Self-starter Chris sees reward of hard graft

Chris Haze, a young, ambitious Galway native, plays the Guinness Amplify sessions in Monroe’s Live next Thursday, February 26. The songwriter, whose work brings to mind Jack Johnson and the Original Rudeboys, picked up the guitar four years ago and hasn’t looked back since. When did he feel confident enough to perform in public?

“Only in the last two years,” he says. “Before that it was solid playing every single day. I always wanted to get on stage but I wouldn’t have contemplated it until then. It took slugging, and making sure I was confident enough.”

The self-taught guitarist, whose influences include soul and hip-hop, got a big break early on in his performing career when he was asked to open for the hip-hop/acoustic rock trio, Original Rudeboys.

“I’d never played for more than 100 people, and my first gig with them was a sold-out Olympia gig,” he says. “I didn’t think I’d be able to play well, but it turned out great. I’d no choice but to try and pull it off. I must work a bit better under pressure!”

Chris will release the Thoughts to Words EP on Saturday, On February 28 and is hoping its catchy hooks and pop sensibility will increase his audience.

“It’s only a three-track EP, because I don’t want to give away too much yet,” he says. “I want this EP to get a bit of excitement and recognition going. Two of the songs were pretty much recorded in my bass player’s sitting room. But with technology and the programmes you’re using these days, that’s irrelevant.”

Chris is so enthused about his latest release that he has reassessed his previous recordings.

For more, see this week’s Connacht Tribune