FAWM: Chris Harris (@headfirstonly)

Chris Harris

@headfirstonlyMod

Songs

Joined

2009

Charfield, UK
www.headfirstonly.com/blog.htm

I'm an old dude who is absolutely obsessed with music and trying to create tracks that teenage me would have loved. That's it, pretty much. Anything else that happens is a bonus. Some of the bonuses recently have been pretty darn special. This is me, sitting at Peter Gabriel's SSL mixing desk in The Big Room at Real World Studios.

This is FAWM number 16 for me. I've been playing a range of musical instruments (mainly electric guitar, bass, and keyboards) for five decades now and I've been making home recordings since I was a teenager. FAWM inspired me to try my hand at using a DAW and I fell down the rabbit hole in a big way; I've been an Ableton user since version 8. Oh, and these days I have a side hustle as a front-of-house sound engineer, which has taught me a LOT of unexpected things about mixing and working with live sound.

I have a music page on my website with my discography, gear list, and much more besides:
https://www.headfirstonly.com/about_music.htm

I'm one third of the band ICH:
https://ichmusik.bandcamp.com/album/wir-sind-ich

My influences are many and varied, and are listed here:
https://www.headfirstonly.com/about_groups.htm

How I ended up sitting in Peter's chair at Real World:
https://www.headfirstonly.com/blog0724.htm#Jul_17_24

I also occasionally stream on Twitch:
https://www.twitch.tv/headfirstonly

My game plan here? There will be #noAI, because where's the fun (or sense of achievement) to be gained from handing off the work to a machine? I just know that I will be focused on enjoying the journey and the music made by my fellow human travellers.

"Leonard Cohen meets prog" - PROG Magazine
"The Bob Ross of prog metal" - ductapeguy

Chris Harris
(he/him/HFO)

Songs

Have You Got It Yet? by @headfirstonlyMod 1w #big #orchestra #prog

Too Much, Or Not Enough? by @headfirstonlyMod 3h #oddtimesignature #metal #guitars

Is It, Though? by @headfirstonlyMod 1d #rock #production #chapmanstick

It Doesn't Go Away by @headfirstonlyMod 2d #synthwave #prog

Bibliomancer by @headfirstonlyMod 4d #prog #ambient #muckingabout

The Cosmic Void Has One Or Two Suggestions by @headfirstonlyMod + @sapient 4d #scienceadjacent #prog #extravaganza

Everything Not Saved Will Be Lost by @headfirstonlyMod 5d #prog #warrguitar #shaker

THE PINKENING by @headfirstonlyMod 1w #metal

Peculiar Ideas by @headfirstonlyMod 1w

In The Mic Garden by @headfirstonlyMod 2w #microphones #meta #bigproduction

Hubris by @headfirstonlyMod 2w #wavestate #playwithdelay #trance

Back Of The Bus by @headfirstonlyMod 2w #protest #pop #bigproduction

Ascent by @headfirstonlyMod 2w #frippertronics #ambient #stompboxes

Timeline Cleanse by @headfirstonlyMod 2w #doomscrolling #instrumental #prog

Take The Day Off by @headfirstonlyMod 2w #bigproduction #fawmtronica #prog

The Emotional Baggage of Childhood Trauma Rides Again by @headfirstonlyMod 2w #oddtimesignature #instrumental #proggy

The Sound of Things Breaking by @headfirstonlyMod 3w #instrumental #ambient

THE EMBRACE by @cts +3 more 3w #finished #ballad #poetry

Too Much To Do To Be Doing Stuff by @headfirstonlyMod 3w #funky #rock #gateddrums

You Don't Have To Be Here by @headfirstonlyMod 3w #fullproduction #pop #lovesong

Soundboard

@moonraccoon 1d

I am finally under way, and am quickly becoming optimistic :)

@heliosonorous 2d

Not heard of the novel before, it looks interesting!

@hanley 3d

Hey, thanks very much for the lovely comment.
I haven't heard of The Books project, will be sure to check that one out thanks!

@emplate 4d

Thank you so much for the comment on "The Castle of Pain"! I damn near shed a tear when I heard @sapient 's starting guitar lead hit in for the first time.

@kosch 4d

Thanks for listening, and glad you enjoyed my hot mess - "Fly Over"!

