In 1999, Keris Howard and Laura Bridge formed Harper Lee in Brighton, England. Named after the famous author of the classic novel "To Kill A Mockningbird," their plan was to release just one brilliant single ("Dry Land"), take the world by storm and then withdraw from the public eye just as Lee did following the succes of her single novel. Luckily for us, the profits from that debut single did not allow them an early retirement and they continue creating classic releases to this day"

(from Matinée Recordings homepage)

This is the first part of an interview with Keris Howard ¨(Harper Lee) that was done some months ago. The second part will be posted in a few days and will include questions about Brighter and Hal.


1. I couldn´t help thinking about your band when I saw the film Capote. What did you think of the film?

Sadly i didn't get to see Capote but you've just reminded me i must get it out on DVD!


2. I can´t really tell whether its a fact or not, but considering how long you have been making music, i get this feeling that there aren´t to many british people that are familliar with your music. Maybe you could tell us whether you get the same feeling and how you feel about the british musicscene?

I think you're totally right. I don't think that many people in this country have ever heard of Brighter or Harper Lee. It's a genuine surprise when i bump into anyone whose heard of Sarah Records, let alone any band i've been involved in. Maybe if i'd been a bit more reckless over the last 15 years, had spent less time worrying about how i was going to pay the rent and more time trying to promote the band(s) we could have been more successful. But life's about choices and i guess i've chosen to balance music with other things, like a day job and a settled home life. Somehow there's something vaguely comforting about convincing yourself you could have been a contender if you'd just tried a little harder. I'd hate to be blaming others for my 'modest' achievements. Possibly in the days of Sarah Records we may have pointed the finger at the British music scene, or especially the music press, and argued that it held us back by labeling us rather clumsily as twee, or shambling or whatever, but i still think we probably had more press and coverage than our record sales ever deserved. It wasn't all good publicity, but it was publicity none the less. I don't really have that many opinions on the current music scene. I think that's for people younger and more connected to comment on but from where i'm sitting it's as good, and as bad, as it ever was.


3. I value Train not stopping as Harper Lees brightest moment so far, along with You kill me and He holds the flame. Maybe its a strange question, but can you feel when you have written a timeless song? and what feelings do you get from writing and playing your own songs?

That's not a strange question at all as i've mulled over many times why Train not Stopping seems to be so popular. The song not only seemed to connect with "fans' but also with people who'd never really had any interest in my music (and probably still don't!). I had no idea when i wrote the song that its appeal would be so wide, and i still have no idea why it proved so popular .. not that i'm complaining! In honesty, I don't think that hard about writing songs. I like what i do (or else i wouldn't do it) but i'm no musician and what i do is always sandwiched within the tight parameters of my own musical ineptitude. I just do it because i enjoy it. I love having the catharsis of sitting in my attic after a bad day, strumming my acoustic and 'emoting' rather pitifully into a tape recorder. That i then get the opportunity to release the stuff, and a handful of people genuinely love it, remains amazing.

4. You played live once this summer in Århus, Denmark at their Pop- Revo festival. What was it like, and how come that you don´t play live more often?

Pop Revo was really enjoyable. The people were lovely and it was great to get an opportunity to test the water with playing live. Ultimately however i've never really enjoyed playing gigs. As a person i'm pretty introverted so it's not a natural environment for me. When we've said yes to gigs it's normally been because i wanted to test out whether my feelings about playing live had changed. Each time i do, i find out that they really haven't.

Listen to Harper Lee here!
Matinée Recordings