Since her debut Download Festival set in 2024 – which not only etched HARPER into its history books as the festival’s youngest ever performer but marked her first ever live show – today the astonishing 13-year-old vocalist releases a brand new track, ‘Thorn In My Side‘.
HARPER first took the internet by storm with her mind-blowing cover of Spiritbox‘s ‘Holy Roller‘ and captured the hearts of millions as a contestant on America’s Got Talent. Over the three years since, HARPER has gone from strength to strength, releasing multiple singles and racking up fans. Having been widely tipped as one of the acts not to miss at Download, her set was a triumph all round. Kerrang! promptly declared afterwards, “she’s easily going toe to toe with artists three or four times her age, ” and more simply, “This is awesome.“
New single ‘Thorn In My Side‘ delivers a warning punch to the powers-that-be and the ever-depressing news cycle and scaremongers in a doomed world.
Harper enthuses, “‘Thorn In My Side’ was written when there just seemed to be a lot of bad things happening in the world. Whenever I’d be in the car and the news came on the radio or even watching TV there was just nothing positive happening. Lyrically it’s pretty dark and just a statement of frustration. I also really wanted to push myself on this song, I’m still learning so much about my voice and what It can do so it’s been really fun challenging myself to become a better vocalist.”
HARPER‘s previous singles were the defiant ragers ‘Bird In A Cage‘ and ‘I Hope You Choke‘ – cathartic blends of rage and frustration; potent cocktails of everything metal that HARPER loves.
Including clinching over four million Spotify streams, HARPER has solidified herself as one to watch. With a blistering cover of Bring Me The Horizon‘s smash hit ‘Chelsea Smile‘ and a fun collab with Nik Nocturnal on track ‘Ghost Sphere‘.
For more from the talented pre-teen, investigate electrifying single ‘Weight Of The World‘, a bonafide metalcore banger. Written by Leo Valeri, of deathcore heavyweights Brand Of Sacrifice, it features a guest vocal from Dave Stephens (We Came As Romans). Stream it HERE. Watch the video, having now surpassed 1 million YouTube views, HERE. HARPER also posted a “one take” video for the track HERE.
In between official single releases and homework, HARPER has been having fun unveiling surprise cover tracks on her YouTube channel, picking a range of diverse artists from Taylor Swift and Ed Sheeran to Knocked Loose, Bad Omens, and Architects! She also teamed up with vocalist Kasey Karlsen (Nita Strauss, Deadlands) for a duet on an I Prevail track which has garnered more than 5.8 million views. Check out those videos HERE and stay tuned for more from HARPER soon.
Photo credit – press photo