FOCUS: Richie Harrison

Alt. indie songwriter Richie Harrison builds on his considerable experience in the region’s music scene as a promoter by releasing a new track, Thoughts (That I Should Not Be Having). Admitting that anxiety has previously stopped him from releasing his own music, this upbeat and fun track is about having intrusive thoughts about someone you really shouldn’t be thinking about, as he explains: “I wrote this song around 10 years ago, it’s inspired by a time I got drunk and made a move on a friend’s girlfriend by mistake. Also about having intrusive thoughts but a bit more light hearted.”

Who are you and where are you from?

I’m Richie, I’m from North Shields.

What is it you do?

You could say I’m a singer/songwriter, but I’m not the best singer, so I’ll stick with songwriter. I also dislike the term singer/songwriter. You instantly think of James Blunt when you hear that. I’m just Richie, I write tunes you can dance too. 

How long have you been doing it?

I was in a few bands in my late teens, early 20s, but I’ve been a bedroom rockstar for the last 20 years. Writing my own tunes and playing them to no one. Until now. Finally I thought, fuck it. Anxiety is a bitch.

What inspires you?

I get inspired by things and experiences that happen to me. My latest song, Thoughts (That I Should Not Be Having), is a song that was influenced by a time I got drunk and made a move on a friend’s girlfriend. It’s not my finest moment, I must admit, but I can’t hide the fact that it happened. It’s better to be open about these things, I suppose. They happen. I write a lot about my anxiety as well, my first single The Firing Line was a song about over-thinking. So you could say my anxiety inspires me!? 

Musically, I’d say I have a lot of influences. The usual Oasis, Stone Roses, Beatles but also Beastie Boys, Plan B, IDLES, Prodigy etc. I really just find either a nice bass line or guitar riff and just build from that. For Thoughts (That I Should Not Be Having) I found the bassline then the lyrics, which I’d written 10 years earlier, forgotten about and then remembered.

Tell us about your music

My music is mainly my thoughts with a beat to it. Sometimes they mean absolutely nothing and other times they are very open and honest. At the moment I’m focusing on music that makes you want to dance, smile and be happy but the last two songs I’ve written are big, angry, dirty rock songs so that may change.  

What have you got coming up in the future?

Firstly, there is my second single, Thoughts (That I Should Not Be Having) which is out on 24^th February. Then hopefully another single in spring followed by an EP in the summer. I’ve also persuaded, with copious amounts of alcohol, a few friends to help me with a live band. So, fingers crossed, there will be some live shows later this year.

Where can people find out more about you?

People can find me at richieharrisonmusic on Instagram, Richie Harrison Music on Facebook and Richie Harrison on Spotify.