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--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- May 2010: ANT interview.
Here's a new interview recently done by Mark Zonda for Sleepwalking Magazine.
The last marvellous Eardrums Music seasonal collection of free new indie talents was the sweetest excuse to go back to some artists I used to listen when I was just a little indie boy. Ant (Antony Harding) was no exception at all, and I was so surprised and happy (let’s say it: jealous too!) to hear him singing for the italian post-pop orchestra Loud Off! Since we recently interviewed them I couldn’t find no better excuse to catch up with Ant as well.
Ant: I started out playing the drums when I was about 11 years old on the Isle Of Wight. My parents bought me a second hand snare drum for my birthday (after months of me dropping hints) complete with several pairs of used sticks and a How To Play Drums by Buddy Rich book. By the age of 12 I had played my first gig accompanying 4 of my school mates all of whom played acoustic guitars. I think we did Get Back, House Of The Rising Sun and I Want Candy. But we still disagree over the set list to this day! It wasn’t until I turned 16 that I bought my first electric guitar from a friend at High School and taught myself the necessary chords with the help of Billy Bragg & Lloyd Cole & The Commotions songbooks. Mark Zonda: How did you managed to gather so many people around your music? Ant: It certainly helps to have played in a fairly successful touring band
and to have released records on different labels in countries such as Sweden,
Spain, Italy & England. But I don’t really think I have gathered very many
people but those who have come tend to have stuck around. Ant: I remember one day deciding to have a go. I had just bought a new
electric guitar and had started my first songbook. I recall that each song was
named after a different girl’s name. The songs and the song book were ditched
after a few weeks and I began again. I don’t remember at what point I started
keeping the songs, maybe when I had bought my first 4 track recorder at Art
College. Once the song had become a recording it seemed to make more sense to
me. Ant: Oh they’re all secret songs for girls aren’t they? I do have songs that I’ve written about certain girls and they have no idea. I like that. Mark Zonda: Which are your main influences? Ant: I would say Leonard Cohen, Prefab Sprout & Rachels all still move
me. I would be a proper English folkie if only I could do the finger picking as
I love John Martyn, Nick Drake, Bert Jansch & Sandy Denny. More recently I
have got into the work of Clifford T Ward whose songs I love. But really I would
say everything I have ever listened to influences me in some big or small way.
Even if it’s a song I dislike. Ant: A fan sent me an email a few years back saying how much he enjoyed the
Footprints album and went on to say that he assumed that it was influenced by
Cliff T Ward. I had never heard of him. He sent me some mp3s (Gaye, Up In The
World, Wherewithal, Home Thoughts From Abroad) and I instantly loved them. Since
then I’ve been collecting Cliff’s albums and downloading lots of stuff. He could
write a song about anything from Jackdaws to cricket. Ant: Oh I don’t know, C86 and all that. Was it John Peel that first coined it Shambling music? I think at first I was attempting to do indie pop, I listened a lot to the likes of the Fieldmice and The Wedding Present. I really liked the simplicity of that stuff. I think now I still have that attitude in my head when I record but maybe I’m aiming for something a little more suited to my years, so I’m back working on my finger picking. Mark Zonda: How was it that Eardrums Music asked
you to be part of its new compilation? Mark Zonda: How was collaborating with “Loud Off” different from doing a solo song for “Let it Bee”? Ant: Well it was a different kettle of fish. The lovely Loud Offs sent me the
music as an mp3 and I thought it was beautiful. They wrote it just for me which
was very flattering. My main concern was that I didn’t want to spoil it with my
vocal. So I tried to respect it and leave all the spaces for the music to flow.
