‘I’m always writing and working’, Harrison Craig still devoted to music four years after winning The Voice
EXCLUSIVE | JAYDEN FORSTER
BACK in 2012, Harrison Craig was just an average teenager with a passion for music.
Living in Chelsea on Victoria’s Mornington Peninsula, he spoke with a stutter from a very young age. To build up his confidence, he joined the Australian Boys Choir and went on to become the music captain during his final year at Sandringham College. It was there where he found his love for the stage.
Fast forward two years and Craig, still living in Chelsea, is one of the most recognisable faces on the Melbourne music scene.
Unknown to big name star: Harrison Craig performs during the G'Day USA gala at Vibiana in Los Angeles on January 28, 2016, Source: John Sciulli, Getty Images.
After winning The Voice in 2013, the 21-year-old singer/songwriter went on to release cover versions of hit songs such as ‘Unchained Melody’ and ‘More Than a Dream’.
Craig is grateful for the show, and for everything it has done for his career, but doesn’t see the experience as “surreal” or “unexpected”.
He prefers to look at it as a goal that he set out to reach and - through hard work and perseverance - was able to achieve.
“It’s not sort of surreal, because it’s achievable,” he told Celebrity Lane. “It’s kind of one of those things when you there and in the right place at the right time, working hard to get where you want to go, you achieve great things.
“I had thoughts about whether I can actually get there because everybody’s got that person in their head that says ‘you won’t get there, blah, blah, blah’, but you’ve just got to trust that you know what you’re doing and you can achieve what you want.
“From that point it’s been surreal, but from the other side, it’s been I can do that, and I saw that.”
Unknown to big star: Harrison Craig says the transition from unknown to music star has been relatively easy, Source: Getty Images.
While adjusting to life in the spotlight can be challenging for some, Craig says the transition from the unknown to successful music star has been relatively easy.
“I don’t feel the need to perform any ‘stunts’ to get attention, I feel that as a singer, the most important thing you should leave someone with is a feeling when you sing, and the music you create should be to that standard too. It should be world class.”
Harrison Craig sings ‘Unchained Melody’ on The Voice, Source: YouTube.
Craig was a crowd favourite on The Voice and won over the crowds with his smooth moves and velvety tones. But, the crooner nearly didn’t make it to the show.
He thought long and hard about auditioning for The Voice, but eventually decided to try his luck.
“I thought for a few months if this was the right choice for me and is this what I want to do because you make your mind up and do something else. In the end, I thought ‘why not?’
“It’s an incredible launching pad and if you’re mature to handle what’s thrown at you the best you can that you can trust you can tackle it and do really well.”
Harrison Craig releases debut album following success on The Voice, Source: Supplied.
Craig, a kind and extremely mature young man, says his biggest music influences are Frank Sinatra, Elvis Presley and Buddy Rich, but include modern and contemporary artists like Beck and Josh Groban.
“They’re my biggest (influences), but it’s not from the standard point of ‘wow, you’re so great’, it’s more from the angle of how did they get there and the resources they used to create what they have.
“A lot of great composers and writers here and in the US and UK have really impacted the way I look at what I want to do and that’s a really good thing.
And, it’s with those international composers where Craig feels most at home.
He recently returned from a trip to Los Angeles where he met up with former Voice coach and good friend Seal.
Best mates: Harrison Craig still keeps in touch with former Voice coach Seal, Source: Getty Images.
The pair spent a lot of time in the recording studio, of which Seal continues to support Craig through his various musical endeavours.
Craig credits Seal as a major influence on both his craft and musical style, and says the experience of working with the ‘Kiss from a Rose’ singer has been a massive “learning curve”.
“I spent three months there last year just writing and recording and it’s been a blast. I felt so refreshed. It’s got such a great vibe, and it depends on where you are and who you’re working with, but I was really fortunate to have worked with incredible writers that know what I’m after. It was great to have that experience, (it) was awesome.”
Learning curve: Harrison Craig is grateful to call former Voice coach Seal a friend and mentor, Source: Supplied.
As for what lies ahead, Craig is hitting the road for a series of shows with Disney Under the Stars, a national arena tour featuring artists such as Ricki-Lee, David Campbell and Lucy Durack.
“I’ve got the Disney tour coming up which we’ve been rehearsing for months and it’s really starting to come together,” he said. “It’s so magical to see all that coming to life and seeing these amazing stories from our childhoods come to life on the stage. I can’t wait.”
Harrison Craig will tour Australia with a string of Aussie performers with Disney Under the Stars, Source: Supplied.
And, how about new music?
“Nothing in the short term right now, but it’s coming, I’m working very hard on it.
“For me right now, it’s about growing and evolving and changing, and I’m really proud of that and I don’t want to put anything out that’s not me or that’s not true to where I want to go. I’ll always be doing live work and I’m always writing and always working.”
Photo Source: Jim Lee, Supplied.
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