Interview by: Duzzy Clayton
Building Bridges & Soundtracking Grief – Gareth Haze on Honouring His Father Through New Uplifting Indie Anthem
Intro
Fanbase Music Magazine is thrilled to sit down with Gareth Haze as he prepares to release his second single, ‘Never Have I Ever’, on Friday 9 May. From South African stages to London studios and cloud-powered collaborations with his renowned rocker brother Mark Haze, Gareth’s journey blends raw emotion with spirited folk-rock energy.
Q: You cut your teeth as a drummer for Mark Haze and the band 12th Avenue. What pulled you out from behind the kit and onto centre stage as a solo singer-songwriter?
Gareth Haze: It was something I’d wanted to do for a long time, but I never really had the confidence or the time. My schedule with Mark was also rammed – at one point we were playing ten to fifteen gigs a month, so I simply couldn’t fit anything else in. Moving to London offered me a fresh start. I arrived with a couple of large suitcases and only brought over some of my drum kit – mostly cymbals – after about a year. I didn’t know anyone in the music industry and didn’t feel ready to join another band. Then my friend Dave, a vicar in the Church of England and a musician, invited me to play at church, which got me back on stage on open-mic nights – this time with a guitar in my hands. Once I realised I could do it and that it felt right, I started writing songs again and have been moving forward ever since. Ironically, I’m now back behind the drum kit as well as pursuing my solo work, playing for an indie-soul-hip-hop outfit called ‘Funky Nature’, which has been a lot of fun and a completely different experience to my solo material.
Q: Your debut single, ‘Home’, is an acoustic folk-pop ballad about returning to someone you love. How did that collaboration with Mark shape your creative vision for what came next?
Gareth Haze: Mark and I have always worked well together in the studio. We share similar creative visions but bring very different influences, which makes for a great melting-pot of ideas. After we recorded ‘Home’, Mark invited me into his studio in South Africa to record guide tracks for six or seven songs – one of which was ‘Never Have I Ever’. He then sent the stems over to me, and I fleshed them out here in London, bouncing ideas back and forth via WhatsApp. He’s very easy to work with, and we both focus on what’s best for the song rather than our own egos.
Q: After your father passed in 2023, you channelled your grief into ‘Never Have I Ever’. How did you find the balance between honouring his memory and crafting an upbeat anthem?
Gareth Haze: My dad never wanted his funeral to be a somber affair but rather a celebration of his life – and that’s exactly what it was. We asked everyone to wear bright colours, and afterward we spent hours sharing memories and laughter. I’d already written the chords and melody before he passed, but the lyrics came a few weeks later. I kept my dad’s wishes in mind throughout, especially when arranging the drums. If he’d ever wanted a song written about him, it couldn’t have been a slow one, so I aimed to make it as uplifting and joyous as possible.
Q: You performed every instrument on ‘Never Have I Ever’. Which part challenged you most, and how did overcoming it influence your approach to future recordings?
Gareth Haze: The bass guitar was the hardest part. It wasn’t a particularly complex line, but it’s the instrument I know least. Ploughing through it taught me a great deal about bass-playing techniques and how to make it sit properly in the mix. I learn something new every time I step into the studio. It’s taught me to be patient, to relax and enjoy the process: the more at ease you are, the better you sound – whether on bass, guitar or even when singing.
Q: Co-producing with Mark across two continents relies on cloud technology and asynchronous workflows. Can you share a moment when that process surprised or inspired you?
Gareth Haze: It still blows my mind when Mark sends me a finished mix and master overnight. As a teenager in Cape Town on 12th Avenue, we’d often get what we could afford, and it was hard to make our recordings match what we heard in our heads. Nowadays, thanks to technology and the wealth of online tutorials, you can create world-class recordings at a fraction of the cost – if you’re willing to learn and apply yourself.
Q: Your sound merges emo, punk and Americana. Which specific records or artists do you revisit when you need fresh inspiration?
Gareth Haze: I love rediscovering bands I enjoyed when I was younger but never had full access to. Recently, I’ve been revisiting Jimmy Eat World – everyone knows ‘The Middle’, but the entire Bleed American album is superb, and their back catalogue is full of great songwriting. I’ve also developed a new appreciation for Blink-182: beyond their MTV hits, their later material reveals real depth – ‘Home Is Such a Lonely Place’ is a perfect example. Thrice is another band I’ve dived back into, and I was lucky enough to see them in London a few years ago; their album To Be Everywhere Is to Be Nowhere is outstanding. Finally, I finally caught Yellowcard live – they’ve been one of my favourites for twenty years, and they always find their way onto my playlists.
Q: Building a fanbase in London as a South African expat must have its hurdles. What strategies or moments helped you connect with listeners far from home?
Gareth Haze: Playing as much as possible and venturing beyond my local area has been crucial. Touring in South Africa taught me not to mind traveling for shows, getting home late, then waking early for the next gig. Audiences appreciate it when you come from afar to perform for them. I know musicians who stick to their own suburbs, but where’s the adventure in that? It’s far more rewarding to meet new audiences and explore different venues.
Q: You’ve discussed a DIY ethos on stage – playing with passion over perfection. How do you translate that energy into livestreams and social-media performances?
Gareth Haze: I haven’t livestreamed much yet, but when I do, I’ll treat it like any live show. First, ensure your equipment works: test your sound levels, check your video setup and dress appropriately. Then, for the performance, rehearse thoroughly, move naturally, breathe, and don’t let mistakes derail you – laugh them off and carry on. At the end of the day, every stage is the same, whether it’s a pub, a theatre, a stadium or a studio.
Q: The title of your upcoming album is Stranger in a Strange Land. You mention it evokes themes of displacement and personal transformation. How have your experiences moving between Cape Town and London informed the stories and musical textures you’re exploring on this full album?
Gareth Haze: The songs reflect my life’s journey so far, touching on purpose, love, loss, life, death and belonging. I use symbolism and metaphor to keep the meanings open to interpretation, but there’s a recurring sense of reminiscence. In fact, rather than a full-length album, it’s likely to be an EP, followed by a second EP entitled Somewhere in the In-Between – the latter delving more deeply into themes of loneliness and searching for one’s place in the world.
Q: Looking ahead to festival season and possible EPs, what goals do you have for 2025, and what should fans be most excited about?
Gareth Haze: Aside from releasing plenty more music later this year, I’m excited for the UK summer – festivals, fairs and outdoor gigs are always a blast. It’s been a slow start gig-wise, so I’m keen to get more live shows booked and be out there performing again.
Thank you, Gareth, for taking us behind the music, the memories and the milestones. We wish you every success with ‘Never Have I Ever’, and we look forward to news of your upcoming EPs.
Be sure to stream the single and follow Gareth at @GarethHazeMusic.