For some musicians, it’s a cut-and-dry struggle of the loop: form a band, write a song, play a small gig, write another song, record said song, struggle to get plays and radio airtime, play more gigs – then that fizzling sensation of an irritating lack of traction. But not for Sheffield-based singer-songwriter Harri Larkin. Since moving from her hometown of Cornwall, frontwoman Harri and her band have been steadily moving up, being featured on BBC Introducing, Radio X and opening up the Tramlines main stage for giants like Sam Fender, Declan McKenna and The Snuts.
Ahead of their upcoming EP launch show at Sidney & Matilda, Harri and co are showcasing their latest single, ‘Too Close to the Sun’. I had a chat with Harri about the days that led her here, what the music means to her and what else lies ahead for the band.
So what’s the story behind the new single? Where’d it all come from?
So the song is really all about my best friend, Robbie – it’s a love letter, really. He died very suddenly and tragically in October 2023. We were best mates all through college, when I was writing a lot of this music, and we used to dream big – huge dreams of what we would be. He was the frontman of this ska band called Skata Tones – they supported bands like Madness and the Dub Pistols – they were really huge to me at the time. When I found out what happened to him, it sent me on a huge spiral and for two months it was pretty touch and go. I started to drink badly, But in the last eight months, I got sober, and I did it not just for me but for Robbie. The song is really all about me processing that grief and loss and getting out of that downward spiral. When I wrote it, it really brought me back out of it. It’s emotionally charged, for sure.
What sort of thinking went into creating the EP sonically? Was there a process or goals you had in mind?
It’s funny really – you’ll listen to it and think, wow, there’s a lot of different music and genres in there. It’s hard to explain. What I wanted to make was quite intricate, authentic and emotive. But because there’s no binary or conditions of genre, you’ll hear something that’s quite jazzy and upbeat with some trumpets and brass, but then you’ve got quite a bit more of a dark and grungy type of thing. I really feel that the emotion and feeling that you get from it is all there. That’s what I wanted to tie it all together – more than genre or style. So even though there might be a sad feeling or subject, I wanted to bring out some joy, some hope.
You’ve mentioned that you write a lot solo – what’s the process of bringing that to the band?
It was always solo, until I met Tom Wylie, our lead guitarist. He’s like the Slash to my Axl Rose. I never thought that someone else could change me so much and change the music so much. He’s really incredible, but so is the drummer, Danton Laromani. The musicians I work with are just at such a different level – they’ve just blown me away. And so there’s a lot of trust in there, because the songs are always my babies. I’ll write the lyrics and have an idea fully formed, but they’ll come back with harmonies and drums and it just turns out the idea I had was just the base for what we do. Tom helps with so much, Danton’s got genius ideas and Abby Middleton, the bassist, is just amazing.
So with the EP launch around the corner, what are you most excited or maybe nervous about? What do you want people to take away from it?
I really want people to just listen to the songs and really feel them – that’s all I really care about – and just for them to basically feel hopeful from them, but also understand. That’s what I felt like I was lacking when I was really lost and stuff. I had problems, I fought through them and that was massive for me. If I can give someone that bit of hope and understanding, then that can mean the world to someone. It changed me, and I hope it can change them.
Too Close To The Sun is out now, with all profits going to the charity Addiction Family Support. Harri Larkin will launch new EP Slowburn at Sidney & Matilda on 24 May, tickets available now at harrilarkin.com.
