TheRebelSociety recently interviewed New Orleans own, our dude HARNSolo. Check it out below. Shouts to TRS.
For the people who don’t know who you are, tell the people your name and where you from? How did you get started in music?
My real name is Michael Harney, but I’m known as Harn SOLO to the hip-hop community. I grew up in Phoenix, Arizona and went to college at Colorado State University. College is when I first started performing and rapping…which is late by some standards in music business…but I had the passion to be an artist, so i just did it!
I used to freestyle and battle rap getting crowd hype at local shows before indie rap band “Listen” took stage. After graduating from school I moved to New Orleans to further pursue my career in music business. The band “Listen” went to tour world wide and formed popular electronic group now known as Pretty Lights with Derek Vincent Smith as DJ!
Who are some of your musical influences in the industry and why?
Most of my musical influences are fellow artists and friends in New Orleans hip-hop community. There is so much talent in the South on underground level right now. My favorite local artists building momentum in Crescent City areÂ
PaaskyÂ
http://tiny.cc/o7v0cw andÂ
Lyriqs da LyracissÂ
http://underdogcentral.net andÂ
Dappa http://wearepsp.com.
As a new artist, what was the best piece of advice that has been given to you so far?
I recently read Russel Simmons book Super Rich and found a lot of good wisdom from his career. He talks about giving your music, photos and self to the community for FREE. Put all your art out there, and go to every hip-hop show possible. Even when I’m not performing, I’m attending other music events and being a part of unique culture in New Orleans.
Who are some industry artists that you are listening to right now?
I have a tendency to like underdog rappers with different styles from your average rapper. I’ve been listening to A$AP Rocky and Danny Brown lately. Both those dudes have original styles and sounds. So important nowadays with YouTube to have unique image to go with your music.
What makes you stand out from other new artists?
All joking aside… I look more like a white rock artist or skateboarder than anything. I don’t wear my hat to the side, sport baggy clothes or buy BIG expensive chains. At this point in my career I haven’t played myself, and people are starting to recognize it.
It seems like everybody wants to be an artist these days what would be some key advice that you would you give to someone that is looking to start their own career in the music industry?
Spend a couple dollars on original beats with a producer in your price range. You can’t make money on the back end (BMI, ASCAP, SESAC) recording mixtape after mixtape with industry beats. Also, practice your song and memorize your lyrics 100 times over before you go into booth with producer. This will save you and music engineer a lot of time and money. Real talk.
What are some projects on the horizon for yourself?
I released a very successful duo hip-hop album at beginning of the year -Â
Solo x Lyriqs – “The Grind” and worked with young New Orleans phenom rapper Lyriqs da Lyraciss. The production was handled by NOLA Hip Hop Award winning producerÂ
@ProProspek . I was so happy with the top notch product Prospek gave me, I had to do another album with his production -Â
Harn SOLO – “Shooting Star” coming later this year…
With everything in music always changing where do you see yourself in the next five years?
I see myself on the road performing and spreading my positive hip-hop message to other cities around the nation. I’ve got great response to my music in New Orleans, which can sometimes be an outsider to be accepted into. I was always a great song-writer, but this city has molded me into a dope performer now.
Where can people find you at?
If you’re in New Orleans I usually do a couple showcases per month. I like to perform at The Howlin Wolf. They always show love at that spot. Earlier this year I opened for The Wu-Tang Clan, Rebirth Brass Band and Rantz Davis at the venue. Stay posted @Â
Harnsolo.com if you can’t make it to the LIVE show.
Any last shouts outs…..
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