Today we’d like to introduce you to Harley Scott.
Harley, can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
Knew in 2008 if there anything I could do for the rest of my life and be happy it would be producing music and performing. Fast forward to 2011-2012. I’m in Melaka, Malaysia reluctantly studying cosmetology, living in student housing and sharing a room with three dudes every weekday. They had the luxury of going home on the weekends.
By mid-year I embark back to Texas to pursue a means to an end with cosmetology, only to find out you need 1200 hours or so (don’t quote me) to practice in the US. Back to Malaysia I went to complete my hours.
Here’s where everything starts to catalyze. I ended up dating this amazing human 15 years older than me. Her 37 and me, immature and 23. I went into the relationship for some of the wrong reasons. Money being one of them. I owe a lot to her for getting me on my feet and developing me as a person. She knew this was a route I dreamed of pursuing and directed her love towards it. The relationship ended in the beginning of 2014 where I had to figure shit out quick. There’s a famous street in Kuala Lumpur called Changkat, lined with bars and clubs. Europeans love the location. Food and drink is cheap AF and depending on where you go, music was solid. Up to this point, I had some magazine features and might’ve been in a commercial or two, which helps out if you’re trying to get booked. So up and down this street I went to each suitable venue until I landed my first gig with a notorious gay club in the city by the name of Frangipani. Mind you, being gay in Malaysia is Haram. This soon turned into a Wednesday and Thursday night residency with the occasional Friday or Saturday night gig. That then expanded into other residencies and gigs around the city. Life was good. Shit was happening. It wasn’t exactly what I wanted, but I wasn’t cutting hair and getting paid to go out and have a good time.
Cue November 2015. Going through another break-up and got caught up with the wrong two people with families in positions that can get away with murder. Ended up in a house kickin’ it with them where I’m told I’m now part of the gang. Nope. I prefaced with them multiple times leading to that point how that wasn’t a lifestyle I wanted a part of. Too late. From 9:30am to 2:15pm I was made to sit on my knees while I was beaten. Had a knife to my throat, forced to write and sign a fake rape letter, then told I was just going to be shot that day. Life flashed before my eyes pretty quick. The taller of the two scumbags seemed like he was taking a business call when the beating subsided. My face was fucked up. After the call he said I had two days to leave the country or I’d be wrapped in tires, set on fire and thrown into the river. No thanks. I left, back to family in Texas to start over.
Throughout 2016 I spent the entire time soaking up as much information as I could through Youtube and Forums on music production. Plateaued in what I knew and could create when I found out about Icon Collective through online reviews. The friends I’ve made here in LA have changed my life for the better. Shit was pretty dark for a while after departing KL. Looking back, it feels like a blessing in disguise. Whatever Harley Scott is, feels like it’s being fulfilled now. I currently have two songs out and a three track EP encompassing Hip-Hop, Drum & Bass, and Breaks, I’ll be dropping within the month. I’m pretty excited about it. The soul is made happy in its pursuit.
Hopefully, there weren’t too many tangents in there.
Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
Fuck no it hasn’t been smooth. Not eating, not knowing if you’re going to make next month’s rent. Getting beaten, starting over, learning everything that comes with music production from scratch. Relocating, making rent, grinding a job while going to school. Grinding a job while religiously grinding on art as well and all the feelings of uncertainty along the way. Hell, I’ve got some right now.
We’d love to hear more about your work and what you are currently focused on. What else should we know?
I’m Harley Scott. I love music, I feel music, and I make music. I just want this mind to be free and create emotions I’ve never felt. That I’m pursuing my creativity to the utmost of my being. Don’t think that is for me to decide when it comes to music – at least not without seeming pretentious.
What is “success” or “successful” for you?
Being free from everyone and everything while I’m working on music. Being able to create music. This shit felt like magic to me when I was in my single digits. Now I get to create it? I’m super duper happy about that. It still feels like magic to me.
I guess the biggest and most important being, does this make me happy, and I am.
Contact Info:
- Website: hrlysctt.com
- Email: [email protected]
- Instagram: hrlysctt
- Facebook: hrlysctt
- Twitter: hrlysctt
- Other: soundcloud.com/hrlysctt
Image Credit:
Josh Cubero
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