Creative Conversations 009: Exploring Sonic Relationships With Henry Green
Interview by Luke Byatt
Bristol based producer and composer Henry Green has a knack of creating lush soundscapes, blending acoustics with electronic elements. We caught up with Henry to chat about his forthcoming album and how he explores sonic relationships in his music.
Futuremag Music: Hey Henry, how're you holding up in this wild world?
Henry Green: I’m doing OK thank you! I’m fortunate to live next to a load of fields that I can walk my dog in once a day, and my studio is here at home, so I’ve got everything I need really. Sadly had to cancel our UK and EU dates, but I’m so fortunate to be in the position I’m in, still able to work on new music.
Futuremag Music: We're looking forward to your second LP Half Light, but before we jump into that could you talk us through your relationship and history with music?
Henry Green: I think my relationship with music has changed over the years. I think as I‘ve jumped further into music production, and it’s become my career, I struggle to experience it in the same way that I did when I was a teenager, just getting into creating it. It’s still exciting to me, but in a very different way. I’m searching for new sounds, new techniques, new ways of communicating through music. But yeah, it’s sometimes difficult to just remain in tune with that feeling of a piece of music, without thinking of the technicalities within the song's production.
Futuremag Music: You've already dropped 'Realign' from the LP and now 'Fabric'. For the release of Half Light Can we expect the spacious and slightly melancholy electronica captured in these singles?
Henry Green: Yeah I think this album has that melancholic mood running throughout. The primary theme explored is that struggle to express, and that inner battle with the self. I labelled the album Half Light to hint at that. Musically, I’m always trying to explore the relationship between electronic and acoustic, always trying to create a conversation between the synthetic elements and the more natural sounds. I set out to make a really electronic, expansive record but I think this record actually went the other way.. it’s very personal, and intimate but still laced with subtle electronics. Maybe album 3 will be a little groovier.
Futuremag Music: Jumping into 'Fabric', could you talk us through the production, writing and composition for the release?
Henry Green: This one was a little different in its creation. Usually my songs form as reactions to production ideas, or beats but this one was a little more ‘traditional’ in that I wrote it acoustically, and eventually brought it into the studio environment to build up the arrangement. With Fabric, it was important to retain the honesty, the rawness so ultimately the electronics took a backseat in the final arrangement.
Futuremag Music: To wrap it up, if the Henry Green project was a cocktail, what would be in it to best describe the sonic?
Henry Green: Ahh very good question! I think I sit somewhere between a mojito and pina colada. I think I’d start with a little spiced rum, to represent those brighter, more experimental moments. Then I’d probably add a little coconut to represent the smooth, calming production style. Maybe a little mint to cool it further. And then a bit of lime to give the illusion that I’m zesty and juicy.
Henry Green by Hattie Ellis