Wielding a psychedelic-painted Fender Squier and blessed with a falsetto that could shake Stonehenge, Australian singer, songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, and producer Harts electrifies pop with both musicianship and showmanship. His second full-length album and stateside debut, Smoke Fire Hope Desire, is due out July 21st on Washington Square/Razor & Tie. To celebrate the release, Harts will embark on a series of exclusive dates beginning at Milwaukee’s Summerfest on July 7th. The tour touches down in LA, NYC, Chicago, Washington D.C. and more.
About the new album, Harts admits, “It’s a play on that old saying, ‘Where there’s smoke, there’s fire. I added a positive second line, ‘Where’s there’s hope, there’s desire.’ That phrase really sparked the whole context, which means hope and desire are a direct response to smoke and fire. There’s a lot of sadness and trouble in our world, but there’s still a lot of love being born.”
The GQ Australia Artist of the Year (2016) relies heavily on his early influences of pop, funk, and good ol’ rock and roll. Even the late, great Prince personally invited Harts to Paisley Park Studios proclaiming, “He reminds me of how I was at that age.”
Harts (born Darren Hart) is a one man show with no external producers or other collaborators. The upcoming album’s 14 tracks came to life in his bedroom studio with the virtuoso acting as an architect building, playing and recording every single note. The lead single, “Peculiar” flaunts a hummable guitar solo between orchestral horns, slinky bass and an urgent and chantable refrain. Live For Live Music is excited to share the live version of “Peculiar” below, live from Brisbane.
Listen to the studio version below:
Harts Summer Tour Dates:
July 7th – Milwaukee, WI @ Milwaukee Summerfest
July 17th – Los Angeles, CA @ Bardot Hollywood
July 18th – Anaheim, CA @ The Parish at House of Blues Anaheim
July 21st – Centre Hall, PA @ Karoondinha Music & Arts Festival
July 29th – Chicago, IL @ Wicker Park Fest
August 2nd – Washington D.C. @ DC9
August 4th – Philadelphia, PA @ Kung Fu Necktie
August 5th – Brooklyn, NY @ Knitting Factory