James Haro is a Mexican-American singer/songwriter based in Philadelphia, PA. In his first ever EP release, debuting June 20, Haro’s evocative lyrics and raw vocals resonate with themes of self-discovery and resilience. Each track unfolds like a chapter in a deeply personal story, from the haunting echoes of 'gods' to the introspective depths of 'Verses' and ‘City Terrace’. These three tracks weave together pop-punk energy and moments of vulnerability and empowerment. With a rich tapestry of musical influences and a penchant for concise yet powerful song crafting, Haro promises a release that transcends genres and offers a unique blend of nostalgia and personal resonance.
Where can we find you right now and what are you up to?
So right now, I’m in Philadelphia, and I’ve been here for about 15 years but I only played music live here for the first time about three years ago after the end of lockdown. It really is somewhere that I feel I’ve sprouted up as a music artist. Something that is also important to me is supporting and giving back to the community, and I am lucky enough to be able to do that through the quarterly open mic Going Acoustic at Quig's that I started and host with my collaborators, Emily Schuman and Kat Rivers. It’s important to me because I know how essential it is to receive good feedback and have the opportunity to try new things when you're just starting out and to be told to keep going. It’s one of my biggest joys to see people coming back to this event that we started two years ago because it tells me that people feel welcome and safe.
Tell us a bit about your influences.
As far as my influences, they may be a little obvious, or I guess that depends on who you ask. I tend to be drawn to music artists who are honest but express themselves through imaginative and smart lyrical construction. My style is influenced by the alternative and pop-punk worlds with bands such as Say Anything, The Starting Line, The Killers, Jenny Lewis and Rilo Kiley, Lady Lamb, and St. Vincent. I think, also depending on who you ask, Green Day has one of those inescapable pop and rock sounds that so many people in my generation grew up loving or underappreciating, but the influence is undeniable.
How did you start?
I’ve actually been playing around with writing songs and making up songs since I was a preteen and making a pretend band with three of my friends. I got my first real instrument when I was 13 and it was a black bass guitar. I eventually moved to guitar and started learning chords and eventually I got an acoustic guitar which I ended up bringing with me to college when I moved from Los Angeles to Philadelphia. I also did musicals in high school in college but in the back of my mind I always had that interest in performing my original music for people but not necessarily the courage.
I like to tell people that I was a secret songwriter during my 20s but after getting more confident about my music abilities, I started to look for opportunities. There were digial open-mics during lock-down that I started to show up for and that carried into doing music in real life. It feels like the rest is history.
What advice or tips would you give to new artists?
Believe in your ability to grow and expand as a person doing creative work. Believe in the power of collaboration. Trust other people when they say they liked something you do or something you made. Everyone has their special something to offer and no two artists are exactly the same.
Tell us about your latest or upcoming release.
What's coming up this year is my first ever E.P. which I am working on with second-time producing collaborator, Robby Webb. I want to book more live shows this year but I'm happy to take what comes. I'm also getting married this year so I'm a bit busy with the forthcoming nuptials. The release is happening in June and I’m really excited to share more when it is officially announced.
