We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Harrison White. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Harrison below.

Harrison, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today Can you talk to us about how you learned to do what you do?

I’m a completely self-taught artist. From music production to animation, I figured out what to do and how to do it almost entirely on my own. I am proud of that fact, sure, but I really wish I had made more of an effort to find more formal mentors.

I had to learn by doing–and failing–which is much more time consuming, but once I reached a certain threshold, I was able to work with artists who were better than me. Once that happened, my rate of improvement accelerated exponentially.

I’d say the most important skill I’ve learned is how to tell when something is finished. As an artist, it’s so easy to obsess over details, question choices, and want to revise things to death. Knowing where to stop and when to move on is crucial to growing. You’ll learn much more finishing 3 projects than you will “perfecting” one in the same amount of time.

My biggest obstacle has been finding people to work with.. It’s great working on your own passion projects, but that doesn’t really help build a diverse resume. I like and make songs of varying genres, but I don’t want the only thing I have to show a potential client, to be my own songs.

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.

I practice all sorts of disciplines, from carpentry, to graphic design, to music production, but I’ll just keep this about music.

I grew up playing bass guitar and singing, and after years of playing in bands, I realized I had virtually nothing to show for it but some mediocre phone recordings. I was never able to afford time at a professional recording studio, so I took advantage of the evermore accessible art of home recording. After several MORE years of trial and error, gear acquisition, study, and practice, I finally got to a place professionally where I felt confident to rent a studio space and begin recording, producing and mixing other musicians.

Thus, COZY ROOM RECORDING was born! I think what I’m most proud of about this feat is:
1. I didn’t and haven’t given up and
2. How knowledgeable I’ve become without even realizing it. There’s so much less guess work nowadays and it feels good knowing how to answer a client’s question as well as being confident in that answer.

I’m not a typical producer… I really don’t enjoy conventional modern music as much as someone trying to make a living with music probably should. So instead of making digitally produced, let’s say…stuff, I instead try and work with bands and also employ a hybrid method, involving computers AND analog recorders like reel-to-reel tape machines and cassette decks. Songs becomes sacred when you can’t save takes, edit to perfection or add unlimited overdubs. You figure out what a song does and doesn’t need as the track count dwindles. Limitations force creativity, where as the endless possibilities of digital recording often cause option paralysis. Implementing both methods makes for a more heart-felt, believable outcome, while still allowing for that modern sheen fans have become accustomed to.

Aside from all of that, I’m a very creative and driven individual. I don’t have interest in making music people have already heard, so I experiment as often as I can and work hard to discover unique approaches to an otherwise streamlined process. For me, music is about self-expression, so I see little value in copying the modern-music zeitgeist; I’d rather be part of its evolution.

In your view, what can society to do to best support artists, creatives and a thriving creative ecosystem?

SUPPORT YOUR FRIENDS. I don’t why this is, but for whatever crazy reason, friends seem to be the single worst supporters. Like and share posts, go to the show, add the song to your playlist. Stop waiting for your buddy’s band to get popular to start expressing interest. Not only is the lack of support noticeable, it’s a well-known fact and running joke amongst musicians that friends are not fans. It’s ironic and disheartening that those who can help the most, care the least. Acknowledge the work those close to you are putting in to make their dreams a reality because the likelihood is that they’re struggling day-to-day to stay motivated and your support means so much more than you think it does.

What do you think is the goal or mission that drives your creative journey?

My goal is to revive the humanity in music. So much of what you hear on the radio, whether it be country or electro-pop, is pitch corrected, quantized, and pasted together to the point where it may as well have been created by AI. The “we can fix that in post” mentality has gotten so out of control that music is losing its credibility and value. Why pay for music when anyone can sound great with a bit of editing, and every live show consists of a singer and prerecorded instrumentals? I strongly believe that the general population will get tired of automated perfection and will once again long for the spontaneity and imperfection that made music so undeniably human.

Contact Info:

• Website: Harrisontwhitedesign.portfoliobox.net
• Instagram: https://Instagram.com/tallmccartneymusic
• Youtube: https://youtu.be/a1RMTLCptJo?si=GPRYU3f130VqNyej
• Other: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/4kcEt3jbr2CYJexXTA11dh?si=hklzJ22aRa2dTONT5_Y0AA&pi=u-bVx4xE3jTPmQ https://TikTok.com/tallmccartneymusic https://Instagram.com/archerxvalentine

Image Credits
Jeremy Bauer Anthony Braun Nick Bastian Aeson Rose Josh Larson