriter Corey Harper released his latest EP called “Barely Put Together” via AWAL Recordings.

Corey Harper has been compared to John Mayer and has opened for Justin Bieber, Niall Horan, Allen Stone and select dates with Julia Michaels.

The Topanga-based troubadour uncovers an era-spanning style of his own at the crossroads of traditional folk songcraft, impressive guitarwork, bluesy gusto, and 21^st century pop adventurousness. The singer and songwriter sifts through a lifetime of influences in order to assemble a vibrant, vivid, and vital vision.

PRAISE FOR COREY HARPER

“With vocals that suggest Harper as John Mayer’s breezier fraternal twin, his tunes are a mix of Seventies country-rock touched by Mississippi blues.” – Rolling Stone

“Harper, a professed classic rock and soul disciple, lays down tasteful John Mayer-esque licks over a relaxed backbeat, creating plenty of space for his smoky, understated vocals.” – Billboard

“…Harper deliver a soft, John Mayer-inspired ballad complete with some understated electric guitar towards the end.” – American Songwriter

“Corey Harper continues to win over new ears with his soulful, emotive original music.” – Relix

“Corey Harper’s no-frills bluesy riffs and a seasoned voice only someone raised on Americana folk rock could produce, cut with an energetic 21st century spin.” – Flaunt

“…Oregon native Corey Harper shows how much emotion you can deliver with just a guitar and your voice.” – Baeble

“While the heroic influences are obvious, the sound remains uniquely Harper’s own.” – Artist Direct

“Radiating heartache and passion, Corey Harper proves that powerful, catchy pop can exist without sacrificing integrity and depth.” – Atwood

“Corey Harper is an up-and-coming singer that you should start paying attention to.” – Just Jared

Connect With Corey Harper Online Here: Website

Learn more about Corey Harper in the following All Access interview:

Thanks for your time today! Where does this interview find you?

Seat 21 B on a Delta flight to New York City. 

Now that we are over half-way through the year, how has 2019 been treating you? 

Half way already? Jesus… 2019 has been a year of figuring out new things about myself, and experimentation with music and arts of all kinds.

What are some goals that you have for yourself this year? How close are you to reaching them?

Play some festivals, and get rid of these extra chins that are starting to happen… I can only guarantee the festivals goal might happen.

Growing up, how important was music in your life? Can you recall the moment when you decided that you wanted to be a musician? 

Music wasn’t everything in my family, but it definitely stood out among most other things. The first time I ever knew I wanted to play guitar was when I watched a live VHS of Fleetwood Mac’s live album ‘The Dance’.

Was it an easy or difficult choice to make? Was there ever a time when you thought about doing something else? 

I thought about a lot of things growing up, I never could make up my mind on what I really wanted until I was older. But I always had an infatuation with music, i just never thought I was good enough or could ever meet the right people to pursue it.

If you weren’t a musician today, what else could you see yourself doing? Would you be as fulfilled in life?

I would have loved to be a writer, or a traveler. How to have the money to do those things is where I always got stuck. So, I was able to combine them together in music. Anything other than that I would have been a lost cause. Maybe I would have finished school and become a teacher.

What has been the biggest surprise so far about making music your career? What has been an unexpected or welcome challenge to it all?

I am always surprised to hear from fans and people that listen to my music and find out all the areas of the world it has reached. I think the biggest challenge has been having to face my social anxiety and come out of my severe introverted ways and constantly connect with people online and in person.

What did it feel like releasing your EP, “Barely Put Together” recently? How did you celebrate the release of it?

It always feels amazing to release something you’ve been working on for a while. I can finally relax and not worry about if anyone will like it anymore. I went to Saddle Ranch in Hollywood and rode a mechanical bull with a bunch of my friends.

Can you talk about the process of putting “Barely Put Together” together? Did anything surprise you about the overall process?

The reason the EP got its title is solely due to the fact that I don’t ever record projects in the traditional way of going into a studio for weeks at a time and coming out with a finished project. I work on things here and there and I take my time. I try to put as many emotions into my songs as I can so that people can connect to it in the deepest way possible. I grabbed a few of those songs that I had worked on this year and threw them together. I was surprised at how good my photoshop skills have gotten, since I have always done my own artwork, still could use some tips though.

