So Henry, you started your music career at a very young age, what inspired you to try music at all?
My whole family love music so there is always music in the house. My Mum is a music teacher and she taught me to play keyboard before I even went to school but I decided guitar looked more interesting so I started learning to play classical guitar. My sister was in a girl band though and I used to watch her performing on stage and she seemed to be having a lot more fun than me so I started to sing along with my guitar and soon people started to ask me to perform on stage too and I just really loved it
How would you describe your musical style?
It’s definitely pop but during the last year I’ve been trying out loads of different things and writing all different types of songs. The thing I love best though is singing my own songs on a massive stage and hearing the crowd sing back – cus I’ve been struck by lightning lightning and it’s frightening frightening worked great for this! But now I’m older, I like to think my lyrics have matured a bit more!
What made you to decide to try out for Britain’s Got Talent?
I absolutely loved BGT – such an amazing experience that I will never forget and such a great start to my career. I entered it because my sister had been in the semi final with her girl band and she had such an amazing time I just thought it would be really good fun.
How did you feel performing in front of these legends in the music world?
I absolutely love performing in front of big crowds- the bigger the better for me and I loved performing in front of these legends of the music world. I never really get nervous I just love doing it. Simon and David were really nice and really encouraging. I think Amanda and Alesha thought I was cute because I was only 12
What did you gain from that experience?
I found out that this is what I love to do most in the world and what I am going to continue doing all my life. I gained confidence in my song writing as well, knowing that everyone loved Lightning, one of the first songs I had ever written.
Also, I’ve had so many brilliant opportunities, such as getting some amazing managers who sort everything out for me and performing on many more massive stages which have enabled me to really get my career started.
You auditioned for BGT with an original song of yours called “Lightning”. Can you tell us about that song and how it came about?
I wrote it for a girl at my school – it was just about how I was feeling. It’s quite hard at the age of 12 to ask a girl out so I wrote a song for her instead!
I’m so happy that everyone seems to love Lightning – they still sing it to me wherever I go and know all the words and request me to sing it all the time. I think my style has matured quite a lot since I wrote that song so maybe I will write a newer version which is a bit more in my current style.
What’s your process of writing a song?
Lyrics are the most important thing so I always start with them. It always depends how I’m feeling and what and who I’ve been thinking about. I always start with the chorus and I just play about with my lyric ideas over different guitar chords until I’m really happy. Sometimes it doesn’t take long but sometimes it takes ages and when I come back to it the next day and the day after and the week after that, I change it around. The verses are usually a bit more straight forward because it’s more like telling a story. The middle 8 is my favourite bit and I usually save it till last and I like to make it a really exciting bit to sing. If I get stuck with a lyric I need or something to rhyme, I ask any of the family who are around and they always shout me a few ideas.
Sometimes I write with other songwriters too.
Can we expect any new music soon? If so can you spill any details about them?
Definitely loads of new music very soon. I would love to tell you all about it but sorry not allowed to spill any details just yet!
Are the any other projects in the works you can tell us about?
Yes I have a headline tour all around Great Britain in October and loads of other gigs coming up.
What artists do you look up to right now?
It’s got to be Ed Sheeran – he is such an awesome musician and song writer and his songs are literally all over the charts at the moment. I also love the Chainsmokers and Selina Gomez
What artist influences you the most and who you aspire to be like?
Charlie Puth – I literally love all his songs
Jason Derulo – Love his dance style and I’ve been working on some new moves ready for those live shows
You recently released an EP titled “Cover Sessions”. How did the idea for this EP come about?
Yes I did – fans have been asking for music they can download and stream for some time and it’s taken quite a while for me to develop my new style and write a number of songs so I did a Covers EP in the mean time so now I have music available on iTunes, Spotify etc
What was the process of choosing a cover song for you to sing?
Literally just the songs in the charts that I like best and feel good to sing
What was your favourite cover song to record?
Fake Love by Drake was my absolute favourite to record and we put some fun effects on it afterwards to make it sound really great. I also love Rockabye – it’s such a great song and even though there’s so many words, I managed to record it in one take.
You post a lot of cover videos as well on your YouTube channel. What is the process of creating one of your cover music videos?
