Interview: Vince Harder On Working In LA, His Thoughts On New Artists Coming Out Of NZ, New Music, & More
The well-known homegrown name, Vince Harder smashed into the music scene with the hit song “Everything” with another New Zealand icon, P-Money in 2008 and has been living his best life ever since. It’s been little over a decade since then and the Auckland raised singer, songwriter and producer has been touring around the globe blessing those with his undeniable talent. Last Friday, Vince dropped his new song “Love Criminal” which has been replaying on the airwaves, infecting people with his contagious and funky beat.
Vince Harder sat down to have a chat with us and discusses his humble beginnings, working in LA, the vast opportunities he’s had & conquered, his thoughts on the new artists coming out of New Zealand and his advice for musicians wanting to start out.
Hey Vince, thanks for speaking with us today and congratulations on the new release
Thank you!
I love how contagious the energy is when listening to it and I watched the video too, I was wondering where was the street bits filmed? I was trying to figure it out but I wasn’t quite sure.
Oh yeah (laughs). It’s definitely in Auckland. We ended up going to Browns Bay down in the shore. It kind of seemed like the most easiest place to film where we probably wouldn’t get too much hassle or trouble from shop owners. It was a little bit more cruisey and it worked out really well on the day to shoot there.
Yeah, it was an awesome video.
Oh cool, thank you. Yeah that kid, he’s awesome. He’s quite well known in the dance community as well so it was awesome to have him be a part of it.
So, what inspired you to write the song Love Criminal?
I think with this particular song cause I started writing it with my friends, Printz Board in LA, I was over there writing and um, I just feel like I wanted to have something that had that funk, groove and something that had a throwback feel cause that was kind of the vibe I was going for. We ended coming up with the concept of Love Criminal, writing a song about how the guy is always the bad guy. I guess in this song the girl’s using the fact that you’re into somebody so they’re trying to use that as much as they can. And that’s how Love Criminal came about.
So, is Love Criminal part of an EP or an album?
Yes, it’s definitely part of an EP. I had a lot of songs looking towards an album but I think what I’m doing is that I’m putting together a bunch of them for an EP and then we’ll save the album for when I’ve got a fair idea of which way the body of work is going. Cause right now I got a lot of songs that are in the throwback vibes so that’s why I’ve taken these new songs that I’ve written and yeah, I’ll hopefully have an EP out at the end of the year.
Awesome, that’s exciting. So back to when you were in LA when you were there were you just working on your own projects or were you writing or producing for others?
Yeah for that trip I was there for myself which is kind of odd cause I normally go with other people and writing for other artists and try to bring back some songs but this trip was definitely just for me. Yeah, it was cool. It was kind of nice to go out there and just have that open space to feel like I’m just open to create whatever. And LA is always an exciting place to go to, there’s always people tryna work on music and tryna make it out there so it keeps you moving and driving forward.
So, what was it like recording in LA compared to recording in New Zealand?
Oh, it’s cool, it’s not too far off but I feel like over there they just keep going in the studio, they know that they’re always one song away from getting something that’s gonna hit big time. So, it’s nonstop over there. And I feel like in New Zealand we’re starting to get that work ethic now, and we’re pushing more and we’re starting to see how so many artists can go international from here and to just have some success in their own backyard so it’s cool being around that LA and just seeing how they work and just catching a vibe that way too.
Do you prefer writing or producing songs?
I... uh, hm, what do I prefer? I don’t know, it depends on what mood I’m in, I guess. I love writing songs cause I like the idea of writing a story and then just playing with lyrics and melody. But then, you know, sometimes I’ll just start with music and just wanna start with a beat, or some sounds. When it comes to producing, I’m always searching for new sounds and searching for like samples and things like that. So, I do it that way. It just depends on what mood I’m in (laughs).
Yeah, feel that. So, how old were you when you were casted as Simba in the Lion King Musical cause I saw one of your Instagram posts that you were working at Rebel Sport in Manukau when it happened. How did that transform your life?
Yeah, it was a huge transformation. I guess from footwear to Broadway. I was quite young, like 21 at the time when I started the show. I was 20 when I got cast and I was 19 or 18 when I first auditioned. They auditioned for a very long time but yeah it changed my life. It kind of opened my eyes to the world in a bigger way and I guess there was different opportunities that would come with that and also some of the hard things that would come of it as well. It’s not all glamorous (laughs). It definitely gave me my first start-up in the industry and helped me to kind of keep grounded along the way.
