Ahead of his set for Lick the Lid this Friday – 19/04/24, we spoke with Harry McCanna. Part of the Northsouth collective, and now holding a residency at Fabric, he’s been a guest at Leeds parties on many occasions over the past few years, and as one of our favourite artists, we’re buzzed to have Harry on at The Imaginarium…
Imaginarium: How did your musical journey start, and what inspired you to start mixing and producing?
Harry: I was introduced to djing around 2007 by a group of older friends who I met through a band I was drumming for. I’d never really known anything about mixing but they showed me how to mix records and I soon had decks of my own. Production I started a few years after – in 2010, I’d always wanted to produce but had no training or experience so that was just a case of download logic and try to work it out, it’s been my approach ever since.
Imaginarium: Tell us a bit about NorthSouth. We understand the label is into it’s 7th year. How is it going at the moment for you, Dale, and Sam, and how did it come about?
Harry: It’s going well thanks, we have the next few releases planned which we’re really happy with, and are looking forward to our 7th birthday at the pub next month! The idea for the label came about when we were having a mix at Dale’s one day at the end of 2016, we agreed then to get something started but it took a year and a bit for us to get from there to first release.
Imaginarium: How about your Fabric residency? How did that come about?
Harry: I first played at the club in 2010 and through to 2016 for WYS! who used to run the Sundays there. The actual residency came through Judy Griffith, one of the bookers at the club. I’d played a few Saturdays already and had some more booked in as we went into lockdown in 2020. As things started opening up Judy called to rearrange the cancelled dates and eventually proposed the residency.
Imaginarium: Do you work on production as part of a routine, or do you prefer to make music as and when you’re feeling inspired?
Harry: I do try to keep busy in the studio even if I’m not the most inspired. There’s always something you can work on and sometimes setting an exercise is a good way to break through a creative block. I’d like to think I make at least a tune or two a week, though some may be more complete than others.
Imaginarium: You’ve been a frequent guest at parties in Leeds. How have your experiences been playing here?
Harry: Yeah it’s my most played city after London actually. I’ve always enjoyed it, I’ve played a few venues and for different crews and the there’s always a good mix of people both there for music and there to party.
Imaginarium: What have been your highlights of 2024 so far?
Harry: Playing for Fabric at Guesthouse in Romania back in February has been a definite highlight.
Imaginarium: Anything coming up that you’re particularly looking forward to, or any future plans you’d like to tell us about?
Harry: There’s been a new label on the cards for a while, but as always it’s taking me a while to get it over the line. I should be announcing more on that in the coming months.
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