Kyp Harness (born December 9, 1964)Krewen, Nick (1998) "Throwing it into Reverse Singer/songwriter Kyp Harness visits Waterloo with new Houdini CD", '' The Record'', December 10, 1998 is a Canadian social activist and folk singer, known for the poetry of his lyrics.

Biography

Harness was born in

Sarnia Sarnia is a city in Lambton County, Ontario, Canada. It had a 2021 population of 72,047, and is the largest city on Lake Huron. Sarnia is located on the eastern bank of the junction between the Upper and Lower Great Lakes where Lake Huron fl ...

Ontario Ontario ( ; ) is one of the thirteen provinces and territories of Canada.Ontario is located in the geographic eastern half of Canada, but it has historically and politically been considered to be part of Central Canada. Located in Central Ca ...

in 1964.Proefrock, Stacia " Kyp Harness Biography,

Allmusic AllMusic (previously known as All Music Guide and AMG) is an American online music database. It catalogs more than three million album entries and 30 million tracks, as well as information on musicians and bands. Initiated in 1991, the databas ...

, retrieved 2010-02-06 He arrived in Toronto, Ontario in 1984 and began playing in coffee houses and open stages across the city, most notably Fat Albert's, where he met fellow songwriters

Ron Sexsmith Ronald Eldon Sexsmith (born January 8, 1964) is a Canadian singer-songwriter from St. Catharines, Ontario. He was the songwriter of the year at the 2005 Juno Awards. He began releasing recordings of his own material in 1985 at age 21, and has ...

Bob Wiseman Robert Neil "Bob" Wiseman (born 1962) is a film composer, songwriter, author and music teacher. Wiseman discovered or produced many artists including Ron Sexsmith, The Lowest of the Low, Bruce McCulloch of Kids in the Hall, Anhai, and former ...

, and Bob Snider.Volmers, Eric (2003) "Words to live by; Songwriter's songwriter, Kyp Harness can see a future of letting others score with his music", '' The Record'', January 16, 2003 In 1987 Harness recorded a demo tape with

, then of Canadian roots-rock group

Blue Rodeo Blue Rodeo is a Canadian country rock band formed in 1984 in Toronto, Ontario. They have released 16 full-length studio albums, four live recordings, one greatest hits album, and two video/DVDs, along with multiple solo albums, side projects, a ...

. Songs from the recording emerged with others on Harness' debut release 'Nowhere Fast'' in 1991. From the beginning, the bleak, wry poetry found on the admittedly low-fi release attracted attention, with Crash Magazine declaring "Kyp has his own style. It may not be a style that everyone likes, but there are those of us who think he's a kind of genius". Harness' first CD release, ''God's Footstool'' (Amatish), followed in 1992.Badgley, Aaron " ''God's Footstool'' Review,

, retrieved 2010-02-06 Drummer

Don Kerr Don Kerr is a Canadian multi-instrumentalist and record producer. He is the drummer, lead singer and front man of Toronto band, Communism. He plays in Ron Sexsmith's band, diverging from the bare bones sound of 'Nowhere Fast' to implement cello, trumpet, and sax in creating a more colourful backdrop for Harness' circusy/cinematic lyrics. Canadian Composer noted it was "an album that sparkles with rich, vital imagery and audacious song arrangements", with

proclaiming in the same article "He's a genius, a revolutionary...he creates pieces that are dense with imagery yet are continually stimulating, informative and innovative." In 1994 Harness released ''Welcome to the Revolution'' (Amatish), a stark album of raw folk-based music, which included intensely narrative-driven songs like "Song for a Man", "Ballad of Curtis Merton", "Jackson Homer" and "Chemical Valley", painting pictures of alienation, Everyman angst, environmental collapse, and apocalyptic fury. Melodic laments such as 'Wayward Son' and 'Remember Love' offered some respite from the grimness, and overall the release featured some of Harness' finest writing.

The Toronto Star The ''Toronto Star'' is a Canadian English-language broadsheet daily newspaper. The newspaper is the country's largest daily newspaper by circulation. It is owned by Toronto Star Newspapers Limited, a subsidiary of Torstar Corporation and part ...

called it one of the year's "most passionate and articulate albums". A video shot on super 8 mm and 16 mm film for "Chemical Valley" was released in 1995 by Toronto-based director

Liz Marshall Liz Marshall is a Canadian filmmaker based in Toronto. Since the 1990s, she has directed and produced independent projects and been part of film and television teams, creating broadcast, theatrical, campaign and cross-platform documentaries shot ...

