A Quick Chat With SonOfHarry

Canberra-based artist SonOfHarry has just released his stunning debut concept album, 'The World Has Gone Mad'. At just 21 years old, Harry Cleverdon draws inspiration from iconic acts like Pink Floyd and Queen, blending vintage influences with the contemporary sounds of Hozier, Matt Corby, and John Mayer. Having initially gained recognition in the Australian country music scene, Cleverdon's new project expands into pop, indie, and alternative genres. 'The World Has Gone Mad' is a richly layered and thematically driven album, offering a seamless flow from start to finish with lush synthesizers, blues-rock guitar, orchestral arrangements, compelling soundbites and captivating vocals. Cleverdon's debut album is a cohesive, expertly crafted reflection on the complexities of the modern world, marked by conceptual continuity, social commentary, and sonic experimentation. We caught up with Harry to find out more about the project, his influences and more. 

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Can you tell us what this album means to you and what you want people to take away from it?

I started working on this album in 2020 during the lockdown with no real aim or direction. It wasn’t planned for release, more just for fun with no deadline! At the time it was still quite a ‘pop’ record, but as I wrote it I found this ‘dark’ mysterious sound that was completely different to what I have written before and I just had to flesh it out. This album quickly became some of my favorite work, and I am absolutely stoked to be sharing it with everyone! I really hope people will take something unique away from it, as I kept the lyrics quite metaphorical and open for interpretation. In a world where I think a lot of us might agree with the album title, this might serve as a reflective, open ended soundtrack for 2023!

Who are some of your influences and why? 

As any musician will tell you, it would be almost impossible to pin down every influence that goes into making our sound... but when having to pick a few I always come back to Pink Floyd, Queen or Elton John, but mixed with the more modern sounds of Hozier, Matt Corby or John Mayer. All of these artists/bands are special in their own way and it’s hard to find commonality between them, other than maybe they all are insanely talented with a truly unique sound. I think that is what I strive for, to create a sound that is uniquely and recognisably ‘SonOfHarry’

What's the creative process for you, from writing through to recording?

Another thing that is never straight forward! Sometimes ideas come out of nowhere, and before you know it, you have a track. Whereas sometimes you work on something for weeks. I like to start every song at an instrument, usually with a preformed idea, then try and make that fit. But sometimes they come out of nowhere while playing and even if you weren’t hoping to write that specific thing, you have to go with the flow and ‘write’. Then since I have the privilege of my own professional studio, I can take ideas, fully formed or not, and play with them! Recording myself is a whole other task, still a creative one but often not the angle artists usually come from. I think it's incredibly important however to create something unique and new! 

What do you think makes a great album?

Something realized. What I don’t like as much are ‘albums’ that are really just ‘compilations’. I think an album should be a window into the time frame of which it was written in. A recording of the artist's zeitgeist! I want an album to be in of itself a ‘sound’, where a song can be recognised as ‘from that album’. I think it's incredibly important in artist development as well as artistic integrity! This album I am releasing takes that to another level where every song is crucial for the context of the next! As to why I encourage everyone to listen in order, from start to finish. 

If you could collaborate with any artist, who would it be and why?

There are so many! To pick someone modern I would love to work with maybe Chet Faker? I think he is incredible (also aussie so that's a bonus) or maybe Matt Corby (brilliant songwriting). But for SonOfHarry and the concept albums I like to write, I would love to work with maybe Roger Waters (formerly of Pink Floyd) or even more idealistic in a fantasy world, someone like Hans Zimmer.. Just due to the depth of soundscapes they create! 

When not working on music, what other creative outlet/s do you have?

I am a very typical musician, where in my mind is always racing with new ideas! So I of course have so many creative outlets. I love to draw and paint (although not very well) and love digital design as well! I am also at Uni in Canberra for Environmental Science.. I guess not as creative, but I think it’s an industry that needs creative minds to help push the world in the right direction, while also keeping in mind idealism isn’t reality! 

Who are some local bands we should check out?

I wish I had an answer for this.. Unfortunately from a very very small town where I am all but the only musician! I live in Canberra for the last year or two but haven’t found anyone I truly love! (I might be in the wrong city haha) 

Winter or summer and why?

Summer! I can not stand being cold haha! I will take 40+ degrees over 10 degrees any day! Simple as that! (Although winter has a lot of cool natural sound effects for music (rain, thunder, animals)

What do you have planned for 2024? 

So much! I am already working on the next album for SonOfHarry and already have a single lined up for the new year! I really hope to build my online presence a bit in 2024 (I am not a traditionally ‘online’ person so that will be a learning curve) and share my music with as many people as will listen!! 

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