We had a chance to talk to the Brighton-based punk-rock band Harker about their new music release “Lights Go Out”. A first-rate anthem to rage to, “Lights Go Out” is pure electric guitar joy. Music for fans of Parquet Courts and Blink 182, Harker is the band you’ve got to experience live. You can feel the energy of the crowd singing along to the chorus, and see feet jumping in rhythm, all while the band passionately delivers their message about the ultra-conservative side of the UK political scene. When you’re fed up with the propaganda, crank up “Lights Go Out” and you’ll feel a whole lot better afterward. We’ve posted the link to the official YouTube video for “Lights Go Out” after the interview, check it out!
Switch Bitch Noise:
Hey Harker!! We love the message in “Lights Go Out”. Tell us more about how you decided to release a song with the “reminder that the anti-fascist movement never sleeps”. Was there a particular incident that sparked the song to be written?
MARK: The UK is currently right-wing in terms of government, politics, and society. Yet there’s a huge population that stands against the deportation of migrants, supporting trans rights, freedom for Palestine – this list goes on.
Lights was written as a rallying cry for anyone who resonates with the anti-racist movement and believes in a better quality of life for anyone living.
The song also tackles spin celebrities like Joe Rogan, Andrew Tate, Piers Morgan, etc who stoke the fire without thinking of the consequences.
SBN: We certainly feel that here in the US. Thank you for making music to help send this message out.
Please introduce us to the members of the band and let us know of any quirky habits they have.
LOUIS: we have Mark on lead vocals and guitar, Matt on Drums, Phoebe and bass, and me on guitar.
SBN: How did “Lights Go Out” come about? Do you write music on the road, or do you write music separately, come together, and then record an entire EP at once?
MATT: Mark is the main songwriter, and so far most songs have come from ideas/parts/demos that Mark has written. We then develop these ideas together in a room, a couple of newer songs were written by Phoebe/Louis and more ideas are starting to pop up from all 4 of us. In the studio, we’ll either do a couple of songs at a time or a full album depending on how many songs we have.
MARK: The idea came out of the bass riff in the verse, and built from there. All four singles from this year were written at separate times over the last two years, and thought they didn’t feel like ‘album’ tracks so to speak.
Since COVID we were mostly inactive due to previous members’ unwillingness to commit, so once Louis jumped on board we decided it was probably the better idea to start up with a series of singles to gradually get the ball rolling again.
4) Tell us about touring in Japan, that must have been a trip!
MARK: We were invited over by the label that releases our records over there Fixing A Hole. Amazing experience, with warm reception, very busy shows, and just a different feel to live music out there.
MATT: Touring Japan was insanely fun and such an amazing experience, I still can’t believe it happened! Our friend Kei (Fixing A Hole Records) organized the whole thing and drove us around, we played a week’s worth of shows and did some sightseeing. The response we had was so great, we got to meet loads of nice people and play with great bands. Would love to do it again!
I actually put together a little video of the tour, it’s on YouTube and is titled ‘Saiko Candy’.
5) A lot of bands are skipping the demo. Do you demo out your songs and then decide what cuts?
MARK: It used to be straight from the demo I’ve recorded to practice then studio.
Now it’s first demo, work out as a band, second demo, work on it again, third demo, etc etc, and then rinse and repeat until it’s right and ready for the studio.
6) Who would be your rock legend favorites that inspired you the most? We hear so many decades of rock in your music. Dare we say we hear a little 80’s metal? Or should we not tell you that?
MATT: We have a LOAD of influences, I know Mark grew up listening to Bruce Springsteen. There’s a lot of 90s/early 00s rock/punk/emo/shoegaze, and Dischord Records is a big influence on us. In terms of my inspiration for the band, I would say Touché Amoré, Against Me! and Alkaline Trio are up there. 80s metal?? That’s a first but I guess we’ll take it!
MARK: Iron Maiden was my favorite band when I was 12, and they’re still consistently excellent.
LOUIS: All sorts of stuff but guitar playing wise I’m influenced by a lot of post-punk/post-hardcore guitar bands. Bands like Fugazi, The Smiths, Joy Divsion. Things that are anti-rock guitar hero. As a band, I think we all have our specialist area but there is shared love of punk rock and pop songwriting.
7) If you had ten minutes to grab your favorite 5 vinyl records from the Rough Trade store- What would they be?
MARK:
- Against Me – As The Eternal Cowboy
- Wire – Pink Flag
- Bruce Springsteen – Born To Run
- Envy – All The Footprints
- Kate Bush – Hounds of Love
MATT: Oh man, I am terrible with favorites. These are the first 5 that popped into my head, but I’m leaving out/forgetting so many good ones, and it’s not very diverse.
- Touché Amoré – ‘Stage Four’
- Converge – ‘No Heroes’
- Blink-182 – ‘Enema of the State’
- The Beatles – ‘Abbey Road’
- Refused – ‘The Shape of Punk to Come’
LOUIS: Just off the top of my head:
- The Smiths – Meat Is Murder
- Women – Women
- The Clash – The Clash
- The Ronettes – Presenting the Fabulous Ronettes
- Fugazi – 13 Songs
8) Take a poll of the band members – Whose music do you prefer, iggy Pop or David Bowie?
LOUIS: Its 100% Iggy
9) “Lights Go Out” must be a fantastic song to get the crowd pumped when you play live. Have you had any shows get out of control without meaning to get the audience worked up?
MATT: Maybe not ‘out of control’ but the audiences in Europe and Japan have been really into it! If anything it’s Mark being out of control eg: introducing us as “Brighton from the UK” and falling over.
10) What would your advice be for someone who approaches you after a show and says they want to be in a band, they want to do what you are doing?
MARK: Playing music isn’t what it was like when I first started, and has changed dramatically post-Brexit and COVID. Be prepared to sink a lot of money into nonphysical things to get your music out there. But most importantly, the groundwork will always be there and is the most rewarding. Write the songs, get in the van and tour, and release physical media. Don’t be afraid of rejection.
Harker are:
Mark Boniface – Lead Vocals, Guitar
Phoebe Saunders – Bass, backing vocals
Matt Claxton – Drums
Louis May – Guitar
Contact: hrkr@hrkr.co.uk
Follow on Instagram: www.instagram.com/hrkruk
