Next Wave #847: Hatchie

In Association With Vero True Social

Like many of us, Harriette Pilbeam is a dreamer. Under the title Hatchie, she makes a cosmic concoction of dream and shoe-gazed pop, injected with magical melodies.

Only releasing her first single last year, the upcoming Australian artist is shimmering in her own glittery ode. Building on the success of ‘Try’, which happily racked up an impressive one-million plays on Spotify and is somewhat of an underground success, she returns with ‘Sure’, a neon-pop banger with a riff straight out of the 1990s.

Based in Brisbane, Hatchie’s first solo endeavour ‘Sugar & Spice’ EP (out tomorrow, in fact) is a hazy-filled journey through a euphoric, dreamy landscape that you undoubtably want to visit. Playing back-to-back shows while in the UK, it has already been a busy summer for Harriette. Literally from the other side of the world, Clash was intrigued to find out how it was so different.

“Shows during the week aren’t really a big thing in Australia,” she tells me. “Since being here we have done five shows back-to-back which seems very normal. I reckon that’s one of the biggest differences but it’s been really cool, all the crowds have been really nice which is great,” she says smiling.

From crossing North America and a recent performance at SXSW, the international demand has seen Hatchie embark on a huge run of shows – Live At Leeds, Liverpool Sound City and The Great Escape have been recent accomplishments, finished off with a string of London shows. “In terms of the city, I want to head back to Glasgow because it was beautiful, whether it’s for a show or just a holiday,” she chuckles.

Turning towards influences Hatchie seeks interest in new, exciting albums, which inevitably is changing frequently. “Lately I have been listening to Beach House, I like Alvvays and Wolf Alice. I’ve been getting into Snail Mail and Soccer Mommy lately mainly because everyone was taking about them when we went to America.”

Looking at her own collection of glistening gems, it’s mostly about her own experiences and thoughts, mixed together with fictional images. “When speaking about the EP I really like ‘Sugar & Spice’ and the verses because I think that was the first really happy and positive song,” she explains. “The song turns into its own story and not necessarily about my emphasised feelings, so sometimes in the chorus or verse it can be something really true and what I thought and deeply felt.”

Releasing a number of singles over the past year, her ‘Sugar & Spice’ EP is the next release to hold all together with an added extra ‘Bad Guy’. Discussing the thought process and work behind it, we moved onto the potential progress towards an upcoming album. “I’ve definitely started demos, writing and recording. No solid concept or name or date, but I have been moving forward with that,” she shares. “We are taking it slow and doing it naturally,” continuing with a soft smile.

Asking about the response and how her voyage as an overseas artist is treating her, it was only a beam of positive smiles and happiness. “It’s been amazing!” she grins. “My first song came out May 4th last year and we have already done a bunch of Australian shows as well as UK and American ones. I’ve already met so many amazing people and played shows with bands I really like – it’s been nothing but positive.” Pausing to take it in, she laughs, “It’s a little bit scary if I’m honest! But really cool!”

With the summer almost over in sunny side Australia, Hatchie and the band have more tours to complete before it’s over. “When we get home we are doing a tour wth another Australian band DMAs and then we are doing our own tour in July. So I’m really excited for those tours to add a bunch of new songs.”

Eagerly sitting up she concludes by adding, “I’m ready to jump straight back into it.”

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Words + Photography: Lauren McDermott

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