Introducing #115 - Harvey Causon
Let us introduce you to Bristol based singer Harvey Causon, who has just released his new track ‘Blind Eye’ - the track moulds together R&B with Harvey’s own unique spin. He took a moment to talk to us about living in Bristol and about the new single.
So, your new track ‘Blind Eye’ is out now, can you tell us what it is about?
Blind Eye is a track built around samples of myself sleeptalking which can be heard in the intro. The song reflects the idea of hypnagogic sleep and a half dream/nightmare state. It embodies the idea that with lack of communication comes a build up of negative thoughts in the late hours, especially for creatives. The song was inspired by Matthew Walker's book Why We Sleep discussing dream states and circadian rhythms.
You were born in Slough, but now live in Bristol? What made you move there?
I moved to Bristol for the music scene, it’s creativity and to study music. It’s kind of a microcosm of London as it has so much going on in lots of different fields but you can really get to know people in Bristol as there’s a big sense of community. People talk more.
What is the music scene in Bristol like, especially for your genre? Is there any artist you think we should check out?
The music scene is pretty genre-less. There’s more of just a big scene encompassing all sorts. It’s especially exciting at the moment with more dance based experimental music with the likes of Giant Swan, Scalping to Franco Franco & Kinlaw but then there’s all sorts from Katy J Pearson, Fenne Lily, Tamu Massif, Keir and Henry Green on the pop side of things. I could go on forever.
Who would you say are your key musical inspirations that helped you create your sound?
James Blake, Mount Kimbie, Kendrick Lamar, Amy Winehouse, Karyyn, Wun Two, Bombay Bicycle Club, Aphex Twin, FKA Twigs, Louis Jordan and Delia Derbyshire were all big staples at some point throughout the years.
What things do you draw on for inspiration lyrics?
I like to learn things when I write songs so I take concepts from what I read and make sense of them with the process and sometimes do a lot of research. Quantum Physics, architecture, love, anthropology, the unknown unknowns, philosophy. More recently I just write what comes to mind over phone recordings or weird beats made out of field recordings and then interpreting that initial stream of consciousness can be really interesting in understanding what my subconscious is on about.
Now the track is out there, what next?
Two more singles and an EP over the next few months and then I think it must be album time. I’m writing some different bits for some film projects on the side as well. Headline show on the 17th of March and hopefully some more touring by the end of the year, playing live keeps me sane.