HARTS
Melbourne, Australia | Established. Jan 01, 2009 | INDIE
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Harts , Despite his early slot, he brought the masses to his show packing out the tent - literally. This isn’t no surprise, as Harts’ live shows are known for their electrifying nature and guitar licks that transform into something out of this world when played live. Set highlights included ‘Breakthrough’ as well as a cover Jimi Hendrix ‘Purple Haze’, which was his massive closing track for the day, sending the crowd into a frenzy. Though it was early, walking away from his set left me thinking that nothing was going to top it. After watching numerous sets during the day, nothing still hasn’t topped Harts’ performance. - SPLENDOUR 2015
Call it cockiness, call it confidence. Or maybe call it the curse of the Prince.
Melbourne singer-songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, composer and producer Darren Hart's star is on the rise after a casual jam session with Prince that catapulted him onto the disco-funk radar.
At his first-ever sold out Sydney show, this undoubtedly super-talented 24-year-old has the self-assurance of a global megastar.
He barely took breath in a solid hour of ferociously sharp disco, alt-rock and electro-funk – just him looping guitar riffs, keyboard jams and oozing out lyrics as smooth as caramel while a lone bandmate provided the searing drum beats.
There were seamless mergers from wild, smacky disco (Angels Walk) to pure electrified rock (Red and Blue) to slightly mellowed Whitest Boy Alive-style pop funk (Lovers In Bloom) to down-tempo, seductive slow burners (Under Falling Skies).
Everything was amped up 10-fold. He looked up to the sky like a messiah as he hit gloriously high notes and turned simple electro-funk into a wild, tearing, frenetic melange of sounds.
And every song, without exception, ended in an impossibly large solo of Hart shredding on his electric guitar, Hendrix-style, amidst '80s smoke machines and spotlights.
It seemed a perfect metaphor when he ended on an obscenely huge cover of Jimi Hendrix's Purple Haze, with it's none-too-modest lyric: "Excuse me while I kiss the sky".
The formula would have worn thin if the show went any longer – there are only so many times you can break out the overly-cocky, overly-large guitar solo without it becoming tedious.
But this one-man music making machine has the freakish talent on that guitar to just get away with it.
The constant comparisons to Prince and Jimi Hendrix from music writers and reviewers may start to sound embarrassingly over-blown but Hart's guitar shredding was blisteringly good and, after hearing him hit those sublime high notes and watching that magnetic on-stage swagger, it's hard to disagree with Prince's own assessment that "he reminds me of how I was at that age".
Read more: http://www.smh.com.au/entertainment/music/harts-review-wild-disco-funk-that-comes-with-princes-tick-of-approval-20150704-gi51jg.html#ixzz3ovE4bCHK
Follow us: @smh on Twitter | sydneymorningherald on Facebook - Sydney Morning Herald
Melbourne funk-rock guitar genius and undisputed next big thing Harts took to the Foundry’s stage and validated every single breathless comparison to Jimi Hendrix, disco legend Nile Rodgers and Prince (who found Harts online and invited him over to jam) as he shredded his guitar through Red & Blue, Lovers in Bloom, Breakthrough, the defiant and Daft Punk-esque Leavn It All Behind. - Music Feed
Discography
Still working on that hot first release.
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Bio
Darren Hart, known as Harts, is a musician, singer-songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, composer and music producer from Melbourne. Often labeled as "A one-man music-making machine", he writes everything, plays all the instruments, records and produces all his music single handedly in his bedroom studio.
Spending the past few years developing his sound, Harts has become known for his Jimi Hendrix-like guitar playing and unique blend of Funk, Pop, Rock and Soul music, which has earned him praise worldwide. Most notably from iconic music legend Prince, who flew Harts out to his Paisley Park Studios in Minneapolis, USA to meet and play with him last year saying, "He reminds me of how I was at that age".
After returning, Harts' independently released his 10 track debut album 'Daydreamer' in September 2014. The album quickly gained positive coverage in many music publications such as Rolling Stone Magazine, NME, The Guardian, Herald Sun, Sydney Morning Herald, Vogue Magazine and many more. The lead single from the album, 'Red & Blue' was an alternative radio hit in Australia, landing a spot on Triple J's Hit List and many Independent and Alternative radio playlists around the country.
“A supernaturally talented young buck who’s mastered Hendrix’s blistering guitar shredding and the electro-funk pop perfection of Prince in his Eighties prime.” – Rolling Stone Australia
Following the success of the album, Harts' two latest singles 'When A Man's A Fool' and 'Breakthrough' we're both Alternative Radio hits in Australia, making it to their week's #1 most played tracks on Triple J & Alternative Radio. The two singles featured on a brand new EP, titled "Breakthrough" which was released in June 2015 and followed by a 20+ date Australian and New Zealand tour. Accompanied only by a drummer, Harts effortlessly recreates the songs live - juggling between shredding guitar, laying down keyboard, bass and vocals with a loop machine and sequencer.
Those dates added to the already impressive number of shows Harts has clocked up in 2015. From his own sold out headline gigs to wowing an audience of 10,000 opening for Rod Stewart at Hope Estate, to rocking stages at festivals such as Splendour In The Grass, Groovin' The Moo, The Hills Are Alive, Maroochy Festival and most recently, Bigsound 2015.
“Melbourne funk-rock guitar genius and undisputed next big thing Harts took to the Foundry’s stage and validated every single breathless comparison to Jimi Hendrix, disco legend Nile Rodgers and Prince” – Music Feeds @ Bigsound 2015
2015 also saw Harts take on Triple J's Like A Version, performing an impressive cover of Daniel Johns' 'Aerial Love'.
Harts is now working on his upcoming second album, and will also be playing showcases in the U.S throughout October, including Culture Collide in L.A and CMJ in New York, before returning to Australia for performances at the 2015 AIR Independent Music Awards, The Age Music Victoria Awards and a special run of festivals over the summer.
The brand new single, titled “All Rise (Play It Cool)” is a dance-floor, rock ‘n roll and gospel funk infused blend of dirty guitars, funky bass, pounding drums, classic horns – all with an fun and energetic “Don’t worry about a thing, get up and dance!” attitude.
Harts says:
“I really wanted to write an up-tempo classic rock and roll tune. With whatever we may be going through in life, just a little reminder for us to take our minds things for a moment and have a good time while we’re here.”
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