Curtis Harding
{{short description|American singer and songwriter (born 1979)}}
{{Infobox musical artist
| name = Curtis Harding
| image = File:Curtis Harding - Haldern Pop Festival 2018-4 (cropped).jpg
| image_upright = 1.3
| alt = A man playing guitar
| caption = Harding performing in 2018
| birth_name =
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1979|06|11}}
| genre = Soul
| occupation = {{flatlist|
- Singer-songwriter
- actor
}}
| label = {{flatlist|
}}
| years_active = 2002–present
| instrument = {{flatlist|
- Vocals
- drums
- guitar
- tambourine
}}
| website = {{URL|https://www.curtisharding.com/}}
| birth_place = Saginaw, Michigan, U.S.
}}
Curtis Harding (born June 11, 1979) is an American singer and songwriter. Primarily a soul artist, his "slop 'n' soul" style carries the influence of genres including blues, gospel, psychedelia, R&B, and rock. His first album, Soul Power (2014), was followed by Face Your Fear in 2017, with production from Danger Mouse and Sam Cohen.
Harding was born in Saginaw, Michigan, and his family settled in Atlanta when he was a teenager. He was exposed to music at an early age as his family toured with his mother, who was a gospel singer. In the 2000s, Harding backed CeeLo Green, and he formed the R&B/garage rock band Night Sun in Atlanta with Black Lips members in 2009.
Early life
Harding was born on June 11, 1979,{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/music/artists/3381882a-9e5a-44f9-b383-89759edf1dbd|title=Curtis Harding|publisher=BBC Music|access-date=March 30, 2018}} in Saginaw, Michigan. His father is a mechanic, and his mother, Dorothy,{{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/rock/7942316/curtis-harding-danger-mouse-wednesday-morning-interview|title=Curtis Harding Talks Finally Teaming With Danger Mouse on Soulful Single 'Wednesday Morning Atonement'|last=Kaufman|first=Gil|date=August 31, 2017|access-date=December 8, 2017|magazine=Billboard}} is a gospel singer. He and his five siblings were raised as Mennonites.{{cite web|url=https://www.thetimes.com/culture/music/article/curtis-harding-soul-has-a-sadness-you-need-experience-to-sing-it-kkqkzmb86|title=Curtis Harding: Soul has a sadness, you need experience to sing it|last=Hodgkinson|first=Will|date=November 20, 2017|work=The Times|access-date=December 8, 2017}} They moved to Alabama when he was three, then to Arizona, California, Texas, and other parts of the United States.{{cite web|url=https://www.npr.org/sections/world-cafe/2017/12/20/572309166/curtis-harding-on-world-cafe|title=Curtis Harding On World Cafe|last=Dye|first=David|date=December 20, 2017|access-date=December 24, 2017|work=World Cafe}} His family had no permanent residence until they settled in Atlanta, Georgia, when he was 14.
His mother toured in a van, stopping to sing at churches and work at homeless shelters. Though he originally wanted to play professional sports,{{cite web|url=https://www.ft.com/content/414671b4-cbac-11e7-8536-d321d0d897a3|title=Curtis Harding: sweet soul to savour|last=Hann|first=Michael|date=November 24, 2017|work=Financial Times|access-date=December 8, 2017}} Harding grew up around his mother's music, occasionally joining her on stage as a backing singer until age 15.{{cite web|url=https://www.allmusic.com/artist/curtis-harding-mn0002655939/biography|title=Curtis Harding|last=Deming|first=Mark|publisher=AllMusic|access-date=February 27, 2018}} His family would stay – sometimes for months – at communities with churches of any denomination. Harding's sister, an amateur rapper, introduced him to secular music.
