We sit down with rising the talent from NYC for our Sound Bites spotlight with HARBER: Hooks, Melody & More.
Since his 2018 debut, HARBER’s been a talent on the rise. And 2023 has seen the 26-year-old DJ/producer break out in a bigger way with a trio of radio-friendly releases on the Lowly label and high-profile gigs around the country.
After he made waves earlier in the year with “Remedy” (feat. Alex Jones), HARBER hit the charts with the uplifting earworm “Medicine” (feat. Sydtherockerkid). Now he’s back with the emotive “Falling For You,” a collab with the Disco Fries that should surely spark the dancefloor.
Before this big year, HARBER had already collaborated with a slew of top talents – Morgan Page, Michael Calfan & NISHA, Lexy Panterra and more. He’d also been called upon for remixes on tracks from Afrojack & David Guetta (the Grammy-nominated “Hero”), Dan + Shay (the Grammy-winning “Tequila”), NERVO (“World’s Collide”) and more. Additionally, his music has been supported by a lineup of heavy hitters – including Tiësto, Martin Garrix and Marshmello.
Now in demand more than ever, HARBER’s performed at some of the top venues and festivals in the country, including Electric Zoo, Echostage D.C., Marquee New York, Brooklyn Mirage and Spinnin’ Sessions at Miami Music Week. So, after his high-energy performance opening for NOTD at NYC’s largest open-air party, The Rooftop at Pier 17, DJ LIFE caught up with the New York-based HARBER (aka Harry Berman).
DJ LIFE: Creatively, how did you approach “Falling For You,” your latest single project?
HARBER: On “Falling For You,” I was in a creative headspace trying to make a record that would fit sonically with another one of my favorite songs of mine so far, “Medicine.” I really wanted to stay in the piano-house world, while also trying to bring in fresh new sounds. I wanted to make a song like that with a similar sound that was different at the same time.
DJ LIFE: What qualities do the Disco Fries bring to a project?
HARBER: Disco Fries are super-talented guys. The way they listen to a record and immediately hear what might need to be added or removed is amazing. People always talk about how hard it is to get that last 10-percent of a song, but Nick [Ditri] and Danny [Boselovic] seem to know exactly what it takes to put out the best record possible.
DJ LIFE: What’s in your studio? What are your most important pieces?
HARBER: My studio set-up is fairly simple, to be honest. I’ve used Ableton Live my whole career. As far as gear goes, I have APS monitors with a UAD Apollo interface. My favorite plug-ins right now are the M1 from Korg, Nexus from reFX for piano, and Serum from Xfer Records is my go-to for bass at the moment.
DJ LIFE: In the studio, where and how does a project start?
HARBER: My process for creating music is always changing. Right now, I’ve really enjoyed writing lyrics and melodies first over a piano or guitar and then taking that raw, stripped demo into the studio to create a “HARBER” record. For me, I’ve discovered that I prefer to create music around a topline or vocals, rather than trying to fit a vocal over a finished production.
DJ LIFE: Your tracks are really strong with musical hooks – where does that come from?
HARBER: I’m just a huge fan of melodies. I love to create songs where both the lyrics and the instrumentation have melodies that are easily singable or that will get stuck in your head.
DJ LIFE: What’s the best way to approach a collab? How do you balance strengths and weaknesses of the participants?
HARBER: That’s a really great question. I think when you choose to collaborate with someone, there’s something of theirs that you admire from the start. So, I think it’s important to let them really take the wheel on those specific elements and then you fill in the gaps with the things that you’re most comfortable with.
DJ LIFE: Which producer/remixers catch your ear? Any major influences?
HARBER: To this day, I’m still the biggest Avicii fan. Like I said before, I’m a huge fan of melodies and no one did it better than Avicii. Every element of his records has such purpose, and I think that’s what’s so important – and what really draws you in.
DJ LIFE: In the DJ booth, what gear do you use and why?
HARBER: Depending on the gig, I’ll use between two and four Pioneer DJ CDJs and a Pioneer DJM mixer. I’m comfortable playing on just about any Pioneer mixer, so, whatever model the venue I’m playing provides usually works just fine for me. As for headphones, I switch between V-Moda and the Sennheiser HD-25s.
DJ LIFE: How do you approach DJing?
HARBER: I love to mix in and out of songs quickly. I think it’s a blast to try and fit as many songs as possible into a one- or two-hour set. I also think it’s crucial to be able to read the room. This allows you to either stay with a song longer, if people are really liking it, or get out sooner, if it might not be hitting as hard.
DJ LIFE: Do you have a preference about the types of venues you play?
HARBER: When it comes to shows, I really enjoy playing different types of gigs because it allows a variation in styles of sets. I like to play big venues, stages, and festivals, but then it’s also nice to play in an intimate setting because the crowd response varies so much depending on the space I’m playing. That’s one of parts I like most about being a DJ – it’s such a different experience every time.
DJ LIFE: Musically, what were your first influences? Which DJs impressed you and why?
HARBER: My first musical influence was definitely the Red Hot Chili Peppers. I’ve always been such a fan of their lyrics and how they tell such a real and beautiful story every time. I’d say my two favorite DJs from a live perspective are Tiësto and Skrillex. I always love watching their sets because they always have smooth transitions and tend to incorporate a nice combination of their originals and remixes, edits, throwbacks and old-school tracks, and new music.
DJ LIFE: What led you to electronic music? Was there a song or an experience that took you there?
HARBER: I first fell in love with electronic music watching videos of Ultra Miami on YouTube. I had never seen such an epic relationship between artist and crowd before. I was determined to be a part of that world ever since.
DJ LIFE: What are a few tracks that you like to play out these days?
HARBER: I gotta represent myself here first. I always have my song “Feelings After Dark” [with Michael Calfan & NISHA] and now my song “Medicine” [featuring Sydtherockerkid]. Apart from my own music, the Alesso remix of “Pressure” by Nadia Ali, Starkillers and Alex Kenji is always a crowd pleaser.
DJ LIFE: What’s next on the agenda for you?
HARBER: I’m really excited for “Falling For You” to finally be out there in the world! I have more singles to look forward to coming out on Lowly to be announced soon. I just released my remix of Disco Fries & Ferry Corsten “Love You Loud” featuring Leon Stanford, and also have another remix dropping soon. I can’t share too much about that one just yet, but it’s a big one and I’m excited to share it!