It’s quite simple – I just learn the song first and usually put a bit of my own spin on it then I either record it at home or in the studio. I usually do it 3 or 4 times then just pick the best one. They have to look ok too so if I pull a daft face in the middle of a song, I wouldn’t be able to use that one!
What is your favourite thing to do in your career? And why? – recording, music video shoots, performing, etc.
Performing always – the bigger the crowd the better. But I love all the rest of it too
What’s your favourite song to perform live?
Currently it’s Can’t Stop The Feeling by Justin Timberlake and 24K Magic by Bruno Mars because I’ve got really great dance routines for both these songs
What does it feel like to perform your own music live in front of your fans?
Awesome – they are so amazing I love them!
Does your fanbase have a name?
Yes – they are Gallafans
How do you want your relationship to be with your fans?
So many of them are my friends on social media and I spend loads of time chatting with them. It’s also really brilliant when I get to meet them at gigs. I like it to be a really fun relationship and for them to get to know the real me – it’s not always just about the music.
After auditioning for BGT, you must have gotten a lot of publicity. What was that change like for you?
Great! Really good fun! Everyone knows who I am now!
What was the craziest fan encounter you have had?
Quite often fans tend to like wearing my hats on a meet and greet – I don’t mind as long as I get them back! Also, my fans know I love Twixes so often they bring me absolutely loads and they last me for months afterwards
What social media platform do you use most to stay connected to your fans?
Twitter for conversation definitely and Facebook and Instagram for pictures of what I’ve been up to.
Musical.ly is for fun things where fans can get to see the daft side of my personality a bit more and Spotify, iTunes and YouTube for the music
Are you planning on going on tour anytime soon to support your new EP?
Definitely yes
What’s an average day for you look like?
That’s a tough one – so many things I want to do every day such as learning new songs, guitar playing, dancing, gym stuff, song writing, social media, play station and footie with my mates and sometimes a bit of homework!
I don’t always get to do all of them every day but I would like to.
What goals have you set out for yourself in your career and in your personal life?
Can’t wait for everyone to hear my new music and then just to perform it in the biggest venues. I guess I would like a girlfriend sometime but I think she will need to understand that I’m quite busy
How has this whole music career experience been?
Absolutely awesome so far – love it. I would love to be on stage every night
What would you say has been your biggest accomplishment in your career so far?
I think playing some massive venues with my own original music has been the highlight so far also I’ve met loads of really great people.
What do you hope to gain out of this career?
I think it’s so important to be happy in your job and I know I’m going to always love my career – it doesn’t seem like work. Performing my own music in massive venues all over the world is what I want to do for the rest of my life
What’s the best thing that’s come out of this career?
The best thing is that I have loads of amazing fans! It’s really cool to see familiar faces when I’m performing at gigs
What’s the biggest struggle?
Just finding the time really to fit everything in. I would love to do music all the time but I also like to do normal things like going out with my mates, going on skiing holidays and playing football
If your life was a movie, what would be the title?
Lightning Strikes Twice
Who would you want to play you?
I would want to play myself – I think I would do a pretty good job! I would also love to be in a film
What’s your favorite song at the moment?
Shape of You by Ed Sheeran
What 5 words describe you the best?
Cool, amazing, fantastic, brilliant and modest – haha only joking
Many artists have a saying that represents them, what saying would you say represents you the most?
Work hard and you can make your dreams come true
Do you have any other cool talents other than singing?
I’m quite sporty – love all types of ball sports especially football. I also love skiing, sailing and dancing.
Do you have any last things you want to tell your supporters?
Check out my music on Spotify, iTunes and YouTube and make sure you keep in touch on Facebook and Twitter to keep up to date with everything I’m doing!
Thank you for taking the time out of your busy schedule to do this interview with me.
Keep up With Henry By Following Him On All His Socials:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/henrygallagherx/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/HenryGallagherx
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/HenryGallagherx/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCt0cT7dFKEgeMLM-WMGKagg
Musical.ly: @henrygallagherx
#HenryCoverSessions EP OUT NOW
http://smarturl.it/CoverSessionsiTunes
http://smarturl.it/CoverSessionsSpotify