I spent an afternoon in the library in Malmö with my mp3 player and my songbook,
fitting in some words I had written about my first son. It was tricky as I
usually start with a lyric and write music to it or write both the words and
music simultaneously. But I think it works really well and it was certainly a
pleasure to do. I hope to work some more with Loud Off. Mark Zonda: Recently a friend of mine persuaded me (it was reeeeeeeally easy) to start a record company with her. Which suggestions would you give me? Ant: Well firstly forget about making any money! I guess just concentrate on releasing the music you love. It’s not about reviews or radio play or record sales is it? That’s not why we do this. It’s about the music, and badges! Make some badges! Mark Zonda: You got five on that! |
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---------------------------------------------------------------------------- April 2010: Free MP3!!!
Between Two Waves is the latest free download only compilation album from the wonderful Eardrums Pop of Norway. It's a 3 volume compilation of exclusive collaborations. My contribution is the song Crying No Tears. The song was recorded with Italian band Loud Off & was previously only available to listen to on Myspace. They composed the beautiful music, I wrote the words and sang. You can download it for FREE here. |
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---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- January 2010: Exclusive free demo!
The exclusive demo version of a new song called Kisses On A Plate is now available for free download as part of the 2 CD download only compilation album Ondadrops Vol.1: Do You Know The Way To Blue? on Italian webzine www.ondarock.it
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January 2010: Limited edition handmade compilation CD.
My demo of the song Magpies is now out on Music & Migration, the album released by Second Language. It's packaged in a screenprinted, recycled card jacket and includes a selection of sewn, stamped and printed inserts. Released in January 2010 this unique record will appear in a very limited edition. So hurry if you want a copy! It's all about the birds.
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December 2009: Exclusive new song on Myspace!! Crying No Tears is a brand new song, a collaboration between myself and cool Italian Instrumental band Loud Off. They composed the lovely music and I wrote the words and sang. The song is now up exclusively online at Myspace.
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December 2009: Rare ANT gig!
I shall be playing my first live show in ages on 5th December in Malmö at the intimate Cafe Simpan. I'll be playing a set of new songs plus tracks I've released this year, around 16pm and it's free. Also playing are the Swedish bands Pal and Thomas. Cafe Simpan is on Simrishamnsgatan 3 in Malmö. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
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September 2009: Chinese compilation CD.
My song Time I Was Gone (same version as on the Acuarela CD) now features on the CD given away free with the September issue (2009 09) of Chinese magazine XMusicMag.
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August 2009: Exclusive demo on Myspace!!
Magpies (demo) is now exclusively featured on the Music and Migration Myspace page. Music and Migration has been created for artists and musicians with an interest in birds and nature conservation by Danish musician Martin Holm (The Home Current). It supports Birdlife International and the Born To Travel campaign. Other contributers include Vashti Bunyan, Darren Hayman and David Sheppard. The project will eventually come together as a limited edition compilation album in 2010.
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July 2009: ANT on the airwaves!!
Time I Was Gone was played by the lovely Steve Lamacq on his 6 Music show on BBC Radio on 28th July. Time I Was Gone was also played by Steve Lamacq on his BBC Radio 2 show on 1st July. Many thanks Mr Lamacq!
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July 2009: ANT interview! Here's a nice interview which is now up at Rockfeedback.com by Stephen Maughan.