Harding told The Austin Chronicle that growing up around older people – his father is 27 years older than his mother – gave him an early sense of maturity: "My goal when I was a kid was to be an old man. That's what I was around. I wanted to be that old guy sitting on the porch."{{cite web|url=https://www.austinchronicle.com/music/2018-10-05/saturday-acl-fest-2018-interview-curtis-harding/|title=ACL Fest Interview: Curtis Harding|last=Spearnman|first=Kahron|date=October 5, 2018|work=The Austin Chronicle|access-date=October 8, 2018}}
Career
=2000s collaborations=
In Atlanta in the early 2000s, Harding was part of the hip-hop group Proseed. He met singer CeeLo Green while doing promotion for LaFace Records, and he rapped on some songs off Green's 2002 album Cee-Lo Green and His Perfect Imperfections along with several Proseed members. He toured with Green as a backing singer on the 2002 Smokin' Grooves Tour alongside Outkast, Cypress Hill, Lauryn Hill, and The Roots. He also sang on Green's 2010 album The Lady Killer, including co-writing the bonus track "Grand Canyon".{{cite web|url=https://www.creativeloafing.com/article/13076828/curtis-harding-the-independent-musician|title=20 People to Watch - Curtis Harding: The independent musician|last=Radford|first=Chad|date=January 2, 2014|work=Creative Loafing|access-date=February 27, 2018}}
He moved to Toronto in 2008 to reinvigorate his musical creativity. While he was in Canada, he bought a guitar and began writing songs without commercial aspirations.{{cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2015/jun/18/leon-bridges-curtis-harding-the-new-stars-of-classic-soul|title=Leon Bridges and Curtis Harding: the new stars of classic soul|last=Hann|first=Michael|date=June 18, 2015|work=The Guardian|access-date=March 3, 2018}} He returned to Atlanta in 2009 and formed the band Night Sun, which mixes rhythm and blues and garage rock, with guitarist Cole Alexander of Black Lips, performing several shows in East Atlanta and Little Five Points. The band's lineup would grow to consist of Harding (vocals, guitar), Alexander (vocals, bass), drummer Joe Bradley of Black Lips, and Night Beats guitarist Danny Lee Blackwell. In 2013, the seasoned underground rock group recorded the single "No Pressure"/"On My Way" for the indie label Burger Records. Harding co-wrote "I Don't Wanna Go Home" with Jared Swilley originally for the Black Lips' 2014 album Underneath the Rainbow.
=2014–present: Solo studio albums=
Harding spent two weeks at Living Room Studios in Atlanta recording twenty songs in 2014, twelve of which were included on his debut album,{{cite web|url=https://www.spin.com/2014/04/curtis-harding-soul-power-burger-records-interview/|title=Q&A: Curtis Harding Talks Gospel-Fueled Solo Debut 'Soul Power'|last=Jamin|first=Jen|date=April 29, 2014|work=Spin|access-date=December 8, 2017}} titled Soul Power and released by Burger Records on May 6, 2014. The album's reception was generally favorable,{{cite web|url=http://www.metacritic.com/music/soul-power/curtis-harding|title=Soul Power by Curtis Harding|publisher=Metacritic|access-date=February 28, 2018}} with critics noting its fusion of many musical genres.{{cite web|url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/soul-power-mw0002618556|title=Curtis Harding: Soul Power|last=Deming|first=Mark|publisher=AllMusic|access-date=February 28, 2018}} "Keep on Shining" was one of the singles the album produced; he performed the song live on the French talk show C à vous in February 2015.{{cite web|url=https://tv-programme.com/c-a-vous_emission/replay/curtis-harding-quot-keep-on-shining-quot-c-a-vous-18-02-2015_582bdc264fd75|title=Replay: Curtis Harding "Keep on Shining" - C à vous - 18/02/2015|website=TV-programme.com|date=February 19, 2015|access-date=March 3, 2018}}
While at The Growlers' annual Beach Goth festival, Harding met fashion photographer Hedi Slimane. Harding was recruited as the face of Yves Saint Laurent's Paris Music Project for 2015. For the project (in addition to portraits) Slimane produced a video featuring Harding and the song "Next Time" from Soul Power.{{cite web|url=https://www.spin.com/2014/01/saint-laurent-ysl-curtis-harding-model-nsfw-video/|title=Curtis Harding Shreds for Saint Laurent in NSFW 'Next Time' Video|last=Martins|first=Chris|date=January 14, 2014|work=Spin|access-date=March 3, 2018}}{{cite web|url=https://www.highsnobiety.com/2014/01/14/saint-laurent-paris-music-project-starring-curtis-harding/|title=Saint Laurent Paris Music Project starring Curtis Harding|last=Farmer|first=Brian|website=Highsnobiety|date=January 14, 2014|access-date=March 3, 2018}} He also photographed Harding for the album's cover.{{cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2015/jan/15/curtis-harding-soul-power-review|title=Curtis Harding: Soul Power review – well-crafted but over-reverential|last=Jonze|first=Tim|date=January 15, 2015|work=The Guardian|access-date=February 28, 2018}}