Is it true that you worked with Sheila E? How did you end up linking up with her?
Yeah, I did and I still am. Over the past few years I put up a few YouTube videos of covers and songs with different people and there was one cover I actually did with my girls, my daughters and they sang a song with me online and we did this Meghan Trainor and John Legend song and I put it up, not even thinking what was gonna happen with it and it just kind of went viral. It got all the way to, I guess, her, and she loved it and ended up getting in touch saying, “hey, I want to work with you”. So, since then, I’ve been mates with Sheila E, which is a bloody thing to say cause she’s such an icon but yeah, I’ve been working on new music with her.
That’s crazy, the power of the internet huh! So, what’s your favourite place your music has taken you to?
Favourite place? Oh man. I’ve been to… damn, I’m trying to think. I really enjoyed going to Berlin. I actually went there, it was for my music but it was also for the fact that I got on social media and like, music was kind of happening on there, on YouTube and that. So, some people flew me out there and I got to kind of have the music world meet the tech world while I was in Berlin. That was a very interesting place and it was cool to see the world with music that way.
You worked with Printz Board on Love Criminal; does he feature much on the upcoming EP?
We have done a couple of other songs together, so, I guess right now I gotta choose which ones I want to work on. I’m hoping that one of the other songs we did together will make it on the EP. We’ve written like 4 or 5 other songs.
Looking forward to it. Have you listened to any of the newer artists coming out of New Zealand, like Jess B, Church & AP, BENEE… what do you think of them?
Oh, man, awesome! I love the new artists that are coming out aye. I listened to Church & AP, I love their stuff and I love Jess B and that, and obviously there are other artists like Poetik and urban artists that are doing some real cool things. Um, who else was there…
Like Melodownz, um…
Yeah, yeah! I haven’t heard much of his but I’m very aware of his music. Even RAZÉ, I feel like her and this other girl who is about to come out, she’s going to be on a tour with Stan Walker, she’s one to look out for her, Jordan Gavet, I’ve heard her voice, she’s amazing. I’m not sure what her new music is like but I’ve known her and her family for a long time and I’m just real proud to see that she’s about to come out with her own music and she’s about to be on the run with Stan’s tour in New Zealand so yeah, I always try and keep an eye on what’s new in New Zealand.
What advice would you give to an artist wanting to start out, especially an artist from like New Zealand or Australia?
Hmm, what advice… The best advice I can give is to really not hold yourself back and to not put any limits on yourself and to really back yourself and trust yourself as an artist. And to just really go for it. There are so many things that can hold you back, being a new artist and you know, you’re not sure which way to go but your first instincts are normally the best when it comes to your creativity so definitely don’t second guess yourself and back yourself all the way.
That’s great advice. So, I know you’ve worked with a lot of people from William Wairua to Alex Aiono, who would you say is your favourite person you’ve collaborated with so far?
Man, I’m not so sure. There are so many cool people I’ve worked with. I actually always love being in the studio with someone like P-Money who’s such a great artist and musician but also he’s also been in the game for a while so as a musician, he comes across like someone who could be a mentor as well for other people and he was for myself when I started out and it was great to work with him in the studio. Every time I see him and catch up with him, he’s always very encouraging and always has good insight to share.
Other than the EP, do you have any plans or anything coming up within the next year?
Yeah, well, I’m about to go on tour, I think in July. I’m going around tour in Aussie, opening up for Guy Sebastian on his Australian tour, which is awesome. That’s exciting and yeah, it’s quite cool cause he’s already sold it out so it’s gonna be a great tour and I’m looking forward to that. I’ve got a few other gigs coming up in the year. I’m actually going to Papa New Guinea to do a TV show with one of my good friends whose working over there. I think it’s a talent TV show, so that should be interesting. Will obviously be doing some more gigs to get my new music out there so will keep people posted on Instagram and my website as well.
Thank you for your time Vince, was there anything you’d like to mention?
I think it’d be great to point people to the website and my Instagram but yeah thank you very much.
Cheers Vince, wishing you all the best and have a great day!
Stream the “Love Criminal” below.
Interviewed By: Breanna Tugaga-Rogers
@bretugs