Ahead of the biggest gig of his young career, supporting Jamie Webster in Liverpool, Harry Fazakerley caught up with Sam Millne to talk about his journey so far.
At just 17 years old, Fazakerley is set to support one of his songwriting idols in Webster, as the Liverpool musicians play at Blackstone Street Warehouse on the weekend of July 4.
When did you start playing music and writing songs?
I started playing the guitar when I was seven years old, and I’ve been singing since I was 15 with the help of Ellie of the Eden Club Collective and Mason Jones of The Kowloons.
They ran a little open mic night in Prescot and honest to God, they couldn’t have been any more help if they tried.
Ellie, every week, would just give us like hints and tips with singing and then Mason would always be showing me different techniques on the guitar.
My first-ever song I wrote was Patience and that was written in the May of 2024.
How would you define your genre and who is your music for?
I’d say my genre’s very indie pop and it’s definitely for people who love shouting, love having a dance and love having a boss night.
It’s also for people who like analysing lyrics, because I try to make my lyrics have a deeper meaning than just surface level and I like to try to talk about it as much as I can.
But I also like people to have their own interpretation of what the song is about.
For example, When You Cry is an emotional heartbreak song and it’s basically a plea for somebody to just open up their eyes and see how they’re acting and how it’s affecting other people.
Anchored is essentially about being proud of where you’re from and not letting anyone try to break your morals.
Who are your musical inspirations?
Sam Millne & the Virants, of course 😉
My musical inspirations are The Kowloons, The Cheap Thrills, The Sway, Keyside – every single Scouse band in Liverpool at the moment has an influence on me because they’re paving the way forward.
And obviously, they’re a bit older than me, so they’re just proving that it’s a reachable goal.
What is your songwriting process?
It always starts off as a melody on the guitar and then I like to try a situation that’s going on, like current to myself.
Depending on the sound of the melody and what’s going on, I try to pick a similar correlation.
It all just depends on the key and I just try to base it off what’s going on in my life or my mates’ lives.
Tell us about your cover gigs playing at events with LFC legends
It’s an indescribable feeling to say you have Bruce Grobbelaar’s phone number in your phone.
They’re all so lovely and meeting these players as equals is a feeling that not many people get to experience.
I feel terrible for the people who don’t because it’s an amazing experience to have and they’re just absolutely boss fellas. To just mingle with them and rub shoulders with them, it’s a privilege in itself.
What has been your favourite moment on your music journey so far?
My favourite would either be my headliner at The Zanzibar (March, 2025) when everyone was chanting, ‘Oh, Harry Fazakerley’ – that was a boss laugh – or second of all, finding out the news about supporting Webster.
I was just sat in my room then they belled me and said, ‘What are you doing on the 5th of July, do you fancy opening up for Jamie?’
And I had to go, ‘Webster?!’
And then I was just running around the house in my undies getting ready for college!
Running round the house absolutely screaming my head off at half 11 in the morning, about to get the train into town and then I belled my dad straight away.
What’s next for Harry Fazakerley?
Headline in the Arts Club Loft, that’s on the 26th of September, and obviously supporting Jamie Webster.
How are you feeling about supporting Jamie Webster?
We had his songs in the car on the way down to Wales before (holiday).
And to just sit there and think, ‘I’m going to be rubbing shoulders with this fella soon’, it’s a brilliant feeling.
It’s a very full circle moment because even going all the way back, I used to sing Weekend In Paradise as one of my first songs at the open mic nights.
It’s a monumental journey so far and I can’t wait to see what comes next.
You can follow Harry Fazakerley here and get tickets for his Liverpool headline show in September here.
Mersey Music 