Today we’d like to introduce you to John Paris Hare.
Hi, John Paris; having you on the platform is an honor. Thanks for sharing your story with us – to start, maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers.
I started music playing classical piano at a young age. I didn’t love it, but I was decent at it — I scored a few “gold ratings” at the young musician’s recitals in Connecticut — but it felt more like homework than anything creative or artistic. Then, in middle school, I played saxophone briefly and then switched to drums (because that’s what the “cool kids” were doing). Of course, that was the time when I was getting into AC/DC, Led Zeppelin, The Beatles, and all that good ‘ole classic rock that you fall in love with as a teenager. My first band, “Loaded Dice,” played “Sweet Home Alabama” at the school talent show, and we were terrible (haha).
At the start of high school, I bought a guitar from my friend and started playing in as many groups as possible, from jazz combos to garage bands to big bands. I was very dedicated, and in my senior year, I used to wake up early before school to practice scales and all that.
At Brown University, I majored in History (European Intellectual History) degree, but did a minor in Music, taking a number of theory, composition, and jazz courses. I also had a band “The Spicy Withs,” who played frat parties on a weekly basis. Those parties were kind of legendary — they were very rowdy and people would be spilling beer on you half the time — but they were incredibly fun. And the police used to break them up too … like 60% of the time … to the point where we would plan our setlists around when we thought the cops would arrive. Haha. I have a lot of wonderful, wonderful memories from that time.
I recorded my first EP my senior year, which was released as “First Opera” in 2015. I played a release show in New York City and consequently did a circuit of Lower East Side clubs over the next couple of years while living in Brooklyn. My second EP, self-titled “John Paris”, was recorded in Williamsburg and featured the single “Hey Carolina (Lullaby #1)”.
I moved to Berlin in 2017 in dove head-first into the wild, eccentric, international music scene there. I played open mics, jazz jams, music clubs, and lots of street music on a regular basis. A big part of my sound — especially my jazz/folk singing — is influenced from all the time I spent playing out on the streets of Berlin.
In 2020, I moved back to the States at the beginning of the year and landed in Nashville in July. I was in Nashville for 2 years, doing a circuit of songwriter rounds, Broadway honky-tonks, and weekend tours to Chattanooga, Birmingham, Atlanta, among other cities. I ultimately moved to Charleston in July 2020 and jumped pretty aggressively into the scene here, playing 15-20 shows each month. Today, my band plays regularly at Chico Feo, Palmetto Brewery, Fuel, The Washout, Prohibition, and even did an “Elvis Blue Christmas” show at The Pour House over the holidays.
My new single, “Folly Beach Fakeout,” will be released this spring.
We all face challenges, but looking back, would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
My website says “surf-jazz meets rock ‘n roll,” which I think is pretty accurate actually! I’ve always felt weird defining myself — my favorite music is music that sits outside-the-box ( Phish, Radiohead, Andrew Bird, Father John Misty, etc.) — so I try to stay inspired by original voices and ambitious artists that are trying to do something different.
Beyond that, I love playing guitar. I love playing guitar solos and that’s a big part of my sound, but I equally love all the old-school, jazz singing from guys like Elvis, Nat King Cole, Frank Sinatra, Bobby Darin, etc. My singing voice is fairly low, so singing over those kind jazz melodies and harmonies is very fulfilling to me.
Do you have any big plans?
I also have a new single in the works, “Folly Beach Fakeout,” which is currently being recorded, and I’m planning to track a new EP next month. I’m very excited for all of that; my Spotify could use some a refresh.
I’m also planning on spending some time in Europe this summer. European culture is very personal and inspiring to me — maybe I’ll move back there — we’ll see!
Contact Info:
- Website: johnparismusic.net
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/johnparismusic/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UClGYGJIsVrjXi2paN6-ETcw
