An Interview With The LA-Based Pop Singer-Songwriter HARIZ On His Breakout Summer Single, ‘I Got You’ and More!

The LA-based pop singer and songwriter, Hariz, has a new single out now called “I Got You,” that’s already being played on 20 radio stations across the country, has generated 200,000 Spotify streams and 1.3 million views on TikTok (with 127K hearts). The song was co-written with Chris Wallace (ASAP Ferg, Rich the Kid, Madison Beer) and reminds listeners that there’s always someone in their corner supporting them when times get tough – a particularly poignant message today.

Check out the lyric video for “I Got You” here:

“Even when life hits hard, especially during times like we see today, we still have our ‘I got you,’ person,” explains Hariz. “Whether it’s your parents, a friend, significant other, or even your dog! Even if that someone is thousands of miles away, just the thought of them can brighten up your day.”

“I worked with my video editor to come up with the gambling concept for the lyric video,” he continues. “We talked about the meaning of the song and it just fit perfectly – life itself is a giant gamble. We all do our best to make the best choices, whether in relationships, jobs, etc., but life doesn’t always turn out the way you want it to. We all have that one person in our life that if you had nothing else but them, you’d be completely fine. So win or lose, you’ve already essentially hit the jackpot because you have them. They are your ‘I got you.’”

Only 23 years old, Hariz has over 7 million total Spotify streams and has won ASCAP’s Harold Adamson Lyric Award in Pop Music. Lately, he’s been making the best of being at home by working his way through the musical alphabet, posting a cover song nearly every day by a different artist from A to Z. And, yes, that was him popping up in the latest Weezer video.

Connect With Hariz Online Here:

Website: www.itishariz.com

Instagram: @itishariz

YouTube Channel

TikTok: @itishariz

Twitter: @itisHARIZ

Facebook: @itishariz

Learn more about Hariz in the following All Access interview:

Thank you for your time. So given these unusual Covid-19 times, what does a typical day look like for you? How have you adjusted to these times?

Of course! Thanks for having me!

Things are so unusual right now so each day I try to focus on something different with my work to switch up the monotony. Some days I’ll focus on writing new songs, other days I work on tweaking songs that are almost ready, some days are focused on taking photos & videos, and other days are focused on catching up on my emails and phone calls. And on some days I just watch the Simpsons in bed haha!

I’ve been trying to adjust as well as I can, just taking one day at a time, and most importantly my friends and family are healthy so I can’t complain, but I can’t wait for things to go back to normal.

What has been the hardest/most challenging part about being quarantined? Is your city starting to open up more now?

For me the hardest thing was having to cancel my summer & fall tours. My favorite part of being an artist is the live show experience and interacting with people in person, and of course COVID-19 shut all that down.

I’m based in Los Angeles and they started to open up towards the end of June but cases spiked so now we’re in a weird in-between phase that’s kind of open, kind of not, it all feels very unclear right now.

How have you been able to use social media during these unprecedented times? Are you finding that you use it even more now to stay connected to fans and other musicians?

Social media has been a great outlet over the past few months. I’ve been able to perform live using Instagram, Facebook, YouTube, Twitch, etc. There are so many awesome platforms out there that have really made up for the lack of live events! And it’s been really cool to connect with people from all over the world and talk to them about what they’re experiencing right now.

What has it been like having to reschedule your spring, summer and fall shows? What shows in 2021 are you are already excited for?

Honestly, it was pretty heartbreaking. I was really looking forward to going out on the road, and really feeling the energy that comes with each show. I mentioned that performing is probably my favorite aspect of the music industry, and it was really hard to cancel those plans. I hope we’ll be able to return to normalcy soon but in the meantime I’m just staying patient and riding things out one day at a time.

Since we are all desperately missing live music, can you recall a favorite show of yours from the past? What do you think ultimately makes for a great show for you?

One of my favorite shows I did was in Birmingham, Alabama last year. The whole crowd was singing my lyrics back to me, and it was just this crazy surreal experience. I’d never been to Birmingham before so I wasn’t expecting it! Such a great memory that I’ll keep forever.

I think what makes a great show is the connection between the performer and the audience and the energy that comes from that. It’s a unique shared experience and every show is different, so it’s important to make the best of all the elements that are given to you each night, have fun, and don’t get caught up in perfection.

Let’s talk about your brand new single “I Got You.” What was the inspiration for this track? What did it feel like finally releasing it out into the world? What was it like writing it with Chris Wallace who has worked with a lot of other well-known artists?

The inspiration for “I Got You” was the idea that life is a giant gamble. We all do our best to make the best choices, but life doesn’t always turn out the way you want it to. And in those times you turn to the people in your life that are always there to support you. They are your “I got you,” so this song is a shout out to all the people out there that make us feel special and loved.

Chris is a great guy and a really talented writer. We met for the very first time in the writing session for this song and our styles just clicked! I remember we wrote the song super-fast, I think in less than an hour!

Do you have plans to release an EP or a full-length album later this year? How would you say that “I Got You” prepares listeners for more music from you?

I definitely have plans for an EP, I’ve actually been working on it over quarantine! I think “I Got You” is a perfect set up to the message and the mood of the EP. Every song on it is super close to my heart, I’m so excited for everyone to hear them!

How do you think future music is going to be influenced by this incredible and absolutely necessary Black Lives Matter movement that the US and even the world is going through now? Is it inspiring you and your music today at all?

I feel that Music has always been an important part of change. I hope to see music in the future continue to influence a change for the better and address these important issues to help people understand and to heal.

The Black Lives Matter movement is so important and it’s not only inspiring my music but also inspiring me and educating me as a whole. There are a lot of ways to help push for equality through donations, petitions, protests, and more, all which I’ve taken part of. It’s important to me to take an active part to make a difference. I’ve also spent a lot of time looking inward and reflecting and thinking about ways to listen more and learn more and be a good ally.

If you could get into the studio with any artist today and collaborate on a new song for you, who would it be and why?

I’d love to get into the studio with Dua Lipa or The Weeknd! I think with the mix of our styles we’d walk out of that session with a banger!

What would your dream music video look like right now?

I’d love to do something like an action film! Something crazy, like I have to save the world by fighting off aliens haha

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

As always, I want to give a huge thank you to everyone who’s been supporting me throughout the years. Everything I do is for you guys, and I appreciate all the love and opportunities you’ve given me! And for those who haven’t heard the new song yet, go stream “I Got You” now!