We chatted to the super talented folksy-bluester HARRY PANE, read the interview....
Harry Pane is a super talented singer songwriter who we were keen to catch up and with and put through our 'Introducing' process, read on to unearth some truths about him....
Please introduce yourself and your music in one sentence....
I’m Harry Pane, originally from Northamptonshire, now living in London. I write songs with a folk/blues vibe, you might say some have an Americana feel to them too.
You recently won The #Roadtothe100club competition, What has this experience been like and could you please tell the readers what the story is behind the competition?
It started through a new platform called Meet & Jam, I dragged myself out to the other side of London on a Monday night to perform two songs and didn’t realise what it would lead to. The guys who run it are really supportive, I then played at the Semi Finals at the Borderline and got to the Finals at The legendary 100 Club.
I was amazed and incredibly thankful to win it and it’s resulted in a Development Deal with Island Records and also a cheeky little spot at Glastonbury.
Social media is all around us and very much a part of our day to day lives, which platform(s) would you say have assisted you the most in getting your music out there?
I would say it’s a combination of all of them and i’m starting to realise how important it is to make sure you’re visible on all. However, my manager has found Twitter to be very useful in seeking new contacts and building a wider network within the industry and the local community in Walthamstow.
Have you had any ‘Spinal Tap’ Moments? If yes, please share!
Haha! I would say the only Spinal Tap moment i’ve experienced is my current chronic back pain but in all seriousness I don’t think so yet...
There are a million and one musicians out there, what do you do in order to try to stand out from the rest?
I think it’s important to have your own identity, originality and follow your heart. I have many influences but i’m learning to be confident in what i’m doing, which has been a challenge in the past.
I also had a very good piece of advice about a year ago when asking someone in the industry how to progress. They said keep playing live as much as possible, so in 2015 that’s exactly what I did, I feel it’s given me the experience & development I needed and i’m still working on it.
You’re working on your latest EP which is due to be released in May, can you tell us where you’re recording it and who is going to produce it?
I’m lucky enough to be recording it with a really great producer in Valencia called Dani Castelar. He produced the fantastic album Caustic Love by Paolo Nutini.
How different will your new EP be compared to the previous Ashes & Wine?
Ashes & Wine was my first attempt on some original work. It’s a bedroom recording that was done quite some time ago and I feel that I have naturally progressed and improved since then. The 2nd EP will show more evidence of my current sound, with a strong pulse behind it.
‘Mamma’ from Ashes & Wine is a great track, what is the story behind this and how long did it take you to create it?
I went travelling at the age of 19 to New Zealand & Australia. I was performing in bars and busking around the country and began to get creative. The song is simply about questioning what’s going on in the world and the fact that you live and learn over time.
What was the first song that you learnt to play on guitar?
Well it was my Dad that taught me a few chords to start with. I am pretty sure it was House of the Rising Sun by The Animals or maybe Don’t Fear The Reaper by Blue Oyster Cult.
Was there one band or musician that wanted you to become a musician yourself?
I have always been heavily inspired by John Martyn and Mr Bob Dylan of course!
I also need to mention that I was brought up in an old farm house in middle of nowhere. My Dad would also have friends round and they would be jamming in the living room with guitars, percussion etc. This used to blow me away at a young age, so i guess my Dad is a big inspiration too!
Let’s imagine that Michael Eavis has invited you to nominate the 3 headliners for Glastonbury 2017, who will it be and why?
Hmmmm... That is actually a pretty tough question!
Fleetwood Mac would need to be up there.
The Raconteurs would absolutely nail it I reckon!
Maybe some Muddy Waters would be fun.
You have been touring constantly and performing in some iconic venues, which is your favourite venue to play at and where would you love to play next?
I have loved playing at few London based venues in the past.
The Troubadour is always a pleasure. The Bedford in Balham is also a classic. The Brooklyn Bowl was a great experience and of course, The 100 Club!
I love playing in a hidden gem in Camden called Spiritual Bar. Have always seen an amazing standard of musicianship in there!
You moved from your hometown (Northants) to Walthamstow, have you tried Manze’s pie and mash yet?
I have.. Average pie - awesome building!
In your opinion, what is the BEST album/record ever released?
Solid Air - John Martyn
There are many good bands and musicians out there, please would you nominate one that we can approach to take part in our ‘Introducing’ section?
A band called Burnz are amazing!
Also a solo artist named Daniel Greenwood.
If you could duet with ANYONE in the whole world, who would it be and why?
Probably Jack White. I think he is an amazing talent and could teach me a thing or too!
To be honest there are too many to choose from. The world is full of insane musical freaks of nature!
If you could describe your music in the form of a fictional character, who would it be?
Harold Bishop
What are your plans for 2016?
Get the new EP recorded and ready, have fun performing some spots at the summer festivals and basically continue to stay positive, work hard and keep writing!
We thought it only fair that Harry should sit through our round of Quickfire questions, we got him comfy and launched them at him....
Superman or Batman?
Batman
Recording Studio or Live Show?
Live Show
Fry up or Sunday roast
Sunday Roast
Bob Dylan or Woody Guthrie?
Dylan
CD or Vinyl?
Vinyl
Car or Motorbike?
Motorbike
Acoustic or electric?
BOTH (sorry)
Shower or Bath?
Shower
Tattoos or Piercings?
Tattoos
Robert de Niro or Al Pacino?
Robert de Niro
God or Google?
We'd like to thank Harry for taking the time to chat to us, if you could spare just a few minutes, please check out his social media channels below, follow him, like him, do what you'd like to him as I'm sure he'd be grateful for any engagements! All you have to do is point and click....what could be easier?
Social Media
Interview by Mark Wincott