ROSS HARDING is a Blues Rock Musician from Johannesburg, South Africa.
As a songwriter and performing artist, he personifies rich, versatile vocal abilities with expert guitar knowledge, and has gained industry recognition for his command of blues and rock music, reminiscent of the classic rock, grunge & blues artists of the past.
“And ultimately, that’s what Harding has done so well on his debut solo EP – he’s found himself a sound that’s full of emotion, passion and angst, but more importantly, one that celebrates the memory of rock music. “ (TEXX & THE CITY 2022).
In 2017 Harding formed the blues rock band, BLACK HARBOUR BLUES, and has made local and international progress performing, touring, and recording with the band.
Notable performances include a headline slot at the Drakensberg’s WHITE MOUNTAIN FESTIVAL, Main Stage at 2014's RAMFEST with Biffy Clyro, Trivium, Fouls and Killswitch Engage, countless local festivals, an acoustic international tour to Italy, and many independent shows throughout South Africa.
In 2018 Harding and Hughes hosted a sold out "HOUSE OF BLUES" show, which included some of South Africa’s top blues musicians - Andre Kriel (Black Cat Bones), Pepi Dimevski (Gunshot Blue), Richard Bruyns and others.
Ross Harding has supported major South African artists like DAN PATLANSKY, FOKOFPOLISIEKAR, THE NARROW, and PRIME CIRCLE and is able to enchant all kinds of audiences.
Performing both as a solo acoustic artist and with a band, Harding is able to captivate audiences with his vocal prowess and acoustic guitar accompaniment, while his trio band boasts mastery of the blues, classic rock styles, and original music.
His debut solo record, REST & RESURRECTION, was released in early 2022 and has seen local and international recognition, with a follow up EP, called CHAPTER II on its way, including a music video that was sponsored by MTN.
Performances have included two Cape Town tours, with shows at the DAISY JONES Bar Stellenbosch and SABC’s ESPRESSO TV, as well as independent club shows throughout South Africa, with live recordings at DISCOVRTV Johannesburg and MIX FM.
Thank you for taking this interview! How has the New Year been for you so far as an artist Hi there! Thank you very much for reaching out! So far so good. I’ve been busy with all kinds of musical endeavours, so feeling good and grateful for that. Can you tell us how you've transformed from the beginning to now as an artist? I think I’d need an entire book to write that down, haha!
It’s an ever-changing, ongoing process. I believe that being an artist means constant transformation. Striving to be better, create more, create music that is constantly improving in its nature. The work is never done. As my influences ebb and flow, as I mature as a man, that all influences how I create and what I create. How did you come up with your latest project? It originated in infancy a few years ago. Essentially I wanted to make something that felt really natural to how I write music. That’s the crux of why I decided to work on a solo project - I wanted to really indulge and dig into my own creative process, and write music that portrayed that. Some songs were brand new, some had been with me for a longer time, and I needed to bring it all together. I feel like I’ve been able to get that out of my system now, more or less. I’m looking to the future, to go down some different creative passages. Where are you from originally? Johannesburg, South Africa Where do you live now? Still in Johannesburg :) Do you think where you live impacts how your music is made? I think where a person comes will certainly influence their art.
Personally, perhaps not the city I live in but perhaps just more from a psychological perspective. What was the inspiration to make music your career? I started learning to play guitar at about age 11, and that was pretty much it. I was obsess with rock music. I really decided then that my life would be about music. How do you want to shape your career? I set certain goals and ambitions, but prefer allowing things to unfold as they need to. I’m not beholden to any opinions, any judgment from the outside. The fact that people love my music is an incredible thing that I am truly grateful for, and I will continue to create to the best of my ability. Do you work on a tight timeline always or do you go with the flow when it comes to your music? As far as the business side goes, I work to timelines, deadlines. Creativity doesn’t function for me under those rules, so there’s a stark contrast in the answer to that question, really. How did your latest title of your music come to be? It seemed to capture the crux of certain lyrical themes and contextual ideas in the EP.
It’s actually a bit tongue-in-cheek, but more so on a personal level that I haven’t really shared with the outside.
I prefer it that way. There are little hidden things in all of my lyrics that I will probably never share with anyone.
Keeps a certain level of ownership and mystery for me, over my own music. Once it’s released to the public, the artist loses a bit of that very personal connection with the music because you have to let it go in order to be heard and enjoyed by others. Is it hard to let go of the music when it is done? I think my previous response outlines this notion a bit. I don’t find it difficult per se. It’s more about just letting it go and realising it has to be let go so that audiences can bond with it. Do you feel an emotional attachment to your music? Absolutely. How would you describe your music in one word to someone who hasn't listened to it yet? Emotive Where do they go to listen NOW? Just check out Ross Harding on any of the major platforms What has been the best fan reaction to your music? It still feels so crazy to get responses from international audiences. I think it’s amazing. Is there anything exciting coming up for you? Stay tuned - new EP coming soon, music videos, musical projects, tours. I’m really excited about all of it! Are you performing the song anywhere LIVE? Got some shows in South Africa at the moment, yes. Give us all your socials and links so fans can link up with you! Everything you need here : www.rosshardingmusic.com