On the lead-up to their homecoming Christmas gig at Leicester’s O2 Academy, our man-in-the-field, Thomas Needham catches up with Hard Life:
“What prompted you to return to your home town for a Christmas gig at O2 Academy? Do you feel as though you’re coming full circle with this homecoming gig?”
The O2 Academy is a special venue for us. We have played there at every stage of our journey. Coming home at Christmas feels natural. It feels like seeing the extended family again. There is definitely a sense of coming full circle.
“What is your advice to aspiring bands and artists who want to break into the mainstream music industry? When did you realise you ‘made it’? What do you see as the biggest challenge facing local artists today?”
Focus on your own voice. Do not try to chase trends or force your music into something it is not. The biggest challenge now is the amount of noise online. It can make you feel invisible. The only way through that is honesty and consistency. Leicester might feel off the beaten track sometimes, but that can actually give you character.
“What is the biggest struggle you’ve found as a group who’ve become mainstream? Is there anything about the industry you wish you could change or something you’d like to see change in the future?”
Balancing everything. People think success makes life easier, but it often becomes more intense. You have to protect your head and make sure you do not lose sight of why you started making music.
I would like to see less obsession with instant numbers and more faith in slow growth. Some of the best music takes time to land, but the industry can be impatient.
“Where do you think you’d be today without Hard Life? What would you be doing instead?”
Probably doing something creative but with far less direction. Maybe something in film or design. I would definitely be looking for an outlet, but I do not think I would be as fulfilled.
“Where would you recommend new listeners start? With what was widely branded by the media as a ‘comeback’, do you feel as though you’ve had a clean break from your time as ‘Easy Life’? What do you think it is about Hard Life’s music in particular that has such wide, long-standing appeal?”
Start with the more recent releases because that is where we are emotionally. The past is still part of our story, but Hard Life feels like the next chapter. It has distance from Easy Life, but the roots are still there.
People connect with the stories. We write about everyday feelings, the things everyone goes through but does not always say out loud. There is a mixture of lightness and weight in the songs, which people seem to relate to.
“What is one song you wish you’d written and why?”
Someone Great by LCD Soundsystem. It is simple, clever and emotionally sharp. It says a lot without trying too hard. Click here for the official music video.