South African-born, London-based artist Gareth Haze steps confidently into the spotlight with his spellbinding debut EP ‘Stranger in a Strange Land’, led by the striking single ‘Stars’. Blending the introspective spirit of folk with the raw energy of rock, pop, and blues, Gareth’s sound embodies both the warmth of acoustic storytelling and the electricity of alternative rock at its most emotionally charged.

Drawing inspiration from a wide range of influences, from The Smashing Pumpkins and Jimmy Eat World to the atmospheric tension of Radiohead, Haze crafts a sound that feels nostalgic yet distinctly his own. ‘Stars’ captures this balance perfectly: a hauntingly beautiful alt-rock track that’s at once eerie, hopeful, and deeply introspective. Its rough-edged vocals and grunge undertones collide with airy synths and shimmering guitars, creating a sonic landscape that feels expansive, cinematic, and deeply human.

That sense of introspection runs through ‘Stranger in a Strange Land’, where themes of mortality, impermanence, and self-reflection are explored through Gareth’s soulful, heartfelt songwriting. His performances carry the hallmarks of a lifelong musician, passionate, unpolished in the best possible way, and rooted in a belief that emotion always trumps perfection.

With its soaring chorus and swirling layers of guitar and synth, ‘Stars’ feels like a message sent into the cosmos, an anthem for quiet dreamers and restless souls alike. It’s the kind of track that lingers long after it ends, resonating with both melancholy and a quiet sense of wonder.

He shares “’Stars’ is about how fragile our lives are and how we shouldn’t focus too much on trying to achieve fame and the approval of strangers. It’s more important to leave a loving legacy for those who are close to you. Like all my songs, it is personal to me and reflects much of my own values.”

Whether performing solo with an acoustic guitar or fronting a full band with electrified intensity, Gareth Haze embodies the DIY spirit of the rock and punk artists he grew up admiring. With ‘Stranger in a Strange Land’, he delivers an evocative debut that feels both timeless and urgently relevant, a welcome reminder that authenticity and heart still matter in modern music.

Q&A

Who are some of your all time favorite folk artists?

I think Johnny Cash was amazing. He just had such a depth to his songwriting, and has such a beautiful darkness to his music, particularly his later works. To have a catalogue that covered such a vast range of topics and emotions is pretty incredible; thinking about songs like “Ring of Fire”, which most people don’t realize is a song describing love, to comical songs like “A Boy Named Sue”, and real, tough, gritty tracks like “God’s Gonna Cut You Down”.

Bob Dylan is also an absolute genius songwriter and I think that just in terms of poetry, we’ll probably see generations to come studying his works.

Moving into more current or modern folk, Frank Turner is a big inspiration to me both musically and lyrically, combining elements of folk and punk rock in a way that just feels natural. I also really enjoy Brandi Carlile, who has such a beautiful soulful feel. Anna Graves is also a newer folk artist, who has a wonderful honest and soulful feel too; her song “Bluebird” is hauntingly beautiful.

Do you bring personal experiences into your lyrics?

All the time. Every single song I’ve written as a solo artist has some element of truth and real-life experience to it. I like to write in a way that is both deeply personal to myself, but can also be relatable to the listener. People who are close to me can often pick up on what or who each song is about and often people have come to me after hearing my songs, commenting that certain songs reminded them of moments in their own lives and people that they know.

What does thinking about mortality mean to you in the context of your music and in your life in general?

I feel like the older I get, the more I realize just how short and fragile life is. I’ve known a lot of people who have lived shorter lives that we would hope for and I’ve experienced loss in my own life too. I suppose it makes you evaluate your own way of life and what you value. I feel that musicians and songwriters in particular are blessed with a gift of finding words and meanings that a lot of other people can’t often find for themselves, so I think that for me as a songwriter, I’m almost compelled to share my values with others through song and encourage them in that way. In a way, the idea that you’re not necessarily guaranteed a tomorrow also drives me to make the most of the time that I have and put some of my fears and insecurities behind me. I think that if you asked me 10 years ago if I’d ever release any music as a solo artist, I probably would’ve laughed at the idea, but I think that I have a greater sense of urgency now to do this.

What current rock or grunge bands do you listen to?

Right now, I’ve been listening to a lot of Jimmy Eat World, All Time Low, Yellowcard, Badflower, Letlive, and Karnivool, to name a few.

You do a bit of genre and sound bending with the synth on this track, do you feel that there are no rules to how you record?

I feel like the only rules I put in place for myself is that the song should be strong enough to stand on its own with just a guitar and vocal melody. That, and I refuse to use Auto-tune. I’d rather sing a part a hundred times than just let a piece of software hit the note for me. In terms of arrangements and instrumentation, I feel that if it works for the song, then it doesn’t matter whether it’s something that I can replicate live or if it doesn’t necessarily fit inside someone’s idea of a specific genre. I feel like my aim is to make music that is authentic and honest, and hopefully enjoyable to people other than only myself.

What do you like better, performing acoustic or with a band?

I primarily perform as a solo artist, using acoustic guitar with a range of effects, as well as a drum sampler running through a looper. It’s a lot of work and there isn’t much room for error trying to play and loop a drum beat and play guitar and sing, all the while switching effects that emulate bass and strings, but it is a lot of fun and I’ve received positive audience feedback about it. I think in terms of not having to worry about anyone else other than yourself, I prefer acoustic or solo performances, but the few times I have fronted a band have been really enjoyable. There is something magical about the energy that you share with three or four other people on a stage. I do feel that the opportunities I get where I’m able to play with musicians who really know their stuff and therefore I don’t have to worry about anything outside of my own parts, I get a definite boost of energy on stage and have a ton of fun performing.

LINKS:
https://facebook.com/GarethHazeMusic
https://instagram.com/GarethHazeMusic
https://open.spotify.com/artist/3JwCAcxj4eVrpeZNc42OQM
https://www.youtube.com/@GarethHazeMusic