EXCLUSIVE: HRVY on 'Stolen Heart' and journey to become prince of pop

“I enjoy it, I love that kind of music,” says HRVY with a grin as he muses on his penchant for a big cheesy pop hit.

It’s been six years since the star went from budding teenage wannabe to pop sensation overnight thanks to the success of ‘Personal’ and the 24-year-old is incredulous as CelebMix reminds him of all that’s happened in the time since that track.

From huge headline shows at the London Palladium to a Strictly Come Dancing stint and tours across the globe, it’s been non-stop for HRVY since dropping that early single as a fresh-faced teenager. What hasn’t changed however, is his love for great pop music.

Earlier this month the star released ‘Stolen Heart’, his first solo single in a year. A groovy ditty whose cheeky hooks give way to an infectious chorus, it’s the latest pitch-perfect pop to add to the HRVY discography.

The singer said: “It just happened! I’ve got a few pop songs that have done pretty well on streaming and fans loved it. It felt like a no-brainer to revisit that and give them that.

“I enjoy it, I love that kind of music, it’s giving me Jonas Brothers vibe. I love a cheeky pop song, who doesn’t? It was a cool song and it just happened by accident really.”

Landing with a playful music video, HRVY dropped the trademark slick choreography for a goofy get-up with friends and family roped in for the project. He said: “It was so weird. I had my head shaved and was wearing everything backwards, but I loved that. It was cool to do something a bit different. I felt very artsy when it happened.

“I had lots of friends in it and it was good to have my girlfriend be the main girl as it made it easy – she likes being in front of the camera and is an actress so that was great. It was nice to pull friends in and get them to do stuff. Music videos can be really stressful but it was really good.”

Speaking about new music and plans for the next year, HRVY’s eagerness to jump back into the madness of the industry is plain to hear after a mini-hiatus from releases.

Taking his foot off the gas won’t have come easy for HRVY. Where many rested during the pandemic, the star churned out some of his best work to date in ‘Unfamiliar’, ‘NEVERMIND’ and ‘Good Vibes’ before being catapulted into the madness of Strictly. Then came Views from the 23rd Floor, a headline tour and a string of arena support dates with The Wanted.

HRVY said: “It was a needed break for sure. It’s nice to get back on the horse, release music and be an artist again.

“The last year has been downtime, spending time with my friends and family, spending time in the studio. I’ve never completely stopped, I couldn’t do that. It was doing little bits here and there of different stuff, collecting my thoughts and making a plan.”

With time having passed since the early highs of his career and as he readies what’s to come, HRVY speaks candidly about the moments that have formed him as an artist.

Where many stars grow to dislike their breakthrough tracks, the pop star is lightning quick to shut down any suggestion ‘Personal’ may grate on him after all this year. Beaming, he said: “Don’t get me wrong, I’ve performed it so many times but it’s what got me off the ground. It’s such a great pop song. People are still loving it and it’s been a part of a lot of people’s childhoods which is amazing, I love that. It’s good to be a part of that.”

As well as the highs, HRVY has cut his teeth in the world of pop the hard way too. In 2020, much to the dismay of fans who had been waiting for a bigger project for three years, the singer pulled hotly-anticipated debut album CAN ANYBODY HEAR ME?.

Thinking back to that time now, the star sees that decision as one of the most important he’s made. HRVY said: “The album was so the wrong thing. I never wanted to release it, never. I was forced to release it and then eventually they said I didn’t, which was nice of them. It wasn’t the right thing to do.

“The music was okay. I didn’t love it. I just thought I had to do it. I’m so happy it never came out.

“Musically where I’m at now and the time and the era, I much prefer the music that’s popular now. The time of it was wrong and that’s okay. It can just be the wrong time and stop there. I’m a ‘yes man’ so when I said no it felt like a mic drop moment.”

Throughout the whole process, the key figures that have surrounded HRVY on his project have stayed the same. From manager to dancers to band, the singer has kept a family feel. He said: “It’s important to have the same team. Through the ups and downs we’ve been through it all. It keeps you in the same headspace and you’re on the same rollercoaster together.

“I’ve been doing this with the same people for years. There’s been a lot of change too, which is good, but it’s great to have the solid concrete wall around me since I started.”

Dubbing himself an ‘EP King’ HRVY teases that another mini project is well in the works but is refusing to overthink the process. One thing the ‘Don’t Need Your Love’ singer is certain of is the need to get back on stage.

When pressed to pick a career highlight so far, it’s unsurprising to hear the star pick a live show in 2018’s landmark headline show at the Eventim Apollo.

He said: “Honestly, that was so amazing. So cool. It was shortly before the pandemic too. It was such a crazy show and my first time with a big band and a video wall. It felt so big and fun.

“It just happened and I was very lucky to be able to do that. It would be good to get back there and do those things again with the new music. That’s definitely a highlight for me.”

It’s exciting times for HRVY and fans, feeling very much like we’re about to be launched into the birth of HRVY 2.0. The next 12 months in three words according to the star? New. Refresh. Happy.

Are you excited for new HRVY music? Let us know @CelebMix on X.

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