“High Road" to Success: Henry Birkett's Journey
Henry Birkett is an indie-rock artist whose evocative melodies and thoughtful lyrics draw from the wellspring of everyday life to bring both gravitas and relatability to his songs. Based in the Midlands, he and his band blend classic retro influences without getting bogged down in imitating the heydays of the rock scene, instead making both the sound and the accompanying zeitgeist their own.
Their latest single, "High Road," is already making waves, drawing inspiration from a drive home in rural Lincolnshire and weaving a narrative around the intricacies of a troubled relationship. Each band member adds their own unique flair—Dan Henson’s infectious bass lines, Diogo Ramos’ dynamic drumming, Dave Holness’ bluesy guitar riffs, and Hannah Bowen’s haunting harmonies— creating something that feels refreshingly tailored after the moody climate in the UK.
"High Road," released on June 27, has quickly garnered thousands of streams, showcasing its popularity. After its creation, the band recorded the track at Drip Dry Studio in Peterborough with engineer Benny Turner. The recording was then mixed by Jacob Bergh and mastered by Alexander Vatagin. The music video, directed by Charles Dowland, premiered on July 19, offering fans a visual complement to the song. "High Road" is now available on all major streaming platforms and has received a positive response, accumulating significant listens.
Join us as we explore the creative world of Henry Birkett and the story behind his latest release in today’s interview.
Can you tell us more about how your everyday life influences your songwriting? What specific experiences led to the creation of "High Road"?
I try to draw inspiration from experiences that I have lived through or seen firsthand, whether it's my own relationships or those I see amongst my friendship group. I like to infuse a dose of real-life experience amongst more abstract and thought-provoking lines to try and create a mood that will take the listener to somewhere atmospheric within their own mind.
How did the collab process work within the band when developing "High Road"? Were there any surprising contributions from your bandmates? Does the songwriting process tend to look the same?
I usually write the lyrics and chord progression on my own while traveling around the UK for my solo country cover gigs, and then I'll send the band a video clip. We get together at rehearsal, and each of the band members will put down the part that they think sounds best for the overall mood and feel of the song. We typically land on a consensus as a band for each part, and that makes the final song. We each have different influences, and that makes for pretty unique contributions sometimes. I love Dire Straits and the Eagles, and that usually comes through in my writing. Dan loves indie music and can often come up with a catchy bass hook, and Diogo comes from a harder metal background. Our other guitarist, Dave, loves his blues and when writing High Road, I came up with one line that I knew he'd have a lick for.
Henry, why do you think that rock music in general is no longer the cultural and industry titan that it used to be? And how does that feel for you?
On the UK scene, the lack of grassroots venues is hurting bands. From what I gather from years past, there were live music venues that could afford to cater to different tastes, so there were always bookings to be had. Now, the smaller towns here are likely to only have one live music venue, with hundreds of bands in the area looking for a gig and their big break. It has created a huge demand for bands needing to play gigs, but not the supply of venues to accommodate them and give them exposure. The cost of living crisis also makes it harder for bands to break out, as a lot of live music lovers are more comfortable spending their hard-earned money on a band they know they like rather than taking a punt on an unknown. I think those two factors have created an atmosphere where it is harder than ever for bands to generate a solid following, which leads to less money-making opportunities (tickets and merch) for the industrial minds, and less cultural impact due to followings being too small to create a movement.
How’s 2024 looking so far compared to previous years for you and the band?
2024 is looking good so far; we've had our most prolific year studio-wise and have three singles out to date that have amassed 100k streams across them. We have a couple more ideas in the works, and we're hoping to squeeze them out before the year is done. I spent 3 months driving across Europe, so it hasn't been a busy year in terms of live shows, but the break has been good for the band, and we've come back more inspired than ever.
If you could work with any living musician right now, who would that be?
Mark Knopfler, without a doubt. I love his guitar playing, and he's influenced my sound so much, that I would love the chance to work on a track with the master.
Are you goal-oriented in your musical career, if so, what goals are you working towards right now?
We're in a lucky position that each member of the band is on the same page; we all want to make music a full-time career. I am currently working on turning a Mercedes Sprinter into a tour bus, and our plan is to strike out into Europe in the hopes of finding venues that are more comfortable putting original acts on. Once the van is ready, it makes the logistics of traveling much easier as we can just put a tank of fuel in, jump in with our gear, and go.
What can fans expect next from you and the band? Are there plans for an album or more singles in the near future?
More new music by the end of the year! We've got two singles cooking at the moment, and we plan to get them out before the end of the year. We're also putting on our own show in Stamford, in the UK, in September, so that will be taking up our focus. We'll be supported by another band in our area who we're good friends with, so we're hoping that gig will create a sense of community and momentum that will give a much-needed boost of energy to the local live music scene.