A Q&A With Harleymoon Kemp
Country-influenced singer-songwriter from London…
What’s the title of your latest release, and what does it mean to you?
‘What Good Looks Like’. When people ask me why I’ve not been in many serious relationships I always respond ‘I know what good looks like’ . The love my parents have shown me and each other, they have set the bar high and shown me what a good relationship is. This record is really a testimony to them.
What was the hardest part about putting this release together, and why?
Writing this record was easy, it’s the truth and we wrote it in a couple of hours. The hardest part was working out whether it should have a big production or be as stripped back and raw as it is.. we kept almost all of the demo vocal on it, no drums, no frills – just a story from the heart.
Who produced the release – what did they bring to it?
Charlie T produced it, we were in the session together and he had this lovely guitar loop – it all happened very quickly and we kept it stripped back and honest.
What do you want the listener to take away from listening to your music?
I hope they make the songs feel like their own, they can relate it to their own experiences and feel what I did when writing it. This first single is for anyone who hasn’t given up on love, who is still looking for something good or for anyone who has been lucky enough to have a loving family like me.
How does a track normally come together? Can you tell us something about the process?
A song usually just falls out of me when I’m driving the car or cleaning the house! It’s really whatever I’m feeling, whatever emotions I’m going through in that moment I’ll just start singing a couple lines – then it goes straight in the voice memos until I get into the studio, or sometimes I’ll finish it there and then- I’m definitely melody first, instruments can come later!
What band/artists have influenced you the most since you started this project, and why?
I listen to a lot of modern country- Maren Morris, Kacey Musgraves, Ashley McBride, Lainey Wilson. I just love great storytelling- I love to hear the song and feel like I’m watching a film!
What countries would you like to tour? Are there any standout venues you’d like to play in?
I would love to play somewhere like the Oprey in Nashville or somewhere romantic like a candlelit chapel!
If you could pick one track for our readers to listen to in order to get a taste of your music, what would you pick, and why?
Ohhh my music is really split between intimate ballads and party stompers- the new EP Lone Ranger has a bit of both!! ‘What Good Looks Like’ is very soft and romantic but ‘Lone Ranger’ the single will kick the cowboy boots onto the dance floor.
What ambitions do you have for your career?
I’d love to kick off in America – my music is so country-influenced, it feels like the right next step!
Finally, as you leave the stage, what are your parting words?
Come see me live and hear my stories of bad dates and heartbreaks!! X
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