Today we’d like to introduce you to Harley Mitchell.
Harley, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
My name is Harley Mitchell and I am a 29-year-old musician. I was born and raised in Clifton, New Jersey. When I was 15, my family and I moved to Coral Springs, FL. My stepdad taught me how to play the guitar when I was 12 and when I was around 15/16 years old, I picked up the bass because his cover band needed a bass player.
I never had a lesson for the drums, but I have a photo of myself from when I was 2 years old sitting behind a drum set. I started playing in the South Florida cover band scene when I was 16 years old. Right now, I play bass for a cover band called Project X, drums for an 80’s cover band called Rubixx, and on Mondays, I play drums for live band karaoke.
I’m currently working on my music now too. I am releasing my first original song on October 20 called Here I Am. On it, I play all the parts (guitar, bass, drums, vocals), and the lyrics and musical arrangement are also by me.
I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle free, but so far would you say the journey have been a fairly smooth road?
Looking back, I think the obstacles are what any musician deals with. Whether it’s finding a band to join, finding the right players, picking songs that go over well, the late nights, the load in/load out, making sure we get paid, booking gigs, and having to go through 5 people’s schedules to make sure we all align. The list goes on.
As a female musician though, that has its challenges. Being taken seriously as a woman. “You’re good for a girl.” “You should smile more.” I think a lot more is expected of a female musician. I’m on TikTok and although I have a great following and awesome support, I still get those occasional mean comments. I go live every time I have a gig.
For example, someone commented on my TikTok Live saying that I wasn’t playing bass live. I have gotten comments about my body. We have been torn apart, especially when we have something to offer to the world, like my talent.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I’m a musician. My main instruments are the bass and drums, but I can also play the guitar. I had the opportunity to play drums for Company B for the Throwback Bash Concert Series in Miami in 2021. I’m also proud to be endorsed by Collision Drumsticks and GHS Strings.
I have 21K YouTube subscribers. I’ve reached 35K followers on TikTok, my favorite band, Green Day, now follows me on TikTok, and Billie Joe Armstrong of Green Day not only follows me on Instagram but has liked and shared a few of my Green Day covers. Right now, I’m proud to put out my music. It’s been a long time coming. It’s so cool to be able to say I did it all. The instruments, the lyrics, the arrangement. It’s all me.
Can you share something surprising about yourself?
I can’t think of anything surprising about me at the moment, so I will share something cool that happened to me instead. The drummer for the Scorpions, Mikkey Dee, was at my gig at Piper’s Pub in Pompano Beach, FL.
After meeting him while I was on break, he asked if I was going to the concert at the Hard Rock Live in Hollywood, FL that Monday. I said no and he asked if I wanted to go. I said, “if you’re offering.” He put me on the guest list. That Monday. I got to see the Scorpions and go backstage after the show. It was one of the coolest experiences ever.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://harleymitchell.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/harleymitchell/
- Facebook: https://facebook.com/harleymitchellmusic
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/harleymitchell
- Youtube: https://youtube.com/harleymitchellmusic
Image Credits
Michael Key
