Mahoney Harris: Interview + New Single 'The Shifting of the Light'

20 Nov

KATIE BROWN - 20 NOV 2020

When I think of light shifting, I picture the mesmerising way a slow-moving shaft of sunlight brings out what it lands on into bright relief. Then it slowly moves on, illuminating the next object in its path, leaving what it had previously touched in comparative dimness. And the thing about this process is that it’s not immediately noticeable: one hour later, you realise that what was brightly lit up before no longer is.

The first listen I had of Mahoney Harris’s beautiful new single, ‘The Shifting of the Light’, struck me in exactly this way. With its unexpected chord changes and clever harmonies coming into play at just the right moments, the song is all at once tender, fragile, soothing, wistful and gently heartbreaking - but also hopeful. Mahoney’s pure and honest voice lends a truthfulness to it that brings its message home with a quiet strength. Life is built up of many iterations of shifting light, and in this case the light that once shone in a relationship has transitioned to its next phase. But as Harris sings, a “boat on the water leaves a wake” - the light has passed, but what it touched remembers what it was to know it.

Recorded in Factory Studios in Auckland, the track was produced and mixed by Wayne Bell, and mastered by Oliver Harmer. It is available now on all leading digital platforms.

Mahoney first started playing guitar and writing songs during an especially hot New York summer in 1996, and then began performing at local open mic nights. She released her debut EP ‘But They Do’ in New Zealand in 2009, followed by her first full album ‘We Didn’t Feel Alone’, released in September 2014 to warm praise from local media.

Listen to ‘The Shifting of the Light’ and read our interview with Mahoney below.

TELL US A LITTLE ABOUT YOURSELF: WHAT DO YOU DO FOR WORK, AND HOW DO YOU LIKE TO FILL YOUR FREE TIME?

I currently live on Waiheke Island with my 15 year old son. I work part-time at Aeroplane Music Services and Songbroker Music Publishing in Auckland, where I take care of website content, social media, admin and occasionally publicity. I also work at a fashion / homeware store on Waiheke called Eclectic Boutique. It’s a nice balance. In my free time I like to walk around the island - there are so many lovely walking tracks. I like to read, knit, garden (small garden!) and I dabble with pottery too. I’m also studying Te Reo at AUT.

WHAT EXCITES YOU MOST ABOUT RELEASING 'THE SHIFTING OF THE LIGHT’?

It has been a long time since I released music, so that in itself is exciting! I am happy with this song, the melody, where it takes you. It’s kind of soothing, and I hope people feel that too.

WHEN AND WHERE DID YOU WRITE IT, AND WHAT WAS THE WRITING PROCESS LIKE FOR YOU?

The beginnings of the song came about at home at dusk one evening. I think dusk can be quite a loaded moment with the onset of the night. Thoughts arise. It’s quite reflective. That is where the first lines came from. From there I worked the chord progression and added more lyrics. The closing verses were the last to come. I knew the song needed lyrics at the end. This song has brewed over a long period of time.

YOUR WRITING IS VERY POETIC AND VERY VISUAL: HOW DOES YOUR ENVIRONMENT INFLUENCE YOUR MUSIC?

Living on Waiheke and being surrounded by the ocean and native bush, I think nature is an ever present influence. There is so much poetry in nature.

unnamed (2).jpg — *“The beginnings of the song came about at home at dusk one evening. I think dusk can be quite a loaded moment with the onset of the night. Thoughts arise. It’s quite reflective.”*

WHAT KICK-STARTS YOUR WRITING PROCESS: DO YOU BEGIN WITH LYRICS, A MELODY, OR CHORDS, AND HOW DO YOU PROGRESS?

For me it changes. Sometimes it’s a chord progression. Sometimes a couple of verses form. It’s exciting either way. If it’s the verses first, I try to find the melody and chords that convey the feeling I’m after. If it’s the melody first, I try to work in some lyrics, which I find much harder. I like to leave them for a while, come back and keep reworking them that way.

'THE SHIFTING OF THE LIGHT' IS ABOUT A RELATIONSHIP ENDING, YET IT CONTAINS A CERTAIN GENTLE HOPE ALONGSIDE ITS WISTFUL MELANCHOLY. DID YOU FIND THE WRITING OF THE SONG CATHARTIC IN ITSELF, AND IF SO, HOW?

This song in particular was cathartic in that it was an expression of loss but also, important to me, was letting all the feelings be there and knowing that you can’t live in this world as a human and not have your actions affect someone. It was gently affirming, as I was asserting myself in the song as well as acknowledging the sadness.

WHAT'S NEXT ON THE AGENDA WITH YOUR MUSIC?

I am planning on releasing a bunch of songs one by one. Anything goes these days, people listen to music in different ways, and releasing a song at a time is a less ambitious undertaking for me financially and psychologically!

WHAT EXCITES YOU MOST ABOUT 2021?

After the events of 2020, it just feels good to live in a country where we are able to go about our lives with a level of normality. Seeing my son grow into a young man, making and recording more songs, learning more Te Reo, leading to a greater understanding of Māori culture, friends, family, community.

WHAT HAVE BEEN YOUR GO-TO COMFORTS AND SELF-CARE RITUALS TO HELP CARRY YOU THROUGH 2020'S INTENSITY?

Walking in nature and outdoors gives me energy and peace. I try to do yoga at least once a week and that really helps my state of mind. When I have the time, cooking good food is calming and satisfying.

WHAT ARE THREE OF YOUR FAVOURITE SONGS RIGHT NOW?

‘Keep Your Faith to the Sky' - Willie Scott and The Birmingham Specials - such an uplifting gospel track from an amazing album called The Time For Peace Is Now.

‘How Can We Hang on to a Dream’ - Tim Hardin - a Spotify discovery while letting those algorithms do their thing.

‘Caught in the Rain’ - Troy Kingi - what can I say. Sigh.

Follow Mahoney on Facebook and Instagram.