Harry Charles releases sophomore album, ‘Movement’

Loop Electronic are proud to present Movement, the sophomore album from New Zealand-born musician and producer Harry Charles. His first release since his return home after several years living in Berlin, Harry is a guitarist and songwriter at his core who has evolved into a producer and live electronic act over the past decade. This body of work is a reflection of that growth, incorporating sounds of downtempo, electronic and organic house alongside more intimate songwriting and ambient compositions.

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With over a decade experience in the NZ music scene, Harry cut his teeth not only playing guitar all through high school, but also working as the sound engineer for all of the shows that his friends were putting on at the time. Fresh out of Smokefree Rockquest and two years studying at MAINZ in Christchurch throughout the earthquakes and the immediate rebuild, Harry got his start playing guitar alongside MC Tali in 2012 as part of her live band, a role which he still holds to this day.

In 2014 Harry left New Zealand for Europe, entrenching himself in Berlin. He quickly found himself not only singing his own music in bars across Germany, but also jumping at any musical opportunity which came his way. The resulting years saw him work as a session musician for a range of artists, touring with international artists such as Alice Phoebe Lou and Jesper Munk.

His first solo release was an EP entitled Left Behind, a release which served to close the door on his singer/songwriter days. He fell into the world of production and since then, has been performing and recording electronic music, inspired by the never-ending party scene that Berlin afforded him. In that time, he has released music by labels based in Berlin and abroad, with each release showcasing his growing abilities as a producer, while still finding ways to incorporate his experience as both a lyricist and guitarist.

A blend of diverse soundscapes and experiences, his new album is another snapshot of the multifaceted nature of his journey as an artist. With Movement, Harry creates a sonic space that merges his roots with his evolution, showcasing the many influences that have shaped his sound. The album has been created as one complete body of work, with the 10 tracks seamlessly transitioning from one track to the next, moving through the different worlds of Harry’s electronic sounds.

His blend of live guitar and downtempo production combines on Movement to create a sound reminiscent of artists such as Darkside, FKJ and Monolink, while bringing his own experiences to the fore to create Charles’ own unique take of electronic music.

Movement opens with ‘Wandering Water’, an ethereal track which combines sparse production with acoustic guitar, before moving straight into Titans (2nd Movement), a track which shows off the downtempo and driving production found throughout the album. Moody and melancholic, the dual-headed opener serves to welcome listeners to Movement. “I love the idea that an album is like a home I’ve built. Wandering Water is like going through the front door, with Titans (2nd Movement) like walking through the corridors, familiarising yourself with a new environment.”

Harry establishes himself as a proficient musician and producer throughout the album, with his vocals taking centre stage in Hold The Wood, built around brooding synths and guitar. Rise then features soaring strings throughout the piece, one which is a groover that evokes the soundtrack of a long late-night drive. Smoke & Dust is the only collaboration on the album, featuring a laid-back and focused rap from up-and-coming, Ōtautahi based artist Senzu. With lyrics that mix introspection with social commentary.

The second half of Movement amps up the electronic elements, with Honey being an ambient and orchestral precursor to B., a track named after Berlin, and one which picks up the dark, melodic, and thunderous vibes that the city brings. B. moves into Visions Of Red and The Lightness Inside, with the energy of earlier tracks giving way to a series of uplifting and groove-laden tracks all made for the dancefloor. The album closes with The Abundant Garden, a track which is best described by Harry himself:

“As the album draws to a close, I decided to bring it back to the roots of my musical journey. Within the concept of the album, you walk out of the house and into the garden. This song is told from the perspective of the garden, and it’s a story of how it can provide us with all we need and essentially is a love song to nature and to those we choose to enjoy it with.”

Across 10 tracks, Movement is an album which has been created as one piece of work, and combines years of experience and growth in Harry Charles as both a producer and musician. Active as a producer/DJ and session musician, the release is Harry’s first in over two years, and one which shows his evolution as an artist. Bringing a style all his own, Movement invites listeners into a musical world of Harry’s creation.