We were lucky to catch up with Harry Mo recently and have shared our conversation below.

Alright, Harry thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. How did you learn to do what you do? Knowing what you know now, what could you have done to speed up your learning process? What skills do you think were most essential? What obstacles stood in the way of learning more?

I write songs, sing, play keyboards, guitar and drums and produce music. Singing came first. I learned singing at primary school and church choir and continue to learn and grow vocally as a professional. Keyboards, I started playing in my early 20s when I was an elementary school teacher and received a small Casio keyboard with programmed beats as gift from then girlfriend. The guitar, I picked up way later around 2000 when I was working with Boom Shaka in Los Angeles. Playing hand drums was natural to most of us youths growing up in a former Runaway Slave village of Morne Jaune, Dominica.

Where I grew up we were not fully exposed to nor did we have musical instruments readily available for us to learn and play. Instruments were rare so we sang and made hand drums. I was nineteen years old when electricity came to my part of the island so were strictly acoustic for a long time. I wish I had learned to play instruments at a younger age.

I was able to start my first band Mountain Reggae, in Colorado Springs because I could play keyboards and lead sing. Did that for many years but now I mostly perform with the guitar. They are all essential skills to be blessed with but being able to sing in tune and the ability to hold a beat in time are quite critical.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

I have produced and recorded six full length albums. The first one Run Away Slave in 2003 in Los Angeles. The next three Back To Africa, On My Way and Roots and Lovers on St. Croix, Virgin Islands and the two most recents Thank You Jamaica and I Am Rastafari in Colorado. I also have several singles and collaborations with other artists.

Born and raised on the Eastern Caribbean island of Dominica. Moved to The USVI in 1990 where I joined the US Army a few months later. Stayed in Colorado after military service and started a band while attending Colorado Tech University. Moved to California in 1999 to work and travel with Boom Shaka reggae band.

Through music I have travelled all over the US and many countries around on Earth. That along with the love, respect and support that I receive from music lovers worldwide is something that I am proud of, coming from a small island village.

What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?

One of the most rewarding things to me as an artist is the feeling that come with the realization that my music/lyrics are inspiring and brings comfort to some. It’s awesome when you meet someone who knows your tunes and tell you how it makes them feel.

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

To support artists and creatives best, I think society must buy their products by whatever means possible for them. We need all the moral and material support we can get to fuel the creative process.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/harrymomusic/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/harrymomusic
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=harry+mo https://www.youtube.com/@HarryMoTV
• Soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/harry-mo
• Other: https://artists.spotify.com/c/artist/1QBsHNAQ4zb1HdMNigmlGh/profile/overview

Image Credits

Harry Mo