Biography

ABOUT THE HARA

Alternative rock trio THE HARA are one of the most exciting new heavy bands, combining forthright and emotive lyrics, massive rhythms, and a sense of boundless energy. THE HARA is Josh Taylor (frontman), Zack Breen (guitar), and Jack Kennedy (drums).

Explaining the band’s mantra, Josh says: “We want to show everyone that despite it all, despite what the statistics say, despite what people say or any of that social media acceptance bullsh*t, it really doesn’t matter. Thousands of people will reject you for being different but there are 10 times over that amount who will accept you and who are feeling just like you. If people can become a part of such a glorious resistance through our music, then that’s our mission.”

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2023 Back in the studio this summer, watch this space!
2023 Performed mainstage Rock For People with Muse headlining followed by Nothng But Thieves
2023 Returned to Europe to support Sum 41 and Nothing More
2023 Full video screen production for Manchester Academy 2 headline to close the first UK leg of SURVIVAL MODE
2023 First Prague headline show SOLD OUT
2023 First “UK/EU” Headline Tour, 16 dates taking in larger UK venues and EU dates across the Netherlands, Germany, Czech Republic and France
2023 SURVIVAL MODE gets #3 Rock & Metal, #4 Independent, #17 Physical in the UK Official Album Charts
2023 Debut Album, Survival Mode released by SOTN on the 7th April having been delayed 4 months due to post pandemic deliveries of vinyl!
2023 First step into the US market via SXSW with support from the PRS Foundation, International Showcase Fund
2022 Following their first European Festival, Rock For people, THE HARA were asked back to headline Nouvelle Prague Showcase Festival.
2022 First step into Europe supporting Sueco on his first World Tour
2022 UK Festival run included, Download, 2000 Trees, Truck Festival, Kendal Calling, YNOT?, Bingley, & 110 Above Festival
2022 17 date UK headline tour, WE ALL WEAR BLACK is smashed out the park with many SOLD OUT shows
2022 WE All WEAR BLACK, EP released, debuting at #3 Rock & Metal, #7 Independent, #14 Vinyl, #14 Physical Album UK Official Charts
2022 Feb, Now LIVING WITH COVID, sees THE HARA ramp up the release of their WE ALL WEAR BLACK EP & UK Headline TOUR
2021 THE HARA signed to Scuff of The Neck Records to complete their EP, WE ALL WEAR BLACK
2021 Covid rescheduled headline shows for WE ARE THE MOVEMENT tour
2021 Download Pilot in June defined the start of THE HARA
2021, June THE HARA debut the festival scene gaining huge popularity from their live performances which started with Download Pilot, this their first show out of lockdown and their first ever festival performance, a significant turning point for the band attracting many new fans and Grammy Award-winning record producer Jason Perry who offered to produce their debut album based on this performance alone. Other festival performances included Slam Dunk North & South, opening main stage Reading & Leads, Neighbourhood Festival and more
2020/21 WE ALL WEAR BLACK EP #6, was written and produced during lockdown, Black Soul Ceremony and Afterlife released independently before licensing to Scruff of The Neck Records
2020/21 During COVID/lockdown THE HARA found TikTok as an outlet to have some fun given the lack of live shows, this led to their first independent Global Virtual Gig which attracted 10K sign ups
2020 Former MD of Epic Records UK (Sony) Dougie Bruce re-joined Universal Music Publishing which resulted in indie label Sign of The Time being shelved
2020, March! WE ARE THE MOVEMENT TOUR was just about to start! THEN COMES LOCKDOWN…
2020 FRIENDS from PLAY DEAD EP was synched on two globally released video games, NHL21 and Dirt 5
2020 PLAY DEAD, EP #5 achieved a UK #1 across All Genres in the UK iTunes Album Charts
2020 WE ARE THE MOVEMENT, EP #4 reached #1 in the UK Rock Charts and #2 across All Genres on release in the iTunes Album Charts
2019 THE HARA signed to Paradigm booking agency, now Wasserman Music with Tom Taaffe, before announcing their largest UK tour to date
2020 THE HARA signed to indie label Sign of The Times, headed up by Dougie Bruce, for two EP’s WE ARE THE MOVEMENT & PLAY DEAD
2019 Sol Parker joined Paul Taylor as co-management. PT looking after day-to-day and Sol taking the lead with Industry
2019 THE HARA played live to more than 4,850 fans across the UK at their own headline shows with the support of Simon (Spike) Dawbarn
2019 TRAMP BRAIN, EP #3 was self-released without presale or a marketing budget and amazingly peaked at #3 in the UK iTunes Rock Charts.
2019 UMIB was licensed to Hunter Corp Records in a crypto funded record deal alongside Fleur East and few others! On paper it was what they needed but the funding never materialised forcing THE HARA to part company and stay independent.
2019 UNCONSCIOUS MINDS INNOCENTLY BLIND, #EP2 stormed to UK #1 in the iTunes Pre-Order Album Charts for 3 days, above Lewis Capaldi who had held #1 for the previous 3 weeks. On release, this peaked at #5 across all genres in the UK Album Charts. Accidentally placed in the Pop Charts it peaked at #2, had it been placed in the Alternative or Rock Charts the EP would have claimed their first #1.
2009 BE SOMEBODY was pre-released during pre-order and was THE HARA’s most streamed and purchased track until their PLAY DEAD EP. This was the song that first defined the band with their then teen audience. It amassed 125K views on YouTube until Josh accidentally deleted it! Now with another 100K organic views this would have matched Only Young.
2018, May marked their first milestone, self-releasing NO REGRET, #EP1. This was the highest new entry on iTunes at #29, later reaching #2 that same day and missing out on #1 to Arctic Monkeys who released their first album in five years. During pre-release it achieved #1 in the UK and Ireland.
2017, September the band was named THE HARA and a YouTube music video ONLY YOUNG was released. The music video quickly amassed over a quarter of a million views and helped to establish an amazing fanbase. The song was never released, they spent the next 6 months writing their first EP.
2017 The band name came about accidentally whilst trying to find a suitable name with available web domain and socials. Having a few beers and a summer barbecue Josh jokingly through ‘the hara’ into the mix, his barbecue was branded Sahara with Sa barely visible! Quickly googling ‘the hara’ they were all surprised to find that the web domain and all social platforms were available. The word ‘hara’ with origins in Japan, a term for a specific area of energy around the lower abdomen and one that is often likened to an ‘infinite ocean of energy’ was instantly liked by the band.
2017 Josh, Jack & Zack studied at BIMM, Manchester. All graduated in the same year but were on different programmes so had never met or played together before the band. Josh first met Zack after advertising for band members on Join My Band and it wasn’t until he later reached out to Jack that the band line-up was completed.