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“Songs That Inspired The EP
(Faith, Sex & Skin)”
by HARPER BLOOM

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Blackbird – The Beatles

I learnt this song in my late teens and always enjoyed playing it because of its unique and upbeat picking pattern. It uses the whole fretboard to have a variation in chord voicings. When I was writing one of my songs on the EP called Love Slow, the melody came from me playing around with these different chord voicings that I learnt from Blackbird. The song has a deeper meaning, but the progression and picking pattern keeps it sounding optimistic.

Cherry, Cherry – Neil Diamond

I love the upbeat and rhythmic strumming pattern in this song and the energy it gives you. It only uses three chords, and it always makes me feel so happy, like I just want to jump up and dance. I think it inspired the strumming patterns in “Shaky Bones” and “Catfish” which are both upbeat, fast tempo songs, written to make you feel great. They are super fun to play live!

Anyone Else but You – The Moldy Peaches

This song definitely inspired the extra raw production in all of the songs on the EP. I am not a pitch perfect singer, or trained guitarist but I feel like if you are honest in your lyrics and sing and play with conviction then you should not really need sparkling clean production to connect with people. I have always wanted the production and instrumentation to be kept as simple as possible.

Imagine – John Lennon

Lyrically I think this song subconsciously inspired my song Faith, Sex and Skin. The idea of everyone coming together to build a kinder and more accepting world, rather than tear each other down is a theme I believe that is worth spreading.  I try in some way or another, to include positivity and acceptance in all of my songs, which is why I thought “Faith, Sex and Skin” should be the title of my debut EP.

Hey Soul Sister – Train

I’ve always loved this song and the bizarre nature of the lyrics – which I discovered were inspired by the idea of Burning Man festival in the Nevada desert (something that I’ve always been interested in going too). I was running a lot in lockdown last year and started listening to this song again on my runs. It inspired me to learn the ukulele because I loved how these odd lyrics just danced so well with the instrument. The first song that came out of the now many songs that I have written on the ukulele, was Catfish. Lyrically I wanted it to be quite unusual. Essentially it celebrates how life is completely spontaneous and how exciting it is that one little moment can completely change the whole direction of your life.

Paul Kelly – To Her Door and
Bob Dylan – Like a Rolling Stone

The cinematic storytelling from both of these icons has been heavily engrained in me since a young age. I was brought up listening to both Paul Kelly and Bob Dylan, so I feel like there isn’t one specific song that inspires me, but it is their entire catalogue of poetic and narrative-style song-writing that has informed my style of song-writing. If I were to choose one song from each artist though, it would be “To her Door” and “Like a Rolling Stone”. My main aim is to paint a picture with words and tell a true and relatable story with each song.

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Press release 15th April, 2021 (below)

HARPER BLOOM
Releases clip to new single
‘SHAKY BONES’

Announces debut EP
‘FAITH, SEX & SKIN’

+ East Coast shows

STREAM SINGLE HERE

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PHOTO BY SHE IS APHRODITE

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“Bloom’s indie-folk-pop approach to music, paired with her immersive lyricism, easily makes her one artist to watch in the future” – Rolling Stone AUS

“A knack for simple, poetic song writing, and for writing choruses that are as catchy as they are filled with Australiana heart” – triple j

“If ever there was a beacon of hope to appear this year, it’s the arrival of Harper Bloom.” – Tone Deaf

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Melbourne-based artist Harper Bloom has just released her latest single ‘Shaky Bones’, produced by prolific Australian producer Benjamin McCarthy (G-Flip, Alex the Astronaut, Gordi); a barnstorming, rapturous, sing-along that embodies the warmth of a summer’s day, lifted from her forthcoming debut EP Faith, Sex & Skin out in June.

Harper says of the track, “This song was written in Torquay last year between lockdowns! It was a perfect sunny day, and I was sitting on the beach watching this couple who were behaving like friends that wanted to be lovers, but neither seemed confident enough to make the first move. It reminded me of times when I’ve been so in awe of people but too scared to ever let them know. I feel like you get so nervous and excited by the mystery of it all that it makes your bones shake. Well, it does for me anyway!”

To coincide with the single, she has teamed up with award-winning director David Hansen (Anija, Slingshot) to bring the song to life with a brand-new clip.

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Describing the process, “I told David how I wrote the song in Torquay when I was people watching on the beach. So, we decided we wanted to bring to life a nostalgic and fun 70s style beach themed music video. We tried our best to incorporate scenes that we thought represented an ideal and timeless summers day in the 70s with the person you fancy!”

She has also announced a slew of East Coast shows that kick off in June to celebrate the release of her debut EP, with shows in Brisbane, Sydney & Melbourne. Details below.

Singer-songwriter Harper Bloom writes vignettes of vulnerability, same-sex love, and self-acceptance.

Receiving glowing praise for her last two singles ‘Mary’ and ‘Walk My Way’ with national air play across triple j and community radio, she has also been selected as a triple j Unearthed Feature Artist and a BIGSOUND50 artist, and has performed to sold-out crowds including her single launch in Fremantle and a support slot for Hope D at her Melbourne shows – there are no signs of Harper Bloom slowing down.

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FAITH, SEX & SKIN EP
EAST COAST TOUR

PURCHASE TICKETS VIA HARPER BLOOM

THUR JUNE 24
O’SKULLIGANS
BRISBANE

FRI JUNE 25
OAF GALLERY BAR
SYDNEY

SAT JUN 26
THE WORKERS CLUB
MELBOURNE

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‘Shaky Bones’
Out Now Independently
Listen to Single Here

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Follow HARPER BLOOM
WEBSITE – INSTAGRAM – FACEBOOK 
TWITTER – YOUTUBE – SPOTIFY 

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AMNPLIFY – DB