Locked down and with no other musicians to play with, Harmony With Hunter devoted himself to the art of live looping. His debut album Different Kind of Strong is the result.

By Graeme Smith

It’s becoming a familiar story. At the height of COVID, with the world of live music on its knees, musicians turned inward and worked on the skills they could build while at home. In Hunter’s case, this was live looping, video creation, music recording and mixing.

As a result, Different Kind of Strong is the epitome of a one-man show. Across its eleven tracks, Hunter shows us plenty of himself, not only through his DIY approach but his honest lyrics and unique style. We get plenty of surprises to set him apart from the pack, right from the looping strings of opener Easy Answers. Its poignant lyrics will grab you.

It’s perhaps his vocals that stand out the most, though. Passionate and powerful, they create an immediate sense of connection with the listener. The emotion of each track is left in no doubt, and cuts through the technical wizardry on display. Invisible is a rousing call to action. The Only One is jaunty and soul-bearing.

Hunter pushes pop boundaries in tracks like the bluesy When I’m Alone and the classical-infused Robot Boy and the Star, while giving us some classic song writing in the swaggering folk rock of All I Needed and the percussive and layered The Other. Title track Different Kind of Strong is a bass-rich act of defiance before Dreamers closes the album with some soul-searching optimism.

Through his debut album, it’s clear that Harmony With Hunter is an accomplished musician, and he has applied his newfound skills well. Most importantly, he writes and performs with heart, and creates an appealing sound that has plenty to say. You need Different Kind of Strong in your life.

Different Kind of Strong is out now and you can listen to it below.