We had a chat with new kids on the block, White Hart – a four piece Alternative-Pop band hailing from Brighton. Their strong bond both on and off stage comes from their shared drive to create music for people to have a good time too. They combine strong catchy choruses, uplifting melodies and infectious rhythms to bring carefree fun and good times in a world that needs to let its hair down every once in a while.
Now it’s time to learn more about what’s behind the band;
Tell us about your aims when creating music, and where does that aim stem from?
The bands that inspire us are always the ones that do the best live shows and can create a really good atmosphere. We aim to put on the best live shows possible and give the audience something to remember us by and we would say that this is reflected in our music. We write with the audience in mind.
What was the catalyst for picking up instruments and wanting to start a band?
We’ve all said at one time or another that we haven’t ever really thought or wanted to do anything else except for play music, much to our parent’s dismay. We all met through friends and it became apparent that we would work well as a band together and shared a lot of the same musical interests.
Were you very influential to music when growing up or did you establish your own musical preferences?
Both Lawries parents are musicians from the 80’s, so growing up he was exposed to a lot of pop music and more underground music from when they were at university. George comes from a very Beatles heavy home (his namesake being George Harrison)
Tell us about what it was like when you first started writing?
Terrifying. It still is. Exciting, but still terrifying.
What’s the music scene like in Brighton at the moment? Any band recommendations?
The great thing about Brighton’s music scene is just how diverse and vibrant it is. You have weekly jazz nights, underground rock and indie nights, electronic nights, and bands exclusively for female fronted acts. You have bands in the same scene as us who are on the rise at the moment such as Wild Front and House Points. We’re also playing with some great up and coming pop artists such as la lune and Holly Isobelle
Do you have any gigs coming up that fans can come and see you?
We’re doing a homecoming show for George on the 17th of April at Tom Browns in Dorchester. Two days later we’re supporting Jumanji on their single release at the Hope & Ruin in Brighton. We’re going up to London on the 22nd of April to play Tooting Tram & Social. Then we’re back in Brighton for the 5th of June to Support Misfires at Latest Music Bar.
What and who influences you musically?
Winona Ryder, our parents, Campo Viejo and Morrissey.
Describe your song-writing process?
We love to start with rhythms and use them to create danceable and upbeat music. From there all four of us have a very active part in the song-writing process. Lawrie will often come up with chord sequences, Charlie likes to write his riffs, George does pretty much all of the toplining. Obviously, there’s variation from this process, but we’d say this is the most common way that we write.
What was it like recording your debut single Friction?
It was a new but really exciting experience for us. We were lucky to be able to record in Brighton Electric studios, the producer was great and we were surprised how quickly we got everything done. Recording the gang vocals was also quite a laugh.It’s tiring though, we basically raided a corner shop for all their Lucozade and Maryland cookies.
Although you are in a band, do you still have to work day jobs in-between live shows?
We probably should, we would probably be able to afford to eat better if we did.
How would you like people to respond to your music? Do you wish to connect emotionally with the audience or is it just about having a party?
A bit of both really. We are all about having a party and everyone getting involved and enjoying themselves. But at the same time, we appreciate that people enjoy music and can get into it by emotionally connecting with it, and we want our songs to have a level of depth to them as well.
Do you ever see your sound changing from the type music of you write?
I’m always open to change. George’s musical idol personally is David Bowie, and he liked to change his music every now and then.
