Go Away With … Corey Harper

Jae-Ha Kim
Chicago Tribune
October 18, 2022

After enjoying success with his debut EPs, Corey Harper won over some famous fans like Justin Bieber, Cody Simpson and Julia Michaels. The artists took Harper on the road with them as their opening act. Based out of California, Harper said he’s looking forward to headlining his own tour to promote his new album “Future Tense.” “I really split my time between Los Angeles, London and Portland – and wherever music takes me really,” said the 27-year-old singer/songwriter/guitarist. “[But for now] I am living in Malibu on a goat farm tucked away up in the hills. It’s essentially a shed, but I’ve made it feel like a million bucks in here. It’s really peaceful (and) quiet.”

Q: Was any of your album written during your travels? 
A: I spend a lot of time between cities and I am about to be doing more touring again soon in support of “Future Tense.” I definitely gather inspiration and ideas for songs while I’m on the road. I’ll usually write those down or record them on my phone and continue working on them down the line. Sometimes it comes together more quickly than that. But traveling can be a really introspective experience at times and that can lead to song ideas.

Q: Where was the first concert you ever played at?
A: I used to play small shows in Oregon in dorm rooms. Then I moved to Los Angeles and played house shows at a spot called Winston House (in Venice). But oddly enough, one of my first real shows was opening for Justin Bieber on The Purpose Tour in Vancouver. The bill was me, Moxie Raia, Post Malone and then Justin. I had no music out at the time, so it was me and an acoustic guitar for 20 minutes before they went on. Super grateful for the opportunity and I had a lot of fun.

Q: Did you have to cancel any travel plans due to the pandemic?
A: I had just wrapped up my first headline tour in Europe before the pandemic. It was really rough going from that experience to being stuck at home for what felt like an eternity. But the result was my first album. So I am thankful for that time as well. We all had to cancel plans of some sort, but there are much worse things going on because of the pandemic. So travel feels like a small price in comparison. 

Q: What is your favorite vacation destination? 
A: I go to Fiji every year. It’s such an incredible place. The people are amazing, it’s gorgeous, and I love to surf. We also like to volunteer some time while we are out there to help with some home building projects or whatever needs to get done locally.

Q: If you could only pick one place to eat, would you prefer a food truck or fine dining?
A: I think I’d gravitate towards a food truck, but I’m not one to back down from some fine dining. You can find incredible chefs and ambiance at either though.

Q: Where are your favorite weekend getaways?
A: I love going to the desert out in Joshua Tree. I’ll go camping or stay with a friend out there. It’s just a really peaceful spot and it has some incredible music history as well. I think a lot of artists have found inspiration in that setting. 

Q: If you’ve ever gone away for the holidays, which was the best trip?
A: I was on tour in Germany and Switzerland in December a few years ago during the holidays. It’s an incredible place to be at that time and I’m always finding myself wanting to head back.

Q: Do you speak any foreign languages? 
A: I learned German and I love speaking it. I’m not great at it but I was able to get around pretty well when I was performing in Berlin and Hamburg a few years back.

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