While its difficult to pick, can you choose a few of your favorite songs on this EP and how did they come to be on this collection?

My favorite song would have to be “Blind”, because I wrote it with Noah Kahan and Andrew Wells; two people I really respect as people in music but are also my really good friends. It was the easiest song to write and it just felt so natural working on it, it still has that similar production like all of my earlier songs done by Andrew.

Why is AWAL Recordings the right place for you and your music today?

AWAL gives me the freedom without all of the pressure to create. It’s the alternative to sacrificing myself as an artist and selling myself to a system that I know I would just not thrive in. I’m so glad they wanted to represent my music and myself. I feel at home.

Where can people see you perform next? Do you plan to tour at all this summer or later this year? 

I would love to say that I have a lot of dates planned but the reality is that touring for me is a really tricky thing. It costs a lot of money to go and play shows across the country, and it costs even more to go overseas. I’m hoping to find some opening slots and maybe do a little tour of my own over on the East Coast. I love touring, and playing shows, so I’m working really hard on getting everywhere I can for this next year!

What has been a favorite performance of yours so far?

Getting to play the main stage at Bottlerock Festival and then watching Tom Petty obliterate the whole festival with his band. It was one of the best moments of my life.

How do you think you have grown as a musician since you first started making music?

I’ve been a part of the production process a lot more and even got to co-produce some songs off the EP so I feel like that’s been a really fun challenge for me. I love experimenting with sounds and new ideas, and I even have my own studio at home where I live, so it’s conducive to the music I am and will be making.

What has it been like keeping up with your social media accounts and all of the different platforms? Is it hard to stay up to date on it all? What would you say is your favorite way to connect with your fans now? What has social media done for your career so far?

Social media is a tool that is very powerful in whatever way you want it to be. I don’t feel like being super active all the time helps anyone gain more fans or reach more people. I think it’s all about how you want people to see you, and at the end of the day that’s not who you really are. I see the importance in connection and being able to be yourself but, in reality it’s just a place that floats around on the internet and doesn’t really exist. It gives me a lot of anxiety and I’m finding myself comparing my own music and feelings to others and that’s a really dangerous place to be, especially being somebody who struggles with depression. I try to use it when I want to and not have to feel like I absolutely need to. But it has helped me reach out to people on the other side of the world I would not necessarily have gotten the chance to otherwise just by having music out. I also use it to collaborate with other artists and talk to people who I think are interesting.

Who are some of your favorite artists or rather, what musicians have continued to inspire you and your music? Who would you absolutely love to work with in the future?

I am constantly being inspired by new people every day, but recently I’ve been really into the artists I grew up knowing about but now really getting to know on my own. For example I never got the chance to listen the music of the 80s because my parents didn’t like that era of music as much as the 60s and 70s, so I’ve been diving into many artists of that time and also seeing how much the 80s have influenced bands I love now aka The 1975 , Pale Waves, and whatnot. I think Matty Healy is one of the most captivating and interesting frontmen in music right now. His political and emotional connection to the world is seen so vividly in his music and he is someone who has struggled with pain and been able to put it into his music and make a whole revolution out of it. I really really admire him for it.

If you had an unlimited budget and your schedule was free, what would your dream music video look like?

Probably just a re-creation of a Lord of the Rings scene in New Zealand… 

What has been the coolest place/TV show/commercial that you have heard a song of yours? Where would you still love to hear a future song of yours played?

I haven’t heard my music anywhere outside of Spotify playlists. Sometimes I go find a bar that has one of those touch screen jukebox things and search my name until I realize that sadly, I am not featured on it (YET). Then I shamelessly find the nearest aux cord and play a song that I’m working on that I guarantee no one at the bar wants to hear. I would love to hear a song of mine on the radio someday, I think my grandma and grandad would get a kick out of it since they only listen to music there.

At the end of the day, what do you hope people take away from your music?

To be inspired and to go create.

Would you like to share anything else with our readers about your music?

Thank you for listening <3