This year the respected George Orwell book pirze went to (no, not Ant) the newspaper journalist, Andrew Brown, for Fishing in Utopia, a memoir of his life in Sweden with tales of falling in love with the country (and a Swedish girl), and embracing the socialism aspects of the country, before tragically watching everything fall apart, and moving back to England. You get the sense throughout the book that Andrew Brown tends to daydream about the past a lot. Antony Harding, the former drummer of cult band Hefner, has won my prize for best EP of the year with These Long Dark Country Roads, a charming collection of bittersweet tales of his memories of life in England before being whisked away to Sweden (as told in the subtle ‘Time I Was Gone’). Once there he fell in love with Sweden (and a Swedish girl) and embraced the socialist aspects of the country. He admits he “Tends to daydream about the past a lot”. He did not, however, move back to England full of disillusionment but instead had two children and wrote the most beautiful lullaby's hidden away from both the British press and the Hefneresque tales of sex and of course his former band Hefner brings a certain notoriety, so when I get a chance to have a chat with Ant, I need to clarify the differences between Hefner and Ant, as a solo artist. I catch him during a break between, errr, laundry and cooking his son dinner. “Well, Darren tends to use a lot of characters in his songs” Ant tells me from his home in Malmo, “In Hefner he wrote about a seedier side of life, sex and drinking, whereas I write more from my own viewpoint and write about love and kisses!” he jokes. Ant describes his music as “acoustic indie folk pop” in the tradition of English folk and the likes of Clifford T Ward. Still, like all the best music, there is always a slight hint of darkness and desperation among the sweetness. I want to know more about Sweden, and Ant proudly tells me about the renowned social care, and how the school and health care system is by far the best in Europe. I ask him to describe a typical day. “I get up at 8 if I'm lucky and take my 3 year old son to preschool. Then I do the shopping, do the laundry, cook a meal, strum my guitar for half an hour while my baby boy lies on the floor and listens, put my son to bed, and read him a few stories.” Shopping and laundry! This hardly sounds like the rock and roll lifestyle associated with most London bands. “Yes, I admit I slipped into the role of house-husband fairly easily!” What's the biggest difference between life in the UK and Sweden? “Well I lived in London for many years, so life over here seems much slower and quieter. And there are more trees. I come over to visit England enough not to miss it too much. “ Are you ever tempted to come back? “Not yet. Maybe in the future. I have two small boys, the three year old speaks Swedish so we’ll be here for a while to come, but the option is always there. “ We talk a bit more about the great his attempts at learning Swedish (“I talk to myself in Swedish a lot!”), along with the Swedish children's writer Astrid Lindgren (“My son even has a Pipi Långstrump doll!”) and life in general as a stay-at-home father (I also have two children the same age as Ant's) before I suddenly realise this is supposed to be a rock interview, not a story for Good Housekeeping! So back to music. Ummm, what does his son think of his music? “He likes more children's songs. Although he does like to play my old ukulele . His first song was in Swedish and went along the lines of: ’I am angry at Mamma, I am angry at Pappa” That sounds like a future emo angst hit to me! How exactly did your new EP come about? “I had promised Jesus at Acuarela Records an EP many years ago but never really had the songs to give him because my album Footprints Through The Snow had used up all the better songs I had. So I delayed it and delayed it, and eventually realised I needed help to get the thing finished, as I really didn’t have the time at home anymore to record and mix. So I had the idea to get Darren Hayman, Jack and James, and Tjinder from Cornershop to help with the songs and mixes.” Do you find it hard to write songs? “No, I've never had a problem writing songs although these days finding the time to finish them off is the problem.” We go on to talk a little about music, and he talks about his admiration for the English singer songwriter Clifford T Ward.,He doesn't find much modern music appealing, aside from a few treasures like Lavender Diamond but he doesn't get to see many new bands these days. As for himself, he tells me he has never been much of a gigger, and at the moment has no plans to take to the road due to his family commitments. Although, he still plays the odd show here and there, he hopes “T o start touring again in a few years time, with a whole new set of songs. Perhaps I'll get the boys to be the backing band!” he laughs. As the interview draws to a close and Ant rushes off to pick up his son from preschool, It seems to me Ant has everything he needs right now in his life, and this shines through in the carefree collection of songs to be found on his records, especially on the Country Roads EP, a faultless 20 minutes of sun-soaked lo fi lullaby's which Rockfeedback happily gave 5 stars. Mr. Antony Harding, the drummer from Hefner, has left the country. He is married with two small children, and amongst the trees of Sweden has found the freedom to write some of the most memorable pop tunes you're likely to hear this year. Fat Kelly and the other Hefner characters will surely salute his efforts.
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July 2009: New single!! Available from 1st July from the Ant webshop or the Black Kitten Records webshop. A very special limited edition split 7" single where Darren Hayman and I sing and play on each other's songs. Featuring one Darren song and one Ant song. Released on Italian label Black Kitten Records.
