With dedication to every aspect of his artform, multifaceted artist Harrison Cone elevates his creations to a higher plane of authenticity
Nestled within the rich tapestry of the creative world, we discover Harrison Cone, better known by his stage name ÆRY. Drawn to music and film by his parents’ talents, Cone’s artistic journey began at a young age, leading him to the epicenter of creativity in the United States: Los Angeles. As a perfectionist at heart, ÆRY fuels every endeavor with a relentless pursuit for artistic excellence. Not too long ago, DA MAN gets to know more about the multifaceted ÆRY.
DAMAN: Hi, Harrison; awesome to have you with us. Can you give us a short intro to yourself for our readers here in Indonesia?
Harrison Cone: I was born in Englewood, Colorado, and started coming to California when I was 15 to pursue music and film. A lot of my family is from New York, so I feel like I harbor some NY energy.
DA: How has your background influenced your artistic journey?
HC: My parents being musicians influenced my creative side and made me connect to music and film. I had a music production mentor from age 12 and I started playing musical instruments and acting in theater and film when I was young. Also, hip-hop was huge in my social circles, so it was influential as I was growing up.
DA: You’ve done modeling and, of course, you’re also a musician, writer and actor. Could you elaborate on how all your creative pursuits intersect and influence each other in your work?
HC: I finished high school early and moved to Los Angeles when I was 15 years old to pursue acting, modeling and music. My life experiences inspire my writing and music production. I’ve also gained experience through films I’ve worked on. I lived in Texas for two months while filming, for instance. So, it was great having a whole new situation to draw inspiration from. Also, once I feel I’ve worked on music enough, I can have acting or writing to fall into to take a break or vice-versa.
DA: What inspired you to pursue a music career? And on that note, who inspired your musical journey?
HC: Music was always a big part of my childhood. As my parents are musicians, I started singing and playing instruments from a young age. I would watch my dad play guitar and perform in his band. My mom was an English teacher, so that helped with my writing. Hearing Metro Boomin and Skrillex gave me the idea to start producing. I had a mentor from when I was aged 12-16 and just didn’t stop. I don’t know who or where I’d be if I didn’t do music. It’s just ingrained in my head. I don’t feel I have a purpose if I’m not creating. I do all styles of music: hip-hop, pop, R&B, alternative and EDM. I like to mix genres and be genre-less. I also like to put all my emotion into my art and express myself. I don’t know what else I’d do if I didn’t have that outlet.
DA: You go by the stage name ÆRY, which is an abbreviation of your name. Can you share the story behind this choice and what it represents?
HC: When I introduce myself informally, I usually say Harry without pronouncing the “H” and I wanted my artist’s name to sound closer to my own name but more unique. Basically, I like the whole one-name vibe like Drake and Rihanna.
“I just want to make people feel something. If I can make a lot of people feel something all at once, that would be even better.”
DA: What message or which ideas do you want to say to your audience through your music?
HC: I want to make people feel something. If I can make many people feel something simultaneously, that would be even better. By processing my feelings through my music and lyrics, I can support people dealing with whatever is going on in their lives. I want people to be able to party to my music and then cry to it.
DA: Can you share some insight into your songwriting process and how you handle production?
HC: I have a unique writing process because I do all the producing, singing, playing instruments, writing, mixing and mastering. I produce myself as well as other people and I love collaborating with other artists—like with my friend Omoi, with whom I have a music collective called Cabo Milan that we just started almost a year ago.
“I don’t know who or where I’d be if I didn’t do music. It’s just ingrained in my head. I don’t feel purpose if I’m not creating. “
DA: How would you describe your writing style?
HC: I am a perfectionist. I can get stressed out if things aren’t exactly how I want them, but I’ve learned to flow and whatever comes out, I can perfect it later. Finding that balance in your head is so important when you’re creating. Don’t impose or impinge on your creativity until you are finished. And I apply this principle to anything I am working on.
DA: Creative processes can be both exhilarating and challenging. How do you overcome creative blocks and what techniques help you stay inspired and motivated?
HC: Finding new sources of inspiration like new music, films or experiences that inspire me. I went to Coachella last spring and that really inspired me. If you get blocked, you can’t get frustrated. You have to go with the flow and keep working until you find inspiration again.
DA: The digital age has transformed how artists communicate with their fans. With this in mind, how do you see the future of music and how do you plan to stay connected with your audience moving ahead?
HC: I will post content and connect that way, but I believe that doing real things in real life is the best way of staying connected. I plan to throw my own events and hopefully get people to go outside.
DA: How do you balance and prioritize the different aspects of your career?
HC: The truth is that I don’t. If I’m working on my music and need to take a break, I will fall back to my writing, film or acting to back me up. Or I’ll work on someone else’s music or read a book or meditate. It can be overwhelming when I write, produce, mix and master all of my songs or other artists’ songs, but I also love every part of the process.
DA: What’s your favorite part about being an artist?
HC: It’s all I’ve ever done, so it’s all I know. Creating gives me a true sense of purpose and satisfaction. I went to school for music production and film, so I love expressing my creativity in different forms. I also love connecting to other people and other artists through art because there is something pure in that.
DA: Lastly, as an artist who is constantly evolving, what artistic or personal goals have you set for yourself in 2024?
HC: I want to keep growing, doing more projects and working with more people. I want to start releasing music and build up my music and film production company, DVMN. I want to be able to create in general and make music for the rest of my life. So as long as I can do that, I’ll be content. It’s all about personal evolution and being content in the moment, but always striving to better yourself.
PHOTOGRAPHY @photographermitchell
STYLING KIMBERLY GOODNIGHT & JC KIM
Grooming Maxwell Martin/ Exclusive Artists
Production Ian Phillips/ Media Playground PR