His second album, Face Your Fear, was released by Anti- on October 27, 2017. He recorded the album at Danger Mouse's 30th Century Studio in New York City. Face Your Fear spent one week on the Billboard Heatseekers Albums chart at number 21.{{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/artist/curtis-harding/chart-history/tln/|title=Face Your Fear|access-date=December 8, 2017|magazine=Billboard}} NPR Music named the album one of the best ten R&B albums of 2017.{{cite news|url=https://www.npr.org/2017/12/18/571211664/the-10-best-r-b-albums-of-2017|title=The 10 Best R&B Albums Of 2017|last=Powers|first=Ann|newspaper=NPR|date=18 December 2017|publisher=NPR Music|access-date=December 24, 2017}} Music critic Ken Tucker said that Harding's earnestness in the album, tone and emphasis changes, and direct singing suggest both comfort in and knowledge of classic R&B.{{cite web|url=https://www.npr.org/2017/12/25/573481304/face-your-fear-is-the-second-album-from-singer-songwriter-curtis-harding|title=Singer-Songwriter Curtis Harding Drops His Guard On 'Face Your Fear'|last=Tucker|first=Ken|author-link=Ken Tucker|work=Fresh Air|publisher=NPR|access-date=February 27, 2018|date=December 26, 2017}}
Its opening track, "Wednesday Morning Atonement", was produced by Danger Mouse and Sam Cohen. Recorded on a Wednesday morning, the song is about a father missing his children, a metaphor for Harding's time neglecting to record another album. GQ{{'s}} Shakeil Greeley described the album's title track ("Face Your Fear") as "the rare song that could soundtrack a wedding or a funeral, at once celebratory, sad, groovy, and of course, very soulful." Greeley wrote that the mood of the album ranges from classic soul in "On and On" and "Need Your Love" to sadness in "Welcome to My World", with a cinematic psychedelic feel to other songs. Harding performed "Need Your Love" as a guest musician with Stay Human on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert in January 2018.{{cite web|url=https://www.cbs.com/shows/the-late-show-with-stephen-colbert/video/Y5RW6x8bw9yeHtogKnAKWtJmLSM1rRx9/curtis-harding-performs-need-your-love-with-jon-batiste-stay-human/|title=Curtis Harding Performs 'Need Your Love' With Jon Batiste & Stay Human|date=January 31, 2018|publisher=CBS|access-date=March 3, 2018}}
In advance of Harding's support of Lenny Kravitz on tour throughout 2018, Harding released the single "It's Not Over" on June 5.{{cite web|url=https://www.birminghammail.co.uk/whats-on/whats-on-news/who-supporting-lenny-kravitz-2018-14697357|title=Who is supporting Lenny Kravitz on his 2018 tour?|last=Bosley|first=Kirsty|date=June 1, 2018|work=Birmingham Mail|access-date=June 5, 2018}} Clash{{'s}} Robin Murray wrote that the song was "a driven return, a solid return".{{cite web|url=http://www.clashmusic.com/news/listen-curtis-harding-its-not-over|title=Listen: Curtis Harding - 'It's Not Over'|last=Murray|first=Robin|date=June 5, 2018|work=Clash|access-date=June 5, 2018}} In 2019, Harding headlined the finale of Spoleto Festival USA in Charleston, South Carolina.{{cite web|url=https://www.charlestoncitypaper.com/charleston/ahead-of-spoleto-finale-curtis-harding-keeps-it-chill-but-knows-how-to-party/Content?oid=28480499|title=Ahead of Spoleto finale, Curtis Harding keeps it chill (but knows how to party)|last=Lawrence|first=Stratton|date=June 5, 2019|work=Charleston City Paper|access-date=June 9, 2019}}{{cite web|url=https://www.postandcourier.com/spoleto/spoleto-festival-finale-at-new-north-charleston-venue-features-soul/article_379d3c0c-87bb-11e9-85ff-5b632cc7e4d3.html|title=Spoleto Festival finale at new North Charleston venue features soul artist Curtis Harding|last=Zawisza|first=Mike|date=June 8, 2019|work=The Post and Courier|access-date=June 9, 2019}}
Musical style
File:Curtis Harding 13 (25363693415).jpg in 2016]]
Harding describes his genre as "slop 'n' soul", joining soul music with blues, gospel, psychedelia, R&B, and rock.On genre:
- {{cite web|url=https://wtop.com/entertainment/2018/03/qa-curtis-harding-brings-unique-slop-n-soul-to-u-street-music-hall/|title=Q&A: Curtis Harding brings unique 'slop 'n' soul' to U Street Music Hall|last=Fraley|first=Jason|date=March 29, 2018|publisher=WTOP-FM|access-date=July 27, 2018|quote= ... bringing his "slop 'n' soul" style of soul, punk, gospel, psych rock and blues.}}
- {{cite web|url=https://www.portlandmercury.com/music/2018/05/23/20044293/the-21-best-concerts-to-see-in-portland-this-week-may-23-29|title=The 21 Best Concerts to See in Portland This Week: May 23–29|work=The Portland Mercury|date=May 23, 2018|access-date=July 27, 2018|quote= ... subgenre that mishmashes classic soul, gospel, R&B, and psychedelic pop.}}
- {{cite web|url=https://lancasteronline.com/features/entertainment/the-schedule-long-s-park-summer-music-series-announces-lineup/article_5eb0fc8c-4a3d-11e8-af25-4f3f2f2535c0.html|title=The Schedule: Long's Park Summer Music Series announces 2018 lineup|last=Janci|first=Jenelle|date=April 29, 2018|work=LNP|access-date=July 27, 2018|quote=Harding describes his music as "slop 'n' soul," a free-flowing combination of gospel, blues and psychedelic music.}} "Slop" symbolizes Southern culture ("that's what you give to pigs"), and soul represents the music of his youth.{{cite magazine|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/pictures/10-new-artists-you-need-to-know-may-2014-20140514/curtis-harding-0326260|title=10 New Artists You Need to Know: May 2014|last=Grow|first=Kory|date=May 14, 2014|magazine=Rolling Stone|access-date=December 8, 2017}} "Soul is an experience," Harding told GQ magazine in 2017. "It can be in the way you dress, the way you talk, the way you sit down in a chair. It's a feeling that you can translate to someone with whatever you're doing."{{cite web|url=https://www.gq.com/story/curtis-harding|title=Curtis Harding's Psychedelic Soul|last=Greeley|first=Shakeil|date=October 28, 2017|work=GQ|access-date=December 8, 2017}}
His musical style has elements that are not usually found in soul, like vintage synthesizers sounds and a psychedelic feel. Both of his studio albums include soft strings under his "cooing vocals"; on other songs, his "strong, passionate vocal style" moves into the falsetto range with spirited brass blazing.{{cite news|url=https://www.winnipegfreepress.com/arts-and-life/entertainment/music/472015343.html|title=New music: Reviews of this week's CD releases|date=February 1, 2018|last=DeLuca|first=Dan|access-date=February 27, 2018|work=Winnipeg Free Press}} The Orlando Weekly writes: {{blockquote|Harding's take on soul can be more than a little garage-minded. Live, however, his band’s grooves were lusciously classic, though broadened by some rock kick and psych expansion. Like a great old soul record, the crack quintet were radiant from the jump. With deep guitars, beefy rhythm section and plush keys and sax, this is a unit built for sonorousness. But making it all smolder is Harding’s rich voice, an athletic balance of young vigor and sweet wear. The sum total is a thing of velvet and muscle.{{cite web|url=https://www.orlandoweekly.com/Blogs/archives/2018/04/12/curtis-hardings-performance-is-a-look-at-the-future-of-classic-soul|title=Curtis Harding's performance is a look at the future of classic soul|last=Le-Huu|first=Bao|date=April 12, 2018|work=Orlando Weekly|access-date=May 8, 2018|archive-date=May 9, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180509150956/https://www.orlandoweekly.com/Blogs/archives/2018/04/12/curtis-hardings-performance-is-a-look-at-the-future-of-classic-soul|url-status=dead}}}}
In addition to his mother, Harding has said that his influences include Mahalia Jackson, MC Lyte, Bob Dylan, Albert King, the Everly Brothers, and Ronnie Dyson.{{cite web|url=http://www.anti.com/press/curtis-harding-bio-2017/|title=Curtis Harding Bio (2017)|publisher=Anti-|date=September 21, 2017|access-date=March 3, 2018}}{{cite web|url=https://www.theringer.com/music/2017/10/31/16577990/curtis-harding-face-your-fear-soul-album-review|title=Curtis Harding Faces His Fears With Soul|last=Peters|first=Micah|date=October 31, 2017|work=The Ringer|access-date=December 8, 2017}} In 2015, Michael Hann of The Guardian cited Harding and Leon Bridges as "the new stars of classic soul" with other modern recording artists having brought the genre back into mainstream culture. Harding believes that soul's popularity is simply cyclical, and that its resurgence is "just the way people are."
