Chris Haze

Being a singer-songwriter is a tough business. True, its never been a better time to pick up a guitar and let the world know how you feel, but on the other hand, there is a plethora of sensitive, six-string slingers out there who are all eager to make it big. Getting lost in the maelstrom of mediocre wannabees is a constant career hazard. Despite this saturation, the solitary artist can often be left to tread a lonely path.

Therefore, it is very refreshing to see in Chris Haze another Irish artist who already seems destined for great things. Some of you may already be familiar with his Thoughts to Words EP and On the Road follows hot on its heels.

As far as the music is concerned, On the Road is not a huge departure from Thoughts to Words. The changes are subtle and ultimately for the better. Haze’s songwriting has improved. The fade outs, a personal bugbear of mine, that plagued Thoughts to Words, have been banished and each song is more complete and satisfying as a result. Thematically, On the Road shares much with Jack Kerouac’s beatnik era odyssey of the same name. Whether intentional or not, there is an added maturity to the lyrics. Haze evokes a feeling of being lost and trying to find himself, not unlike Kerouac and company. Whilst Haze doesn’t delve into the debauched world of sex and drugs, On the Road evokes a similar free spirit to its literary namesake and is the perfect soundtrack to watch the world speed by and to contemplate the complexities of life.

On the Road also boasts much improved production values. The vocals benefit from a heavy dose of reverb and everything just seems to slot into the mix a little bit better. This may cause some disgruntlement among purists who want their singer songwriters rough and authentic but the sound cant be faulted otherwise.

I could continue and dissect each track on this EP but with only three tracks to digest and clocking in at well under fifteen minutes, you owe it to yourself to sample Haze’s latest offering without any preconceived bias. Needless to say, its time well spent ,but the more time pressed amongst you should check out Haze’s, hip hop infused, rapid-fire delivery on the groovy, piano driven Being Me and the dreamy opening guitar riff from the title track.

Roll on the LP! - PURE M MAGAZINE

Irish artist Chris Haze has being going from strength to strength since first setting his heart upon a career in music in 2011. Not only was he chosen by Hot Press as a “Hot for 2014” act, he was also also nominated for their “Most Promising Artist” award, along with world famous musician Hozier. On top of this, he has taken to the stage at some of Ireland’s most well known venues, including The Olympia and The Academy in Dublin, while his debut single “Over and Over” has received acclaim from both 2FM and Today FM.

At present, the Galway based singer/songwriter is enjoying success on national and regional radio with his latest single, “Don’t Wanna Fall Asleep”. Fusing elements of conventional pop and R ‘N’ B, it begins with some jazzy instrumentation which unfolds behind a reverberating melody. The rich and vivid vocals are articulately sung, helping the piece to emanate an exotic air as it maintains a swift momentum. The track can be found on Haze’s Thoughts to Words EP, along with two other offerings.

“Dry Your Eyes” opens via a distant harmony that echoes across sombre keys. Its percussion builds steadily, adding a vivacious vibe to its otherwise reserved introduction. The vocals become more expressive as it develops, eventually erupting beside the instrumentation to an energetic and affecting climax.

“I Don’t” follows by way of an optimistic riff that’s met by a cheerful beat before a resonant harmony sets in. While there’s a strong sense of longing and decisiveness to the gentle chorus, it’s an altogether light and lively composition that rests easy on the ears before it whistles out nonchalantly.

Thoughts to Words carries a harmless and inoffensive sound that is loaded with passion and enthusiasm. Fast paced and affective, it’s well suited to finding itself a comfortable place within mainstream music charts. Head over to iTunes to check it out now. - PURE M MAGAZINE

24-hour shopping, we’re told, is the root of all evil; corporate consumerism at its worst. After all, what’s it ever done for us?
“I wrote my first song while working nights in Tesco,” grins Chris Haze. “Walking around with my headphones on – which isn’t allowed, by the way – during the graveyard shift. It’s mad to think how far things have come.”

With his new EP, Thoughts To Words, about to hit the shelves, it seems a good time to pause and reflect. Though it’s only four years since the surreptitious song-scribing-while-shelf-stacking, the Galwegian has worked tirelessly in the interim, knocking on doors and getting his name out there.

Chris shrugs. “Well, the polite way of putting it would be to say I’m persistent.”

And the less restrained?

“That I literally wreck people’s heads!” he laughs. “That’s what you have to do though. And, of course, it pays off; the radio stations that I couldn’t even get replies from last year are the first ones playing the single this time.”

Interestingly, though, if you head online to check out what the 23-year-old was pushing last time out, you’ll be disappointed. Despite the record garnering strong reviews and opening plenty of doors, Chris recently made the decision to take down his debut album World Outside.

“The work that went into it was amazing,” he explains. “But listening to it again, the production values are way off the level I’d want now; I felt it was wasted material.”

There’s no wasted effort this time around. Written and recorded over the past number of months – with the finishing touches applied during Guinness Amplify-funded studio sessions at the iconic Grouse Lodge – the new EP is a streamlined three tracks, where the emphasis was very definitely placed on quality.