@songwritingzen 1w

Hi there Chris and a big thank you for your feedback on "My Love, The Devil And Me" and you're right the song definitely needs work with regard to the relentlessness of the piece. The song is an amalgam of a number of recorded attempts from a number of FAWM/5090 challenges. Just to get it out of my head I thought that I'd just put it up there and I can work on the song later. I didn't realise it would amount to just over 7 minutes. I also thank you for your patience in getting through it all :)

@catetaylor 1w

Haaa. Thanks Chris for making it to the end of Everybody. Look forward to checking out your songs tomorrow night.

@heliosonorous 1w

Fairly certain you are a fellow Star Trek fan, thought you might enjoy my recent track.
https://write.fawm.org/songs/310640

@spinhead 1w

your comment on 'now and forever' floored me. thank you so very much.

@danieldeshon 1w

Lyrics are posted, and I re-recorded the vocals if you'd like to hear them! Cheers.

@danieldeshon 1w

Thanks for giving our live improvisation a listen. Yeah there’s no way to mix, it was recorded on voice memo! (Not the best, but it allows us to go back later and decide if something is worthy of exploring further). I’ll pop this track in my daw and sing the lyrics over it more clearly, and post them. Cheers!

@arcane 1w

The first thing Mr Klaine taught me when I started following his improvisation course at the Conservatoire of Nancy: "instrument deconstruction". He asked us to find a non-conventional way to play our instrument, and encouraged us to use unexpected tools. That's when I started playing guitar with a spoon.
Thank you for you great feedback! ☺️

@davewermers 1w

Thanks for listening and commenting on my song "Fireflies'.

@fuzzy 2w

Re: Lynch; not sure if you've heard this...
https://write.fawm.org/songs/307662

@fuzzy 2w

All we can do is continue to be weird in his honour. Someone has to carry the torch.

@p3t3h4rv3y 2w

Thanks so much for stopping by to comment on Treadmill Blues, Johnny and Mary! yes, we'll take that :)

@frozenlonesome 2w

Thanks Chris for your comments on Sell The Sizzle Part Two. Glad you liked it.
I was a young adult before I experienced general anesthesia, but I hear what you’re saying. I guess I’ve been an audio nerd since my teenage years. I remember doing sound experiments on recording cassette players manipulating plastic beer ball balls with ball bearings in them and tapping on found metal objects under a bridge. To our surprise and delight the batteries were low so everything was recorded significantly at lower speed with awesome results. Add in a dose of Throbbing Gristle and the stage was set.

@dasbinky 2w

The Government Cheese song is about ownership of a public asset by the American Government. I assure you, it does not end well 🤪

@jonmeta 2w

Thanks, Chris, for the listen, the recommendation (!) and for boosting Mr Collie’s music career .

@safred 2w

Thanks so much for the feedback Chris :)

@atam94 2w

I'm really glad you enjoyed the sound bath experience on "Stay Here" - Thanks again for listening!

@jeff9 2w

Bless you, Chris. Thanks for the listen and kind words about Jangle Pop. In my next incarnation, I'm gonna ask to be able to sing like Harry Nilsson or McCartney and hope they don't stick me with a voice like Ringo blended with Johnny Cash again.

@fuzzy 2w

So yeah? I guess the psychic test worked for you, then.
Interestingly, the test worked for a higher than expected percentage of Commenters.
Here's a question for you as a mod (not a rocker, a mod); do you think it would be out of bounds if I started a forum post about that track? Not Comment trawling, just trying to attract a larger sample size. I'm finding it interesting, since it seems to be working.

@paul_pedersen 2w

We were both attracted to Stephen's brilliant (and tongue-tying) lyrics in "Omnishambles". Thanks for taking the song for a test drive.

@sph 2w

I think I have to listen on the right equipment... Or with a better headspace ;-)

@sci 2w

thanks for the comment! i deliberately omitted an exact description of the baddie i pictured for my battle music, and i love seeing others interpretations. "improbably large moustache" feels right lmao

@dhiatt 2w

Parker Fly gang ('95 Deluxe) reporting in!
Just tried to do a stereo recording with it, but the piezo pickups were giving me some grief, may have to reduce the gain on them or something.

@chill4matt 2w

I appreciate the helpful feedback, Chris. Thank you!

@atam94 2w

thanks so much for the kind words on "Anomaly" - really glad you liked it, especially the DTP part!

