When did you start playing music? Was it because your mom forced you to take lessons or was a cousin great at an instrument so that you felt obligated to play? Or is it option 3, you just dig it and felt compelled to jam?

Started when I was 4.  I saw Yo-Yo Ma on Sesame Street and wanted to play cello.  I was so small that I started with a viola with an endpin.

How would you describe your sound? Where is derivative from?

I would say soulful pop music.  It's from the music I grew up listening to.  Funk, Soul, 90's hip-hop, and Pop.

Are you excited to be hitting the road with Mayer Hawthorne? What's your set going to be like?

Yes I am excited.  He is a great guy and I had the pleasure of playing in his band last summer.  It was a lot of fun.  You'll have to come and see!

Having played The Echo for the entire month of May (or at least each Monday), how do you think that helped hone your live show?

It's always great to play residencies.  It gives you a lot of space to try different things and work out the kinks.

What was the coolest thing about the residency? Meeting new people? Performing to new fans? Girls? Rockin out? All of the above? None of the above?

Getting the crowd to party every week.  Even the industry cats were moving.

When can we expect a release to be coming?

Should be soon.  The full length is done.  I'm shopping it now.

Pick one: Ohio State or Michigan. Why?

Michigan.  All the homies are from there. Ha!

After the run with Hawthorne is over, what are your plans for the rest of the summer?

Writing and recording new material as well as playing around L.A.

Here are Harlan's upcoming tourdates:

Jun 6 •  Los Angeles, CA @ The Library

Jun 9 •  Venice, CA @ The Del Monte Speakeasy (Townhouse Venice)

Jun 13 •  Solana Beach, CA @ Belly Up Tavern

Jun 15 •  Los Angeles, CA @ The Wiltern *

Jun 16 •  San Francisco, CA @ The Fillmore *

Jun 17 •  Napa, CA @ Uptown Theatre *

Jun 19 •  Sacramento, CA @ Ace of Spades *

* denotes opening for Mayer Hawthorne