Pigeon Spins Featuring an Interview with Svarp The Harp

Svarp The Harp - Hoochie Coochie Man

Released on 20th October 2023, "Hoochie Coochie Man" stands out as a soulful and introspective take on a timeless blues favorite. With a meticulous attention to detail in both music and lyrics, this rendition transports listeners to a realm of tranquility and contemplation. The recording process, marked by an impromptu slide guitar addition, adds a touch of spontaneity to the otherwise meticulously crafted single. Svarp The Harp's dedication to authenticity shines through in this handmade production, promising a listening experience that resonates deeply with blues enthusiasts worldwide.

"This version come from east Germany. It is a really clean, slow and quiet version of Hoochie Coochie Man. Perfect for listen when you sit in your armchair with headphones for example and you thoughts float. The surprise will be in the ditail for the attentive listener in music and lyrics too."

Interview with Svarp The Harp

The slide guitar was an impromptu addition. What was happening in the studio that made you decide to keep it?

We recorded the slid guital just in one take and after listining we keep some parts because the sound is good to the song. When i listin to this song it feels like that the slide guitar talk with the bluesharp. The slide guitar support the singer in his storry. But this is just me feeling. Maybe other humans feel something different things when she listen to this song.

So feel free to feel what you feel ! ;-))

Blues is deeply rooted in tradition, but your version feels personal and introspective. How do you balance honoring the original with making it your own?

It feels not like that is my song and it is not my song.

It is my version, my interpretation of this song.

It is a version we played on many gigs and i like this.

Your harmonica playing is central to your sound. What role does the harp play in how you express emotion in a song?

For me it is so i play the bluesharp spontan and listen to the music around me to play with. On this point i think nothing else just the musik and the instrument. Long notes for a long life, for a long distance stil for a long moment. What can we hold so long ? Nothing ! Anytime comes the end. But sometimes it feels like endless also too when i listen to some songs again and again. That's maybe a kind of my feelings I have when i play the Bluesharp in this song.

You’ve mentioned influences like Muddy Waters and John Lee Hooker. How have those artists shaped the way you approach your craft?

I listen to since when i was a child and the sound for me is like someone telling a story.

Childrens like story. But when I was a child I just understod only the german linguage.

So i had my own fantasy to the sounds of Muddy Waters, John Lee Hoocker and so on.

The vibrations for me as a child was wow this mans singing with a lot of feelings. Also womans too like Tina Turner or Janis Joplin of course and so on. That's maybe a deep feeling and memory and that's influence my way.

This track feels contemplative, almost meditative. Was that atmosphere intentional from the start, or did it emerge organically?

I love fast songs, party songs Rock n Roll , Boogie Woogie.... thats my favorite.

It is rarely that i play slow Blues but when you play a slow blues on live gig after a hot fast session it feels like come down and make brake together. And sometimes it is happen you feel like the song is in flow and floats. The song pick you upp and bring you to float. ;-))

That's the best feeling.

How do you want listeners to feel when they hear your rendition of “Hoochie Coochie Man”?

Everyone can feel what he / she want. The own feeling of eache is the best feeling.

Feel free to feel what you feel !

Can you share a bit about your songwriting or recording routine. What sparks your creativity?

When i thinking about it is the reality the input for my own songs and german lyrics.

My creative time is around between 10 pm and 4 am when i have time.

You know i´m just a worke an i have to wake up 5 am. The recording we do it together wit other musicans of course and we work together on the songs.

So we can make somthing better for the recordings.

Beyond this release, what’s next for you. Are you working on more covers, original material, or something unexpected?

I wanna go live again and work on own songs.

So the start for this maybe was the Seydel Open 2025 the international harmonica contest in Klingenthal Germany. I was a member of this contest and it was realy nice.

So we can go on !

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