The Harry T pope Soundcheck

“Guitar was cool for riffs and rock,” he shares, “but piano unlocked the harmonic complexity I craved.” He recalls discovering Jacob Collier coming out of his In My Room era. “That album was a revelation. It was like hearing the kind of music I didn’t even know I wanted but always needed,” Harry says while being absolutely right about Jacob Collier (Author’s note: can you tell I’m a fan?).

At university, Harry benefited from a variety of societies ranging from Jazz, through Classical to Musical Theatre. “Being surrounded by all this music led to the diverse sounds you can now hear in my tunes” he says.

Harry’s multi-instrumental fluency shapes his compositions. “Even when I’m writing on one instrument, I’m mentally arranging for a full band,” he explains. He credits this holistic approach to his background in classical composition and his early experiments, like figuring out how to replicate the layered sounds he imagined in his head.

Following Inspiration And Instinct

Harry’s songwriting approach is as varied as his influences. Sometimes inspiration strikes like lightning, producing a fully formed song in mere minutes. His track “22 Now”, for instance, emerged after hearing someone sharing their thoughts on this life chapter in a YouTube video. “I rushed to the piano and played it almost exactly as it is now,” he recalls. Other projects, like the jazz ballad “11:11,” evolve over months or even years. “Even now I am working on songs I came up with two years ago.”

A defining element of Harry’s process is his trust in instinct. “There was a time when I forced complexity into my music because I thought it was what I should do. It didn’t feel authentic,” he admits. Now, he lets songs flow naturally, embracing simplicity when it feels right.

Harry’s instinct-driven process is evident in his anecdotes. He remembers writing “Stay Away” on a whim late at night. “The phrase ‘I’m trying to stay awake’ popped into my head because I was literally tired. Then it shifted into ‘stay away’ and became something much bigger,” he shares. By tapping into fleeting moments of creativity, Harry transforms the mundane into the profound.

Vulnerability in Songwriting

One of Harry’s greatest strengths as a songwriter is his ability to blend deeply personal experiences with universal themes. "Stay Away," for instance, is a breakup song that emerged from his own emotional landscape, though he wasn’t personally going through a breakup at the time. Instead, he drew on the pain of a friendship falling apart. "The chorus kind of wrote itself," he recalls. "But with the verses, I had to dig deeper. I thought about my own experiences, particularly a toxic friendship, and also about my wife’s perspective. There’s a line in the bridge, 'Boy, if you did something I can’t accept, then why try to explain?' that came from imagining what she might have thought during tough moments in our relationship.

This openness is not without its challenges. "When you write from a personal place, there’s always a risk of feeling exposed," Harry admits. "But I’ve learned that leaning into vulnerability often leads to the most genuine art. It’s about showing the parts of yourself you might otherwise hide." He describes songwriting as a form of therapy - a way to process emotions and connect with others.

Harry’s approach to songwriting is grounded in writing honestly about his current experiences. "I think the best songs are the most personal to you. You’ve got to create for yourself, but also find a way to make it accessible to others," he shares. "It’s about tapping into something that feels universal while still being true to your own story." For Harry, the challenge lies in striking a balance between the personal and the universal. He often crafts his choruses to feel more general, allowing for broader resonance, while the verses offer a space for deeper, more specific exploration.

Writing songs that draw from real experiences can be both rewarding and uncomfortable. "Being vulnerable means exposing parts of yourself that might make you feel raw," Harry admits. "But that’s where the most genuine art comes from." The reflection on personal moments also extends to his relationships, where his wife’s observations often influence his lyrics. "Sometimes, when I’m writing, I think about what she would say if she were telling the story. Those insights add a layer of truth to the song that wouldn’t be there otherwise."

Ultimately, Harry sees songwriting as a way to connect with others through shared experiences. "The more personal I get, the more listeners relate," he says. "It’s a reminder that, no matter how unique our stories seem, we all share a common humanity."

A Community in Focus

Harry’s connection to his musical community is evident in the collage-style cover of his debut EP. Inspired by The Beatles’ Revolver, the cover features a mix of personal and professional influences - family members, friends, collaborators, and teachers - each contributing to his journey. “It’s a way to celebrate everyone who’s been part of this,” he says, emphasizing the importance of collaboration and support.

The idea for the collage came from a desire to involve those who shaped his artistry. “I started with a list of names in my phone,” Harry shares. “Family, school friends, bandmates, teachers - everyone who’d played a role in my life. I asked them to send me the quirkiest photos they had. The result was a chaotic yet deeply personal image that tells my story better than words ever could.”

When it comes to aspirations, Harry’s goals are as thoughtful as his music. While he dreams of playing Glastonbury, his more immediate wish is to support The Lemon Twigs, a band whose retro-pop style he admires. “Their audience is passionate and open to diverse sounds - it’s exactly the kind of space I want to perform in.”

A Musical Mosaic

Harry T Pope’s music is a mosaic of experiences, influences, and emotions. From his early days inspired by pop-rock to his self-guided journey through jazz and theory, his artistry is a testament to the power of following one’s instincts. As he continues to explore new sounds and push creative boundaries, Harry remains committed to the core values that have defined his work: authenticity, collaboration, and a deep love for the craft.

As our conversation wraps up, one thing is clear: Harry’s unique voice, both literally and figuratively, is one we’ll be hearing a lot more of in the future. Whether it’s through a heartfelt ballad or a groove-laden pop track, his ability to capture the complexity of human emotion ensures his place as an artist worth watching.