“It’s the guy from The Voice! He’s good!” said my friend when Howard came up on stage at the Barfly, in Camden. I haven’t watched the show in some time, don’t always have the patience for it, but soon enough I found out that my mate was right. However, how did I find out about him then?
By being curious, and wanting to hear Robbie Boyd play with his band as well. Not sure if you remember my interview with him (if not, it can be found here), but up to that point I had only heard Robbie in acoustic shows. So as soon as I find out he was planning a full show I gathered some people and went for it! And boy ain’t I glad I did!
Firstly, because the amazing energy Robbie has when singing gets multiplied when he plays with his full band, it’s a positive vibe that surrounds them, even if they sing about a breakup. And it was as amazing as I mentioned I believed it would be in my previous article. They played mostly new songs, but also threw in a few from the first album, and everyone joined them when possible, by singing along or dancing. Robbie’s songs yet again proved there is something vivaciously enthusiastic about them. The show delivered was one to make you feel ready to succeed in anything, and as with Howard, you can see when someone is truly passionate and in love with what they are doing.
Secondly, because I got to discover Howard and to experience a different type of good music. Howard’s music is intense and spirited, but in a more vehement way. With a smaller band, Howard was one of the supporting acts that made sure the audience is prepared for the main band. Sometimes people don’t realise how important the support bands can be, and sometimes people skip them and only come in later on. The audience doesn’t always see how they have the power to influence the mood you are in when the main act comes on stage. Howard, Joe and Damon did it exceptionally and presented us with an united trio who can stick to the initially plan, but also improvise if need be. And that involves listening to your audience, which Howard did wonderfully.
The day after the show, I met with Howard and had a lovely over lunch chat. I discovered a warm person, that sees the bigger picture but knows the devil is in details. I met a musician willing to be patient, who carries his heart on his sleeve and who is out there, “fighting” the good fight. As a short intro, in case you might not know, Howard Rose is a up an comer musician, originally from the Midlands, who is following his dream: to make good music, the kind that endures the harshness of time and inspires us to feel.
I think a huge amount of self-motivation is important in choosing any artistic path and that only the truly passionate people manage to make it work. Why did you choose music?
I think when it comes to pursuing a career in the arts there is no clear structure. You can’t think “If I do this for 2 years, I can advance to this position. Next I can grow into this one.”, but I couldn’t do anything else. I love sharing this with people, and making them feel something. Personally, I want to be able to create for someone the effect music has on me and how it makes me feel: to get goose bumps when connecting with something. That’s the aim! And to try to be honest. Honesty is the thing I search for most in music. This honesty about different things that have happened in your life, and being able to draw from that.
I started playing guitar when I was about 7 or 8 years old. Was also into rugby quite a lot at that age. And skateboarding until about 12. But I can’t say there was a great deal of music in the household, just regular listening. It was when I was on a family holiday that I realised that music was what I wanted to do. I heard a song of a band called Del Amitri and the song is called Roll to Me and I just couldn’t stop singing it. And the way it made me feel was like nothing I felt before. And that’s how it started.
Are you doing it full time now? Because I understood you were also teaching at one point?
I moved to Manchester about 4 years ago and before that I was kind of mostly teaching, but was doing some band stuff as well. I’ve been working with various band for about 15 years now. Just chasing the dream some way or another. When I moved, we were hoping the band would sustain us, but eventually the guys picked up some part time jobs and I started teaching a bit.
Do you have a set band? Last night you played with 2 people.
When I was making the first EP I was working with a much bigger band, a 6 piece. But this tour we are doing it like a trio. The plan would probably be to keep it in this format, maybe a 4 piece eventually, but the core signature sound would be in this format. We are still working out arrangements because we’ve been only working together, as a trio, since mid-January. So we are still developing and still testing out things. And it’s so much fun! And it’s not as hard to manage as it is with a bigger band, which means I can relax a lot more.
Also, the projects are under my name, but we are also thinking of maybe changing the name. We are still figuring things out at the moment.
How did you find them?
I worked with Joe, the bass player, for the last 10 years.
But our drummer, Damon, we only picked him up in January. I’ve known him for a while, and we always talked about doing stuff together, but never got around to it. And then I moved away and after that back in the Midlands somewhere last year and we reconnected.
You’ve been touring a bit around the UK and still have 2-3 gigs left, what feedback have you gotten up to this point?
We’ve been touring so much over February, all over the country and a bit in London. I love touring because it’s the dream job and it is fun driving around with the guys. And also have a gig mid-March in central London.
The responses have been amazing. It’s always hard to tell how it’s going to be like, how the show will go and you have to tailor your songs and sounds so that is right for the venue and the audience you are playing for. That is a good challenge and I like doing it.
Do you write your own songs?
Yes. With some of the new ones I bring in the song and the three of us work on it together. But as far as lyrics go, yes, I write them. However with Joe and Damon it feels more like a collaborative effort, they have more creative and artistic control over their parts and it works. I still set a direction for the song, but the final result has us all fully involved.
When I was growing up I was trying to write in metaphors and be clever about it, but it shouldn’t be like that. The writing should be simple, straight forward, there’s no need to confuse people. Also when I was younger I wanted something to happen right away, but now, as long as the material is good and I’m honest and it’s documented, and it’s there, I’m absolutely happy with it. I just think that maybe good things will stick around and maybe someday someone will find that and it will mean something to them.
Tell me a bit about The Voice experience. How was it, how much did it change your approach to music?
It gave me the opportunity to invest more in music, to support me in a way with doing great music, which was the goal. That was when I dropped the teaching a bit. I released the record, did a tour after that and got a new booking agent, who now is my manager. And I also had a single lunch in December with Luke Oldfield, the son of Mike Oldfield.
I knew what I wanted to get out of the show. I was doing an open mic and I got a phone next day asking me if I would be interested in being part of the show. So I thought I might as well try and see how we get on. But I didn’t take it too seriously, didn’t invest too much into it, I just had fun with it. I wanted to make sure that the performances are ones that I can stand by and be proud of, but it was more about having a good time and meeting new people. And if I wouldn’t have done it, I wouldn’t have met my manager, the label I am working with, because how would they have seen me?
What is up next for you?
I think about music constantly. Like constantly! I enjoy practicing writing and thinking how I can make a line better. Something I was thinking about recently is being too old to die young.
On a more practical side, we will release a new record, which should be out in October.
If you are in London on the 15th of March, details about Howard’s show can be found here. He’s playing at Ronnie Scott’s, a very nice and well known London location. I’ll be there, so come say hi if around! Also, if you want to keep up to date with his future releases or shows, make sure to follow him on Facebook or Twitter. You will definitely be happy you did!
