Harkness Archives - Toronto Guardian

“A Day in the Life” with: Toronto Artist Harkness

Mira Bhatt — Wed, 09 Jul 2025 07:33:27 +0000

Clad in a purple gown and visor, Toronto’s musical enigma Harkness has taken the city’s arts scene by storm with his “Modern White Stripes” duo and as the lead character of the “Harkness” documentary currently streaming on CBC Gem.

From the age of 17, Harkness toured Canada and Europe with a variety of bands before finally discovering his signature sound and starting his uncompromising solo career. Harkness’s music, partially inspired by his personal journey of healing from mental trauma, is a testament to finding light in the darkest of times and discovering the beauty of an ego-free existence.

Harkness believes in the unique touch of individual musicians and refuses to settle for electronic samples. His intricate arrangements, inspired by classical masters as well as pop music icons, feature a remarkably wide array of instruments ranging from bassoons and steel drums to tubas and saxophones – all recorded in his self-financed basement studio.

With a treasure trove of psychedelic pop masterpieces waiting to be finished, Harkness records, produces, and mixes his music himself. This ensures that his music at once reflects the chaotic division in the world and inspires listeners to take steps in their own lives to improve our collective world.

-Written by Maria Markina

Harkness in his happy place, recording music in his mother’s basement

At local Toronto record store ‘Invisible City’, Harkness is hoping they will add his vinyl to their stock.

Harkness hard at work making an extra-large batch of his famous Hot sauce to sell at his live concerts.

Maria Markina, the Director of the Harkness film, captures one of many Harkness live performances seen in the documentary film now streaming on CBC GEM

Harkness and Markina on the set of CP24 doing one of many promotional stops to help share the news of the new Harkness LP and Movie

‘On Set’ in New York City with the guerrilla crew responsible for much of the Harkness movie. Left to right: Sound Technician Peter Sawade, Harkness, Director Maria Markina, P.A. Steph de Bem, Cinematographer Pat McGowan.

Harkness was asked to do a full performance followed by a Q&A for the students at Trinity College

BTS still photo from the Harkness movie. Here we see him busking in the busy streets of London in hopes of attracting attention for his upcoming live show at ‘The Underworld’ club in Camden.

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Which ’hood are you in?

I live with my Mom in North York, Toronto, in a quiet neighbourhood…that is, aside from the racket I make in my basement recording studio.

What do you do?

I mainly write and record my own songs. This entails having lots and lots of other diverse and talented musicians swing by the studio to contribute their own expertise and soul to my music. I hope that my music helps people who might be somewhat troubled and in the dark to find their way back to the huge bright light of Life that is always and forever present. Over the past few years, I have also tried everything and anything to get my music heard. All of the highs and lows of my indie artists’ journey are showcased brilliantly in a documentary film called ‘Harkness’, now streaming on CBC GEM.

I also love to draw and cook…most notably my famous Harkness Hot Sauce.

What are you currently working on?

I have just released my 2nd full record called ‘Ciao To The Beauty’. I have a new drummer, and we have been working extremely hard on a high-energy and very eclectic live show that we hope to tour throughout Canada and the world if possible. So if there are any promoters reading this… The aim of our performance is to lift the audience’s spirits to the very highest of highs. And I am also writing and recording music for the next album titled ‘Bulldozer’.

Where can we find your work?

You can purchase my vinyl and hot sauce at harknessmusic.com and listen to my new album on all streaming platforms, including Spotify and Apple. My song videos are easily found on YouTube, and my Instagram feed is a Fun ride too, where I will be posting recording session clips and all sorts of other Fun happenings from the world of Harkness. Lastly, you can watch the Harkness documentary film on CBC GEM.

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Toronto Guardian Winter 2022 Spotify Playlist

Joel Levy — Fri, 01 Apr 2022 04:30:21 +0000

Every Friday we publish our “Five Minutes With” series which showcases local musicians through our questionnaire and music samples to help introduce our readers to some of the incredible local talent we have in Toronto and beyond.

This year, as opposed to our monthly playlists, we will be creating seasonal Spotify playlists with songs from the musical acts featured during that season to share our featured artists beyond the single post on each.

These playlists feature one song from each of the musicians we featured that season in a Spotify playlist that is then shared with our readers via this website. If you can follow these artists and share their music, I am sure they would appreciate it.

For our Winter 2022 playlist, we have 11 songs to share from artists featured from January to March 2022.

Enjoy!

Winter 2022 Musicians Featured

Khalil – (Read Article)

Harkness – (Read Article)

LØLØ – (Read Article)

Kaya Usher – (Read Article)

Sabrina Sapal – (Read Article)

Omega Mighty – (Read Article)

Apricity – (Read Article)

Soft Set – (Read Article)

Caardia – (Read Article)

Osé – (Read Article)

Clever Hopes – (Read Article)

The post Toronto Guardian Winter 2022 Spotify Playlist appeared first on Toronto Guardian.

“Five Minutes With” alternative singer-songwriter, Harkness

Demian Vernieri — Fri, 21 Jan 2022 08:00:33 +0000

For over a decade Harkness has been tirelessly working in his home studio honing his songwriting and production skills. He sings, plays guitar, bass, piano and drums, and also produces everything himself. He counts Prince and Todd Rundgren – both of whom also worked this way – as major inspirations.

Born in Toronto, Canada, Harkness is the 2nd in a brood of 5. Both his parents were talented musicians. His father fronted The Al Harkness Orchestra a band consisting of horns and winds along with a traditional rhythm section. His mother was a top French horn player at North
Toronto Collegiate, a high school known for their music curriculum, as well as a beautiful piano player, who taught the local kids, including her own while they were growing up.

Playing piano since the age of four, it wasn’t until Harkness was shown his first guitar chords by a friend at age 12, that the fire to pursue music was lit. Recalling that moment he says, “It was almost eerie how easily it came to me, hearing the music come straight out of my hands felt so powerful, it was an immediate high that I knew I couldn’t live without. Right away I started writing my own songs.”

Name:

Harkness

Genre:

Alternative (New Psych)

Founded:

The moment I was born

# of Albums:

Latest Album:

The Occasion

Latest Single:

The Occasion

Latest Video:

Favourite musician growing up:

John Lennon

Favourite musician now:

Beethoven

Guilty pleasure song:

What The World Needs Now Is Love – Jackie DeShannon

Live show ritual:

Walk in local ravine before the show

Favourite local musician:

Mia Sheard

EP or LP?

Early bird or night owl?

Early Bird

Road or studio?

Studio

Any shows or albums coming up?

2nd album is almost finished to be released in Spring; a documentary about me is currently being filmed by Maria Markina, produced by Storyline Entertainment.

Where can we follow you?

Website | Instagram | Facebook

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Rapid Fire Toronto Qs

Favourite local restaurant:

Alo

Favourite street in your city:

Boyton Road, It was my Mom’s street as a child and when I was a bit younger I asked to live there with my Grandmother for a few years. It’s close to Mount Pleasant cemetery too which is a lovely place to write music and draw.

Favourite park in your city:

German Mills, there is a park there but it also has a ravine and a sweet little river, you can bump into deer and owls and foxes there. Pure Paradise.

Favourite music venue in your city:

Massey Hall

Favourite music store in your city:

Long and McQuade

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