Discography
=Studio albums=
=Singles=
=Music videos=
=Guest appearances=
| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;"
|+ List of non-single guest appearances, with other performing artists, showing year released and album name ! scope="col" style="width:24em;" | Title ! scope="col" | Year ! scope="col" style="width:20em;" | Album |
| scope="row" | "I Can't Love You"{{cite AV media notes|title=We Invented Cool|date=February 27, 2012|others=We Invented Cool}} {{small|(We Invented Cool featuring Curtis Harding)}} | 2012 | We Invented Cool |
|---|
| scope="row" | "Too Late"{{cite web|url=https://www.pastemagazine.com/articles/2015/05/guantanamo-baywatch-darlingits-too-late-review.html|title=Guantanamo Baywatch: Darling...It's Too Late Review|last=Prado|first=Ryan J.|date=May 12, 2015|work=Paste|access-date=March 24, 2018}} {{small|(Guantanamo Baywatch featuring Curtis Harding)}} | 2015 | Darling... It's Too Late |
| scope="row" | "Me, You, And the Planet Too"{{cite AV media notes|title=The 4th Side of the Eternal Triangle|date=June 24, 2016|others=The Difference Machine|publisher=Psych Army Intergalactic}} {{small|(The Difference Machine featuring Curtis Harding)}} | 2016 | The 4th Side of the Eternal Triangle |
| scope="row" | "Me, You, And the Planet Too" [Chris Hunt Remix] {{cite AV media notes|title=Triangle Schemes|date=September 1, 2017|others=The Difference Machine|publisher=Psych Army Intergalactic}} {{small|(The Difference Machine featuring Curtis Harding)}} | 2017 | Triangle Schemes |
| “Surrender” (Rüfüs Du Sol feat. Curtis Harding)
|2021 |Surrender |
Acting
Harding appears in the third season of Sundance TV drama Hap and Leonard, playing infamous blues musician L.C. Soothe.{{cite web|url=http://www.denofgeek.com/us/tv/hap-and-leonard/271524/hap-and-leonard-season-3-episode-1-the-two-bear-mambo-review|title=Hap and Leonard Season 3 Episode 1: The Two-Bear Mambo Review|work=Den of Geek!|last=Zapanta|first=David S.E.|date=March 8, 2018|access-date=March 11, 2018}} The season was filmed in late September 2017 in Cedartown, Georgia, and began airing March 7, 2018.{{cite web|url=https://www.pressreader.com/usa/the-standard-journal/20171004/282046212302804|title=Lights, camera, action! In downtown Cedartown for "Hap and Leonard."|work=The Standard Journal|via=PressReader|date=October 4, 2017|access-date=March 3, 2018}} {{cite web|url=http://www.northwestgeorgianews.com/polk_standard_journal/news/local/hap-and-leonard-filming-kicks-off-in-cedartown-today/article_2579bfb8-a208-11e7-ab4b-0b75812b11c2.html|title="Hap and Leonard" filming kicks off in Cedartown today|work=The Standard Journal|date=September 25, 2017|access-date=March 3, 2018}}
| class="wikitable sortable"
|+ Television |
| Year
! Title ! Role ! class="unsortable" | {{abbr|Ref.|Reference}} |
|---|
| 2018
| L.C. Soothe |
References
{{Reflist}}
Further reading
- {{cite web|url=https://www.gq.com/story/curtis-harding|title=Curtis Harding's Psychedelic Soul|last=Greeley|first=Shakeil|date=October 28, 2017|work=GQ}}
- {{cite web|url=https://www.austinchronicle.com/daily/music/2018-10-07/acl-live-review-curtis-harding/|title=ACL Live Review: Curtis Harding – Georgia soulman masterfully transcends classic influences|last=Spearman|first=Kahron|date=October 7, 2018|work=The Austin Chronicle}}
External links
{{Commons category|Curtis Harding}}
- {{Official website|https://www.curtisharding.com/}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Harding, Curtis}}
Category:African-American male singer-songwriters
Category:American male singer-songwriters
Category:African-American record producers
Category:Singer-songwriters from Michigan
Category:Record producers from Michigan
Category:Record producers from Georgia (U.S. state)
Category:Male actors from Atlanta
Category:21st-century African-American male singers