Curtis Harding

Vinyl Discography (complete):

Biography:

Fusing the passion and intensity of classic soul and R&B with the uncompromising attitude of indie rock and the nervous swagger of garage punk, versatile vocalist Curtis Harding has made a name for himself in both rock and R&B circles. Harding’s songwriting is as strong as his vocals, digging deep into the emotions of his material while lending it a subtle yet haunting undertone informed by the problems of the greater world. Harding made a standout debut with 2014’s Soul Power, added a touch of sophistication on 2017’s accomplished Face Your Fear, and psychedelia became part of his formula on 2021’s If Words Were Flowers.

Born and raised in Saginaw, Michigan, Curtis Harding got his first taste of performing from his mother, Dorothy, a traveling gospel artist who took her son with her on the road and occasionally invited him on stage to sing. Harding eventually settled in Atlanta, Georgia, where his strong, passionate singing style made him valuable allies. Harding’s vocals appeared on several OutKast remixes and he became part of Cee-Lo Green’s team, working with him as a backup vocalist, contributing vocal tracks to the albums Cee-Lo Green & His Perfect Imperfections and The Lady Killer , and co-writing material with Green. In 2011, however, Harding found himself part of an unusual project when he crossed paths with Cole Alexander, guitarist for Georgia garage punk outfit The Black Lips, and they discovered a shared passion for vintage Southern soul. Harding and Alexander began a collaborative project, Night Sun, which blended R&B and garage rock. After a handful of local performances, the duo released a single on Burger Records in 2013. Impressed with Harding’s voice, the label struck a solo album deal, and Harding’s first full-length, Soul Power, was released in 2014. The album received critical acclaim and earned Harding a new recording contract with the artist-friendly independent label Anti-. His second full-length, 2017’s Face Your Fear, was produced by Harding in collaboration with Danger Mouse and Sam Cohen.

Harding toured extensively in support of the LP’s release, including dates opening for Lenny Kravitz and Jack White. The album peaked at #21 on the Heatseekers chart (for emerging artists) and also charted in France, Belgium, and Switzerland. In 2019, Harding began writing material for his third album while commuting between Atlanta and Los Angeles. When the COVID-19 pandemic shut down the music industry for much of 2020, he took the opportunity to refine the material, hoping to reflect the times without dwelling on the specific concerns of the moment. The songs made their public debut on If Words Were Flowers, released in November 2021.