Some jerk once sputtered the advice, “To thine own self be true,” and generally speaking, it’s a pretty sound philosophy. But the best version of yourself does not develop in isolation; it takes dedication and voracious curiosity, looking beyond familiar comforts to find inspiration in challenge.
Singer-songwriter and guitarist Darren Hart, better known simply as Harts, has already enjoyed an impressive career, pushing his musical aspirations to a point forever just out of reach. With the release of his latest EP, Breakthrough, the result is somewhat eponymous; his new sound is set to reach a whole new audience, and if raging fame is just around the corner, the man himself seems quite relaxed at the prospect.
“To be honest, it does all feel like a normal life to me now,” Hart laughs. He has a colourful, somehow approachable speaking voice, and seems quite genuine in sharing his thoughts. “At the start, it was really surreal. But because I’ve gotten used to it after two years straight of recording, releasing, doing press and shit like that, it’s all become more of a reality now. I like it. Making music is still the most fun thing that I can do in the world, so it’s always fun to be talking about the music in different contexts, in interviews and things.
“I’ve been really happy with the support that I’ve been getting from everywhere, especially from overseas fans. But you know, I really hate that word, ‘fan’. I’ve been desperately trying to find another word instead, because it doesn’t feel like the right fit. They feel more supportive than just being fans. All of these people who have been encouraging me to continue, there has to be a better word.”
However you style them, Hart’s supporters have been growing at a remarkable rate since his fledgling days back in 2010. A great deal of this is a result of his tireless work ethic and the strength of his performance, but what really made the public (and media) sit up and pay attention was an unexpected phone call Hart received from legendary performer Prince. Much was made of the pair’s association at the time, but now Hart has some distance from the meeting, he has found the androgynous crooner’s advice as pertinent as ever.
“It was amazing, and a big confidence boost. He basically said he wanted me to come out there, and was I available. He listened to stuff I was working on at the time and showed me some of his own songs. He really gave me a lot of confidence in what I was doing, made me think it was the right thing. He gave me a lot of advice about how to move forward, and things that I didn’t necessarily know, either. Things that I didn’t necessarily want to hear. So, a lot of positivity in moving towards a specific direction both musically and personally, which pretty much led to this specific EP. From the start he was suggesting I go in a more bluesy direction, a more Hendrix sound. He really helped the direction of this EP, and really helped my career in both an exposure sense and personally.”
Hart’s own advice to aspiring musicians comes with something of a caveat. He is happily – almost ecstatically – an independent artist now, after having worked hard at securing a major label deal with Universal, only to find the experience less than overwhelming (“There are all sorts of conflicts that come with these label deals,” he says. “Things are generally a little bit slower”). He is also determined to continue exploring new musical genres and trends to keep the vitality of his work alive. As such, he is quite earnest in not being the greatest model for tricks of the trade.
“It’s hard for me to say, since I don’t feel like I’m the one to be giving advice right now. I’ve been around for a while, but I am still building, still honing my sound. One thing I would like to tell musicians is to try and learn outside of your comfort zone. Try to learn as much as you can about other songs, other ways of playing, and what other attitudes there are towards playing music.
“I think a lot of people – especially guitarists – are so comfortable with what they’re doing that they don’t see a need to step outside the box in terms of playing and writing. I sometimes see people who are a little narrow-minded in what they want to create. They have a vision and they have a sound in mind, and that’s awesome; it’s great that they can achieve that. But once they’ve achieved that, where do they go? That’s something Prince told me as well. Learning what’s outside your box gives you more longevity in the game.”
On the odd chance you do happen to want to hit up Hart for advice, you can also rest easy knowing that he’s not some distant figure onstage; his interactions online are legit.
“Yeah, I’m that guy. People ask me questions all of the time over Facebook or Twitter, and I’m always there to answer. It’s cool to be the direct person that they can speak to about that stuff, because at the end of the day, I’m trying hard to be independent and control my own music. I try to stay in charge of that stuff, so it’s nice to interact with people that way.”
Breakthrough is out now through Pavement/Shock. Harts appears at Oxford Art Factory on Friday July 3, as well as Moonshine, Manly on Thursday June 25 and the Cambridge Hotel, Newcastle on Friday June 26.
