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Rising indie-pop protagonist Harry Marshall most recent single 'Cost of Living' is a gritty social commentary on the UK’s political and economic climate, with punk-rock earworm instrumentation and witty, unfiltered lyricism.
Harry Marshall calls out politicians with no mercy, reinforcing that “the cost of living shouldn’t cost you living” - the song’s melodious hook. Guitar-heavy with distorted instrumentation and crashing live drums, the track is destined for the mosh pit, while bassline-riffs over spoken-word takes listeners into a different kind of chaos: the House of Commons - “ORDER!!!!”. The politically-relevant track was written by Marshall with long-term collaborator Chad Schlosser who also produced the track.
We had the chance to speak with Harry Marshall to find out more...
Introduce yourself to our readers and tell us a little about you!
"Hey! I’m Harry Marshall, I’m an Australian recording artist from the outback in central Queensland, but I’ve lived in London for around 6 years now and love this city more than anything!"
For anyone that hasn't heard your music before, how would you sum it up in a sentence?
"Music that makes you feel, whatever the song is written about I want it to make you feel what I was feeling at the time and hopefully you can relate and not feel so alone in what you’re feeling."
When did you realise that you were going to pursue music as a career?
"I was 11 when I wrote my first song, it was shit but from that moment I knew I wanted to do this for the rest of my life. I feel very blessed for that, some people go their whole lives trying to find their calling but I’ve always known."
Who would you say are your musical influences? Do you feel that such artists have a direct impact on the music that you release?
"My influences continue to change as I get older and continue to consume music. But at its core I was raised on artists like INXS, Bruce Springsteen, Bob Dylan and Joni Mitchell. These songwriters have always continued to be steadfast and inspire me throughout my 25 years of life."
Your single 'Cost of Living' is out now. Can you tell us a bit about the track?
"Cost of Living is an expression of frustration at the class system in the UK. The idea that one person can be considered to be above another because they were born into a wealthy family or area of the UK. All of this is being exacerbated by the wealthy reaping the financial rewards of a pandemic and a cost of living crisis where the everyday working people of this country are being squeezed for every cent they have in the name of corporate greed."
What is the overall message you want to get across about this single and why is it important to you?
"That people should be born equals, we should all have equal opportunity and that the current system is bullshit. It’s easier to swim when the current is on your side."
How long did the track take to come together, from the initial writing stages to the final product?
"The song was written in about 20 minutes. It was one of the fastest songs I’ve ever written, I think because I feel so strongly about the topic. We then recorded it about 2 months later and it was finished and mastered a month after that. It was one of the fastest songs to come together for me, but with the situation being the way it is there was no time to lose. I felt like the people needed to hear it and it’s already resonated with so many of my fans who are struggling to get by right now."
Do you have a favourite lyric from 'Cost of Living'?
"‘It’s easier to swim when the current is on your side’ or perhaps ‘The honourable gentleman has fed you dishonourable lies, oh please Mr Speaker I’m so sick of losing this fight’,
I think both these lines really display the topic of the song so well."
You've been garnering support from influential tastemakers and growing a solid fanbase from your previous releases! Is there ever an element of pressure when it comes to releasing a new track, especially with a strong message?
"There’s always a pressure, but I feel like that’s put on myself by myself. In an industry where 10,000 songs are uploaded to Spotify a day, it’s easy to beat yourself up about not getting a playlist, or a viral video, or millions of streams. But art is not about the numbers, it’s about saying what you want to say in a way that make people want to listen and doing that earnestly. I need to remind myself of that sometimes."
What can we expect to see from you in the rest of the year?
"Shows. I’ve had to sacrifice being on stage to make this record, but the record’s done now and you better believe I’ll be getting back on stage now in a big way."
The exciting new era is set to welcome more memorable live moments, and cement Harry Marshall as one to watch for 2023 and beyond. He has an upcoming live show at Bush Hall on September 14th 2023.
'Cost of Living' is out now.
Listen HERE
Buy tickets HERE @harrymarshallmusic
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