INTERVIEW: Harleymoon Kemp on her latest single 'What Good Looks Like': "It’s easy to write when the story is about your real life experience."
Harleymoon Kemp has in recent years become one of Britain’s rising country music stars, and in the process is helping to rewrite the image of the genre in a country that has not traditionally excelled at it.
Coming from an impeccable pop pedigree (her father is Spandau Ballet’s Martin Kemp and her mother Shirlie found fame in the 1980s as Wham!’s backing singer and as one half of duo Pepsi & Shirlie), Kemp released her first single ‘Space’ in 2020, mid-pandemic, which was an instant success hitting number 1 on the UK Country charts. She has since won the best new artist at the British Country Music Awards and appeared at a number of high profile festivals, including the Isle Of Wight festival, multiple television programs and in 2024 performing for millions at London’s New Year’s Day parade.
She has recently released the single ‘What Good Looks Like’, a warm and tender country pop song that celebrates the bonds and love of family and how she expects nothing less from any partner who wants to win her over: “So if I’m going to let you win my world / You better love me, you better do more than treat me right…I know what good looks like.”
“My parents gave me an amazing gift, showing me what a loving relationship looks like,” Kemp says. “It has made it potentially harder for me to settle into love and relationships because they have set the bar so high, a gift and a curse - I’m expecting rainbows maybe. They have shown me what true best friends are, what trust and support is… even if it’s just getting up early to start up the car so it’s not cold when the other person gets in. That’s what good looks like to me.”
‘What Good Feels Like’ is the first single to be released from Kemp’s debut EP Lone Ranger which is due to be released on 31 May. Featuring four tracks, all co-written by Kemp, it sees her collaborate with people who have worked some of the biggest names in British pop: Barnabas Shaw (Twinnie, Megan McKenna), Adrian Hall (Goldfrapp, All Saints), Michelle Leonard (AURORA, Robin Schulz) and Jess Sharman (Gabrielle Aplin, Ward Thomas).
“I’ve never been afraid of being honest. Expressing myself through my music is the most honest I can be,” Kemp says. “We all go through the same things in life but I love the way sharing emotions connects us. I am so drawn to being bare bones and vulnerable in my stories and this EP feels like little movies to me, little capsules of time I didn’t want to forget.”
Kemp is an artist to get excited about. Melding country and pop with heartfelt lyrics, and a gorgeously expressive voice that really connects with you, she will almost certainly convert you to the delights of British country-pop. We recently sat down with Kemp to chat all about her music and career to date.
Hi Harleymoon! Thanks for chatting to us today. How is life with you right now?
Life is great I just came back from Spain and lathering the crap out of my face with moisturiser to keep the tan alive!
Congratulations on the release of your single ‘What Good Looks Like’, it is such a beautiful song! You have said the song is about how growing up witnessing your parent’s devotion to each other has set the bar very high for your own romantic relationships. Can you tell me a little more about the inspiration behind the song?
Everyone always asks me why I’ve not been in many relationships or why I’m single and I always reply ‘ I know what good looks like’ because I’ve seen it - the love my parents have for each other, the love they have shown me …and maybe that has made me fussy but it’s true, I know what a good relationship looks like. It’s a dedication to them and a song for anyone still holding out for the good stuff.
Can you talk me through the creative process for ‘What Good Looks Like’?
I already had the title in my mind, i knew the concept - it’s my truth and my diary really, so it doesn’t take long to write. I went in the studio with the producer Charlie T and another songwriter called Lloren who I love writing with. We strummed it out in a few hours. It’s easy to write when the story is about your real life experience.
‘What Good Looks Like’ features on your debut EP Lone Ranger, which will be out on May 31. This must be really exciting for you, what can we expect from the EP?
The EP is just more encounters that I hope everyone makes their own. ‘Lone Ranger’ was written after a one night crush with a total cowboy. ‘Faith In You’ was about really feeling safe in your home with your friend, lover or family and it’s a duet with incredible Alex Francis who I met in Nashville on a writing camp, he’s also James Bay’s brother and has that indie crunchy beautiful tone in his voice. ‘America’ was written on a female writing camp and produced in Nashville… so great for anyone digging country cross over sounds!
You have grown up with music, with your parents being icons in the British pop scene. Where did your love of country music come from, and why was this the genre you chose to pursue professionally?
When I was a kid I wrote poems, then realised they were songs but as I wrote I was never thinking about the music, just the picture, like I was watching a movie and country music was a genre that really gets into the details of the story. When you write to country music you really get to describe it in a cinematic way over a pop song which is maybe just looking for a catchy melodic hook to repeat. In country you can make people laugh, you could write a song about furniture or a conversation between family members.. it’s so lyric driven and I love that about country.
Was a career in music something you always knew you would pursue, or was it something that gradually developed as you grew up?
I was writing lyrics since i was a kid and started writing songs for others in the background, started writing some songs for DJs and was happy being behind the scenes until lockdown when I posted a video of me singing my song ‘Space’- that changed everything for me, I was always too shy to post my singing but I had nothing to lose in lockdown , then the song went to No1 on the country iTunes chart and the rest is history!
You have a really emotive voice, and you also write lyrics that are poetic as well are really relatable, it is such a beautiful combination. When you are writing your songs, where do they normally start? Is it the lyrics first, or the melody, or a combination of both?
Definitely lyrics first - whatever I’m feeling is on my phone (always praying I never get mugged ha ha). All my stories are experiences I’ve been through then I work backwards to write the music!
You’ve been performing a number of live shows this year, with more to come, I’m curious to know what part of being a musician is your favourite - the writing, the recording, the music videos, or the live shows?
It’s executing an idea, scratching the itch, the curiosity of an emotion leading you somewhere.. that’s the best bit. Like solving a puzzle. You get a hit of emotions from a life event, maybe feel like crap , then write it down for free therapy, hear a melody then chase the writing process and fast forward to replaying that same shit day on stage .. suddenly just feels like a big green tick has rolled over me to say- great, well I’ve let go of that issue now!
The music industry has traditionally been a difficult space for women to exist in, particularly young solo artists, with pressure to fit into a particular genre box or look a certain way, pressure that is never put on male artists. What are your thoughts on gender (in)equality in the music industry?
I think the best trick (to life not just music) is to not look around too much, not worry whether you are a success, just keep pushing. Be authenticity yourself , have fun and kick down whatever door you can. Men potentially don’t feel as much self doubt as history has told them to be a provider, women maybe have more barriers to push through… but I like to think .. assume that you deserve the best, if you fail, then you can just learn and try something different next time!
‘What Good Looks Like’ is out now, and Lone Ranger will be out on 31 May, what else is coming up for you in 2024?
I have lots of gigs this summer! I am playing… Cardiff Pride, The Oxted Festival, The Country Road festival, The Somerset weekend festival, Urban Van festival, Devafest, Carfest and the The Weekend Festival.
‘What Good Looks Like’ is out now. You can buy and stream here.
Follow Harleymoon Kemp on Instagram and Spotify
