IRON MAIDEN’s STEVE HARRIS Shares Essential Advice For Young Musicians To Find Their Unique Sound

In a latest interview on the Scars and Guitars podcast (transcribed by Ultimate Guitar), legendary Iron Maiden bassist and predominant composer Steve Harris supplied worthwhile insights into his songwriting course of and recommendation for aspiring musicians. When requested whether or not a pivotal second formed his method to writing music, Harris revealed that he would not dwell on particular influences or occasions. As an alternative, he permits his inventive course of to movement naturally with the feelings of the second.

“I’ve by no means actually analyzed it like that or thought like that. I simply write as I really feel on the time. That is why any album that we do, Maiden or no matter, it is only a assertion of the place you might be at that cut-off date,” Harris shared. “I do not are likely to look again on it and analyze it or something. It is solely while you type of do interviews like this that you just type of type of take into consideration stuff like that, actually.”

He emphasised the significance of writing from intuition quite than overthinking the method. In line with Harris, attempting too exhausting to keep away from repetition can stifle creativity, whereas trusting your instincts can result in extra real and different music.

“If you’re doing new stuff, you simply do stuff that you just assume feels proper. Sounds very basic, however actually, you do not need to be attempting too exhausting to not repeat your self or repeat your self. You simply write with really feel and write no matter you assume is greatest on the time.”

“It is robust. It is exhausting to clarify, I feel, to anybody who has perhaps not written a music but or has solely written one or two songs, maybe. I imply, clearly, Maiden‘s been round a very long time, and all of the totally different experiences that you just expertise, and all the things, all that goes into your limits of the way you write and the place you might be at any specific time” he defined.

Harris additionally supplied sensible recommendation for younger bassists trying to develop their distinctive sound. He inspired them to hearken to a variety of musicians quite than imitating only one.

“Nicely, I am going to simply say to individuals, hearken to as many individuals as potential, and do not attempt to stylize your self on one particular person. Lots of people say to me, ‘Oh, I wanna play identical to…’ You should not try this,” Harris suggested, stressing the significance of creating a definite fashion to keep away from comparisons to others.

“You must simply hearken to plenty of totally different individuals, and finally, hopefully, you may give you your personal fashion and sounds, in any other case, you are simply gonna get individuals saying, ‘Oh, you simply sound like another person.'”