“The album was written conceptually, so the songs flowed into each other. On Thoughts To Words, though, they’re three stand-alone numbers that could all be singles.

“I’m always trying to do something different,” he continues. “It’s nice to be versatile. There are days where I hit the studio with dance producers, say, and we’ll play with drum and bass songs or live synthesizers. I’m trying to bring as much to the table as I can – I don’t want people to listen and think, ‘It sounds like 20 other songs he’s done.’”

That’s not to say, though, that the parallels drawn between his ‘Don’t Wanna Fall Asleep’ single and the work of another young guitar-toting talent is rejected out of hand.

“I’d be a bit of an idiot if I said being compared to Ed Sheeran was an insult,” Chris smiles. “He’s one of the biggest superstars around at the minute. But he’s got there by doing his own thing, which is what I want to do. I want to leave my mark, my own vibe; make stuff that’s not already been made.”

The plan, as it stands, is to hit the studio again this year, with a view to laying down an album; before that, there’s the possibility of reconnecting with English hip hop artist Lexeee. One thing is for sure; a man who was rarely short of confidence is more driven than ever.

“I know from the feedback that it’s all moving in the right direction,” he says. “There’s a career in this for me; I just have to pursue it.”

- See more at: http://www.hotpress.com/Chris-Haze/news/Haze-Of-Our-Lives-iHot-Pressi-catches-up-with-Chris-Haze/13674675.html#sthash.L0GJVA3h.dpuf - HOTPRESS MAGAZINE

Singer-songwriter - and HP fave - Chris Haze is wasting little time in setting his stall out for a big 2015.
Without waiting for a flip of the calendar, the Galway man has pencilled in a single release for January; 'Don't Wanna Fall Asleep' will be the first taste of his EP, due out the following month and titled Thoughts To Words.

Hot Press has had a chance to sneak a listen and we were suitably impressed; simultaneously laid-back and upbeat, it brings to mind something that would make Ed Sheeran proud to write for himself.

The new track lands on January 25; needless to say, keep an eye on hotpress.com for the eagerly-anticipated new material!

- See more at: http://www.hotpress.com/news/Chris-Haze-gears-up-to-release-new-single/13207796.html#sthash.OX26xWCf.dpuf - HOTPRESS MAGAZINE

On debut album ‘World Outside’, Galway boy Chris Haze forges a sound that manages to package neo-soul, contemporary hip hop and Ed Sheeran-esque singer/songwriter styling to produce something that is entirely inoffensive yet diverse enough to make for an interesting listen. His sound is one that given a bigger budget to spend on production could easily top nationwide charts, but nevertheless his debut lays the foundation for what will no doubt be an interesting career.
‘World Outside’ opens with the sound of a guitar being taken from a gigbag, tuned up, and a vocal warm-up which we hear again during the chorus of Questions (“So if you could reverse time/Would you change the highs/The lows/The times you cried”), before counting off into the first track proper, The Path. It is evidence of the distinctive qualities that Haze has carved out for himself thus far: a soulful croon, interlocking guitar leads, an ear for a good melody and a catchy hook.
Haze proves not to be a one-trick pony, however. Questions is built upon dramatic, minor piano chords and twinkling synth patches. Over & Over is driven by some interesting percussion tracks, juxtaposing handclaps with tribal beats and multi-layered vocal takes. The same ambition towards producing a multifaceted sound does sometimes hurt the album, however. On Somewhere New the synth strings sound corny, as do the guitar leads and gated reverb effect on the drums. The wah-wahed guitar licks over the top of Notions take away from the sincerity and emotion of the ballad. Many of the pitfalls of the album however come not from lack of talent or good ideas but rather the lack of a big studio budget to execute them.
The lyrics on ‘World Outside’ are somewhat one-dimensional, and ultimately sentimental and harmless. But what shines throughout is their positive message. On The Path we are reminded, “Sometimes the path we walk is long… So just do your best to stay strong”. Never Seem Enough offers us the advice, “If you feel like there’s nothing left/close your eyes and take a deep breath”. The album is peppered with clichéd inspirational quotes but it’s hard not to take some positivity from that when they’re delivered in such a soulful, half-sung/half-rapped manner reminiscent of the iconic Slimkid3 of The Pharcyde. At times pitchy and nasal, Haze delivers with clarity and flow.
All in all, on ‘World Outside’, Chris Haze has laid the groundwork for a bright future in the Irish music scene and perhaps beyond. It my not be the most polished or innovative offering but it is an honest document of a young man making a name for himself. - GOLDEN PLEC

Congratulations Chris Haze! You are Artist of the Month for March 2016 - Global Rockstar Magazine, Austria

Artist of the Week is CHRIS HAZE from Galway, Ireland!

“Chris deserves recognition for all his efforts over the past few years. Talented singer/songwriter from Galway has some great tracks out already. One to watch for the future.”

“Brilliant singer/songwriter #letusbeheroes“

“Chris Haze, artist of the DECADE :-)“

“Great new talent!!!“

“A down to earth guy who lives and breaths music and gives support to amazing charities. Putting Galway on the map!“ - Global Rockstar Magazine, Austria