We recently connected with Aidan Hargis and have shared our conversation below.

Aidan, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. It’s always helpful to hear about times when someone’s had to take a risk – how did they think through the decision, why did they take the risk, and what ended up happening. We’d love to hear about a risk you’ve taken.

During COVID, our band was unable to practice due to multiple key members being high risk for COVID. During this time, I experienced severe writers block and was unable to pen any new songs. Once we had our first show back, we decided to radically shift sound and lineup, and basically reboot the band. So late in the existence of Conway, this is a big risk we’re taking, but ultimately I think it’s worth it.

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

My name is Aidan Hargis, and I’m the founder of a band called Conway. I started playing music when I was six, writing when I was ten, and playing live since I turned fourteen. I came up with the idea for Conway while still in college in 2017, after a previous project fell apart. I conceived the idea as a mixture of a band and solo project, writing music that could appeal to as many people as possible, while still staying true to my core musical influences and values. I told myself that this was the end of starting and attempting to keep afloat new projects with new people, this was the one. What sets me apart from other creators is the totality of the vision I have for this project. To keep everything cohesive, I create the music, steer the direction, think up aesthetics, music videos, image, performance fashion, and beyond. While I do seek out collaboration and encourage honest criticism from people I consult, this allows projects to be created, followed through, and finished with a singular objective.
What you should know about me, and Conway, is that we are set up, ready, and willing to become the next thing selling out a venue near you, and that, more likely that not, you’ll love us

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

I think the main problem facing many creatives right now, especially those working in music, acting, or similar industries, is that the attention economy and social media has made it very hard for artists to rise above the sea of noise and get noticed enough to start monetizing their art. In the case of music, you don’t play shows to get fans anymore, you get fans to play shows. It is extraordinarily difficult to both have the creativity to make art that many people would be captivated by it, and also have the marketing skills to get those people to experience your art in the first place. So, the best thing you can do to support creatives is to be willing to be the first of your friends to support a small artist you’ve never heard of. Go to see their movie, or their show, or their art gallery, drag your friends along, post about them on your personal social media, and overall, be part of the mechanism that allows them to grow. Don’t enjoy them in silence, tell the world how much they mean to you.

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

Ever since I decided to create my own projects, my overall goal was ‘be who my heroes were to me, to as many people as I can.’ Music helped me live, it gave me purpose in life, and it’s my true love. It’s the greatest thing we create as humans, it can make you dance and move in a way no other thing can, or it can make you weep like a sailor’s wife staring at a storm. I made it my life’s mission to live, breathe, and die by music as the ultimate goal of my existence. My heroes were musicians who helped me discover all this, and if my music, performances, and reason for being can do the same for someone out there yet to hear it, I can die happy.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://conwaychicago.bandcamp.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/conwaychicago/
• Facebook: https://facebook.com/conwaychicago
• Linkedin: N/A
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/conwaychicago
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@conway3447
• Yelp: N/A
• Other: TikTok: https://tiktok.com/@conwaychicago Spotify Artist Page: https://open.spotify.com/artist/4nrN4N7a0htQ42yKviMUWq?si=2jcFZUAtTxGiqw3rQ7VCIg

Image Credits
JC3Images Anthony Wilson Images McCleod Media