‘How the Curtain Closes’ is the latest release by indie producer-artist ‘lilac frog,’ a quirky and eye-catching moniker belonging to indie artist Harri Hocking, 19, from Britain, who writes and self-produces music around the electronic-pop genres. Active since 2022, the project aims to capture a sense of authenticity and honesty in all its releases whilst still capturing listeners in catchy and intriguing productions created straight from Harri’s bedroom studio for this eccentric character.
The song follows the themes of friendships and moving on from past experiences and people, something that has inspired a few recent songs published under the lilac frog project.
The quirky name ‘lilac frog’ itself shows the unique and creative side of Harri, already giving listeners an idea of what to expect, and within this track, Harri uses metaphors and imagery to tell the story of recovering from a past, sour friendship by looking at it as though it is a theatre play, incorporating ex-friends like actors and discussing what goes on behind the scenes.
Moving on from someone is looking back at everything they’ve done like you’re observing a play – you can’t do anything to change the script, and it’s meant to be for a dramatic or comedic purpose.
But once the curtain closes, it’s over, and it’s time to move on. That’s what the song entails, and backed by a folk-like acoustic guitar rhythm and drums, the reverb-soaked vocals capture all of the emotions like they’re being echoed through an empty, abandoned auditorium, making this track a beautiful, genuine, raw, and honest account of details in a way that perfectly fits the vision for the lilac frog project.
We had the pleasure of interviewing Harri Hocking. Here are excerpts from the interview.
Hi Harri, Great to have you with us today! Please share with our readers about yourself.
Hi! I currently release music in the electronic-pop realm under the moniker ‘lilac frog’ – I’m very inspired by nature, and associating sound with color, hence the name! I want my listeners to experience something relatable but with unique twists throughout to keep them coming back for more. My aim with this project is that it is a small, specific branch of my own personality, where I use honest, metaphorical lyrics to tell a story and a dreamy production style that can invite the listener to hear it as if they are sitting right next to me.
Please tell us more about your journey.
Beginning as a young child in my bedroom, I discovered GarageBand on the family iPad and knew exactly what I wanted to do from then on. Fast forward to now, I’m 19 and have passed a Music Production course at my local arts college with flying colors. Over the years, I’ve spent countless hours experimenting with sounds, melodies, and lyrics, going through many different genres over the years, before settling on this project at the beginning of 2022, which I’ve been working on ever since, sharing my work with like-minded individuals who resonated with my honest and heartfelt approach to creating music. I can’t see any end to this any time soon, and I’m always filling my voice notes with ideas each day, so I’m looking forward to seeing where this journey continues to take me. I have my eyes on a specific company I’d love to work with someday, so I’m crossing my fingers!
Please tell us about your latest release, ‘How the Curtain Closes.’
My latest release, ‘How the Curtain Closes,’ is a bit more mellow than my typical tracks, but it is so honest and raw that it fits perfectly. An acoustic-guitar rhythm with spacey drums and vocals fills the song as a play does in an auditorium – it tells the story of past and failed relationships and the realization that change is normal and acceptable. The story is creatively and uniquely told as if life itself is a theatre play: discussing the behind-the-scenes, the characters, and that while you can’t change the play’s script once it’s been written, you can move on. However, you’d like once the ending curtains have closed. I was so proud of the writing, and I’ve had it locked away in my notes since 2021 (where it originally sounded much different and much more intense), but I knew I had to dial it down when I recently stumbled across it again. I realized it fit the lilac frog project, and well, the rest is history!
What are the strategies that helped you become successful in your journey?
Honestly, the biggest strategy that has helped me in my journey is just staying true to myself and my artistic vision no matter what. I can’t sacrifice either the creative aspect of what I do or the honesty in what I create: they have to work together in balance. Whilst ‘lilac frog’ is almost like a character, it’s the honesty and vulnerability behind this alias that have forged this musical identity and the genuine connection I can have with my audience. Surrounding myself with individuals who understand this is incredibly important, whether it’s through online communities, or the experience I had during my college studies – you’ll come across a lot of roadblocks in work like this, and the support from others makes that fall just a little bit easier to pull through.
Any message for our readers?
Behind everything, there is a story, and I hope we can all inspire each other to honor and celebrate everybody’s voices. Whether you share your stories through music like me, or by writing a book, painting your thoughts, or if you simply prefer to keep your feelings to yourself, always be true to yourself and embrace the challenges and the victories. But like ‘lilac frog,’ always embrace your quirks and your passions too. I hope I’ll get to share even more of this side of me with you in the future should you choose to stick along!
Fantastic! So tell us, how can people find out more about you?
The best way to keep up to date with myself and this project is on my Instagram for an inside view at all that I do: @lilacfrog.music.
I always update my Linktree as well, so you can catch me on all streaming platforms and check my latest and featured releases out from one easy hub as well! I hope to see you over there!
Thank you so much, Harri, for giving us your precious time! We wish you all the best for your journey ahead!