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June 2009: Exclusive MP3 album!! Available exclusively from the Ant webshop! Released 16th June 2009.
When The Morning Arrives is a 25 track MP3 album available only from the ANT webshop. 25 previously unreleased tracks, featuring demos, out-takes, rejected songs and a cover version. Available only as a limited edition data disc containing 25 MP3s (320 kbit/s), lyrics, photos and artwork, in a plastic sleeve with a numbered & signed black and white cover.
The tracklisting is: 01 When The Morning Arrives (unreleased song) 1999. |
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June 2009: ANT review!. Here's a nice review of These Long Dark Country Roads by Simon Lewis at Terrascopic.co.uk June 2009.
Similar acoustic musings can be found on “These Long Dark Country Roads”, the latest six-track EP from Ant. Recorded by Darren Hayman and featuring contributions from James Milne and Tjinder Singh (Cornershop), the songs are simple, sweet tunes, the lyrics displaying an understated and peculiarly English sense of humour. On “Time I Was Gone” an insistent Ukulele underpins the guitar, the lyrics direct and engaging telling tales of indecision and tea and biscuits. Featuring a lyrical piano “Come to the Phone” is a song of regret, Harmonica and ukulele adding to the emotional content, the lyrics filled with sadness tinged with a slowly fading hope. Final song “Wherever you go” has a Neil Young inspired riff, soft and warm with some lovely vocals and a fragile heart. Simon Lewis. |
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April 2009: Free MP3!!!
Birdsongs Beesongs is the latest free download only compilation album from Eardrums Pop in Norway. Volume D features an exclusive acoustic version of my song Magpies. You can download it for FREE here. |
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March 2009: ANT review!! Here's a 5 star review of These Long Dark Country Roads by Stephen Maughan on Rockfeedback.com 10th March 2009.
ANT - These Long Dark Country Roads (Acuarela Discos). You really won't expect this. A new 6 song EP from Anthony Harding, who used to be the drummer in Hefner and now lives in Sweden
that completely knocks you out with its bittersweet tenderness, and is the best
release of the year so far. Let's pause for a moment there and let me repeat
that. Yes, I did say this is the drummer from Hefner. Keep
reading. You may well wonder how anyone associated with a band like Hefner
could end up with a mini album that has put all the high profile releases this
year to shame. Mr. Harding, perhaps free from the consuming indie
scene of London, has seemingly effortlessly put together a collection of
gorgeous lo-fi acoustic pop songs, that sparkle with tender spring-like
freshness. Harding turns out to have a lullaby dreamy voice, no doubt practiced
on his 3 year old son at bedtime. What’s on offer here is far removed from
Hefner, and it’s all the better for it. Indeed from the catchy opener ‘Time I Was Gone’ to the dreamy
‘Wherever You Go’, everything fits perfectly here, and it's refreshing to hear
someone who actually understands what a 20 minute EP should consist of. Another
6 songs like this would be too many, but the material here is too rich to
release as future B sides. The delicious melodies haunt you throughout the
day. “We left our love asleep for too long and we were never really
that strong” sighs Harding on ‘Come To The Phone’, but in a world where arrogant
rock star clones clatter the NME awards, this honest EP gently makes you fall in
love with music all over again. I love these surprises in music - who had any
idea an Hefner expat had such breathtaking sweet songs in him? My God, whatever
next? The drummer from Kula Shaker releasing an artpop
triumph? 5/5 Stephen Maughan. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
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February 2009: New mini album!
These Long Dark Country Roads is released by Acuarela Discos in Spain on 28th February 2009. It's a new 6 song CD mini album featuring the following tracks: Time I Was Gone, These Long Dark Country Roads, Come To The Phone, Smile Your Best Smile, Magpies and Wherever You Go. The CD features help from Darren Hayman & Jack Hayter (Hefner) and James Milne & Tjinder Singh (Cornershop). You can buy it from the Acuarela webshop or from the Ant webshop. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
