Harkness - Ciao To The Beauty
“Listening to Harkness I was completely blown away by his grasp of vocal harmony and arranging. His song writing and unique production is some of the best I’ve heard in years.” – Roger Manning (Beck/Jellyfish/TLQ)
Acclaimed multi-instrumentalist and songwriter Harkness is set to release his highly anticipated sophomore album, Ciao To The Beauty, on April 17, 2025. Following the international success of his debut The Occasion, which earned comparisons to Todd Rundgren and Brian Wilson, Harkness returns with a fresh, high-energy collection of meticulously crafted songs – each an earworm, most under three minutes, and all designed to leave a lasting impression.
A true sonic architect, Harkness records all his music live, layering real instruments—from guitar and bass to steel drums, harp, and bassoon—to create immersive, genre-blurring compositions. His attention to detail and unique approach to songwriting have drawn praise from industry icons like Roger Manning (Beck, Jellyfish), who called his work “some of the best I’ve heard in years. ” With five videos currently in rotation on MTV and standout performances in New York, London, and Toronto, Harkness continues to solidify his reputation as a must-see live act, earning recognition from the President of NXNE as one of the festival’s essential artists.
“Unlike its predecessor, which had epic songs coming in at 8 ½ minutes long, the songs on Ciao To The Beauty are all quick, short, and to the point, “ says Harkness. “I like to think of this next album as a Harkness Juke-box—most of its songs are of the earworm variety… energetic, refreshing musical pieces that are short and sweet, and for the most part under three minutes long. I have been recording and arranging music for many years now, and on this record, I wanted to crystallize all that I have learned. Everything was to be extremely lean and mean as I did my best to hit the sweet balance of true simplicity and artful sophistication. Lyrically, it is an exploration of love and loss and all the rich emotions that accompany those experiences, as well as a close look at our own inner worlds as we navigate such feelings.”
Beyond the music, Harkness’ creative universe expands into film, food, and fashion. A CBC-commissioned documentary on his life, produced by Emmy-winning Storyline Entertainment, premiered at the Whistler Film Festival and arrives on CBC GEM this April. Meanwhile, his signature Harkness Hot Sauce is already making waves, and a psychedelic rock-and-roll cooking show may not be far behind. As Harkness takes Ciao To The Beauty to the world, one thing is certain: this is an artist who refuses to be confined. Get ready to experience music without limits.