@beacon 3w

Sorry that you're dealing with so many physical challenges. I'm dealing with a pinched nerve in my back, but I understand that's nothing compared to kidney stones. I hope you have healing!

@fuzzy 3w

Thanks for your help.
It just wouldn't be FAWM without the awesome power of the rock hands!

@jibbidy34 3w

Ok! Here it is: THE Production Thread https://write.fawm.org/forums/3134

I hope we get some postees. I stuck one song up there to get it started. Please join me

@jibbidy34 3w

Yeehaw! ‘Science fiction country music’ I’ll have to put that on the new genre thread 😀

@jibbidy34 3w

Yay for that! Just off to bed now but happy to either start one or join one? Something like ‘Post Your Prods Here’ somewhere we can geek out and share mixes.

@dragondreams 3w

Thanks Chris. No reverse samples on that "Message" track. I just lifted from the keyboard and cut the samples short to give that effect. 😃

@airbagtester 3w

Re: Joe Dart -

"Unmistakable, can't-miss-it volume knob..."
"What is that controlling?" 😆
Love Vulfpeck!

@esc4p3 3w

Thanks for the comments 👍 - I would love some classic hardware, but I should avoid it really! Looking forward to hearing the real thang. The Roland Cloud stuff really canes my laptop (audio dropouts and crackles), it is fine with other virtual instruments, I also get a bit of hiss....perhaps that is Roland emulating old gear 😆

@sapient 3w

You know, the entire song began with the idea of that little vocal "aaah!" noise before a crashing wall of guitars, so I'm glad you liked it 😀

@sp4cek4a3n 3w

I just saw your Warr Guitar and Stick over in the forums. Instant follow.

Happy FAWM to you!

@jwhanberry 3w

Chris,
Once more into the breach! Y'all have a bunch of fun now.
JW

@blindkiwi 3w

Hi Chris, good to see you still down the rabbit hole. Looking forward to this year's tea party 😎 Prog themed yeah? 😁

@daveyboy103 3w

That's an impressive photo Chris

@jibbidy34 3w

Wowsers what an epic pic!!!

@karlsburg25 3w

Hey chris, great to see ya and cannot wait to get down to it, and bring on zero Ai . Woohooo

@jeff9 3w

Thank you, Sir Christopher. Happy FAWMing to you as well. Can’t wait to hear what you might have up the sleeve of your wizard’s robe!

@tamsnumber4 3w

Happy FAWMing!!

@gm7 3w

I knew that!!...All musicians have hidden instruments tucked away!!

@kristian 3w

Hi! Back in action for another crazy february!

@dasbinky 3w

Ah, just what I needed... another excuse to buy The Lamb on another format. ;)

I think I have it on everything other than 8-track.

Oh, and side note: you were an indirect influence on my decision to pick up an Ableton Push 2 in the offseason. Looking forward to doing something weird with it!

@atam94 3w

Welcome back for another FAWM!!

@elainedimasi 3w

Re: Vulfpeck. Ok, wow. And is that - the FANS?! - singing the part with the bassist?!?! Ok, WOW. Tee hee!

@carleybaer 3w

Hi Chris! Merry FAWMing :)

@sailingmagpie 3w

Hey, Chris. Hope you're all good!

@toms 3w

It's surreal. And it got worse today. Look up "New Apostolic Reformation." Fighting back, however.

@audrey 3w

Welcome back! Hope you have a wonderful FAWM 2025!

@ampersandman 3w

Hey Chris, cheers to a great FAWM '25 (hopefully)!

@nadine 3w

This picture is fantastic! Hope you have that big smile when rocking FAWM. Wishing you lots of inspiration!

@sph 3w

I hope this FAWM will make you smile nearly as bright as in the big room

@zecoopMod 3w

Haha, that was the main reason I was hesitant to pick that cover. But that eye… 😂

@adforperu 3w

Hey Chris! Woooah, that pic, imagine if that was your FAWMIng studio (though from memory, you already have a top notch space to work with). Happy FAWMing!

@dragondreams 3w

Thanks, Chris. 😄
Good to see you here too!
That Sire PJ bass in the picture now has a rosewood boarded neck and the neck from that one is on my Sire J bass clone. The swap improved the feel and playbility of both basses.