Tanvi Sivakumar | February 19th 2025
Chris Hart is a London-based artist deeply rooted in storytelling, blending elements of folk, rock, and blues into a style uniquely his own. As a singer-songwriter, musician, and producer, his approach to music is both intentional and intuitive, drawing inspiration from legends like Fleetwood Mac, Tom Petty, and The Beach Boys while embracing modern influences such as Lizzy McAlpine and Phoebe Bridgers. With a love for complex structures, and a stripped-down, vintage sound, Hart is carving his own path in the folk-rock genre.
Hart’s songwriting journey often begins with a guitar riff or chord structure, following a process he describes as “ouija boarding”—a term borrowed from John Mayer meaning an exploratory approach to composition. He prefers to complete the outline of a song in one go rather than working in fragments. Hart’s track, Anywhere exemplifies his deep connection to songwriting. His favorite part of the song? The bridge.
“It’s a chance to diverge from the rest of the song while keeping the narrative intact” he describes.
He enjoys experimenting with harmonies and intricate musical structures while working with minimal instrumentation, emphasizing quality over quantity. Interestingly, the bridge of Anywhere was written a year before the rest of the song, originally belonging to a different style of music. Given his background in solo open mic performances, he has honed the ability to carry a song with just his voice and guitar, a skill that deeply influences his writing and recording style.
Fans can expect an exciting mix of influences in Hart’s upcoming releases. His next song, set to drop just before his next show in Atlanta, leans into country inspirations, drawing from the music he’s always loved. Following that, he’ll be exploring blues influences with more electric-driven sounds, while a third track in the sequence will return to a stripped-back folk approach, reminiscent of Noah Kahan and The Lumineers. The complete album, after his waterfall of releases, will cover the folk-rock genre, blending indie rock elements with Hart’s signature acoustic-driven sound.
Having performed in both the U.S. and the UK, Hart has also noticed significant differences in audience engagement.
“UK crowds are more reserved and gravitate towards cover songs, making it essential to earn their attention as an original artist.”
However, London’s vast musical landscape has provided many opportunities to refine his live performances and connect with an interactive songwriting community.
While he has primarily worked solo, when asked about dream collaboration opportunities, he cited Boygenius and UK artist Tom Misch as future possibilities. And if you stopped him on the street to ask what song he was listening to? Right now, he’d hope to be caught with ROCKMAN by Mk.gee in his headphones.
As Hart continues to release new music, his dedication to blending nostalgic influences ensures a fulfilling listening experience. With upcoming performances, we will be eagerly awaiting the album!
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Keep up with his music here!