. ''Houdini in Reverse'' was released in 1998, an upbeat pop/rock band-driven album featuring Harness classics "Good Old Days", "Old Grey House", and "You're the One". The record prompted Id Magazine to observe that "Harness is an urban poet of the highest order; no-one who cares about the state of songwriting in this country or any other can afford to ignore him any longer". The Calgary Straight noted "I won't mince words: Right now, Kyp Harness is the most vital, essential Canadian singer-songwriter out there." Harness released ''All Her Love'' in 2001 with the Porterbeach label, presenting a country-tinged selection of songs.McNeil, Jason " ''All Her Love'' Review,

, retrieved 2010-02-06 The lyrics told stories commenting on, as

The Peterborough Examiner ''The Peterborough Examiner'' is a newspaper that services Peterborough, Ontario, Peterborough, Ontario and area. The paper started circulation in 1847, and is currently owned by Torstar and operated by its Metroland division. Between 1942 and 195 ...

put it, "the fragility of human existence". Toronto's eye magazine remarked "Harness is one of the best songwriters this city - if not this country - has ever seen". Porterbeach also released the double album ''The Floating World'' in 2002,Questionnaire: Kyp Harness
", ''

Exclaim! ''Exclaim!'' is a Canadian music and entertainment publisher based in Toronto, which features in-depth coverage of new music across all genres with a special focus on Canadian and emerging artists. The monthly Exclaim! print magazine publishes 7 ...

'', February 2003, retrieved 2010-02-06 a tour de force of 26 songs running the gamut from solo acoustic ballads to bar-room rockers featuring the avant-garde rock trio

The Dinner Is Ruined The Dinner Is Ruined is a Canadian indie rock band. the band plays an experimental and improvisational brand of blues rock. The band members are Dale Morningstar, Dave Clark and Dr. Johnny Pee. History The Dinner Is Ruined was formed in 1991 by ...

. The first disc mixes the rockers with spirituals and ballads, while the second disc focuses on acoustic songs about death and mortality.

magazine stated "Harness has assembled a songbook which should rightly be regarded as a national treasure".

Heaven Heaven or the heavens, is a common religious cosmological or transcendent supernatural place where beings such as deities, angels, souls, saints, or venerated ancestors are said to originate, be enthroned, or reside. According to the belie ...

, an alt-country magazine from the Netherlands proclaimed him "one of the best songwriters in the world", while

The Moncton Transcript The ''Times & Transcript'' is a newspaper from Moncton, New Brunswick. It serves Greater Moncton and eastern New Brunswick. Its offices and printing facilities are located on Main Street in Downtown Moncton. The paper is published by Brunswick N ...

observed "...he is one of the finest songwriters this country has produced." ''The Miracle Business'' (Porterbeach) followed in 2004, a more focussed album produced by David Matheson, formerly of the pop group

Moxy Früvous Moxy Früvous was a Canadian politically satirical folk-pop band from Thornhill, Ontario, Canada. The band was founded in 1989, and was active until 2001. Common themes in Früvous songs include Canada and the "human experience". History The b ...

. One of Harness' most polished recordings, the album contains the pop songs "Diamonds in the Air" and "Mayor of Crazytown" as well as poetic pieces such as "Horseman" and "Fields of Plenty". Porterbeach also put out a book of Harness' lyrics to date, ''Journey to the Sun'', containing the words to 101 songs. ''Fugitives'' in 2006 found Harness affirming his

Christian Christians () are people who follow or adhere to Christianity, a monotheistic Abrahamic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus Christ. The words ''Christ'' and ''Christian'' derive from the Koine Greek title ''Christós'' (Χρι ...

faith with such proclamations as "Man on the Cross", "Devil's Got a Foothold in your Heart" and "Calm Down", and in the liner notes he describes his vision of God as "far from being a mascot for war, for stealing from the poor to give to the rich, for anti-choice and sexual discrimination."Khanna, Vish (2007)
Kyp Harness ''Fugitives''
, ''

'', February 2007, retrieved 2010-02-06Barclay, Michael (2007) "''Fugitives'' Review", '' The Record'', March 1, 2007 Harness revealed another aspect of his talent with the release of his book ''The Art of Laurel and Hardy'' in 2006. The book is an idiosyncratic study of the 1930s comedy team published by

McFarland McFarland may refer to: People *McFarland (surname) Places in the United States *McFarland, California, a city *McFarland, Kansas, a city *McFarland, Missouri, a ghost town *McFarland, Wisconsin, a village Other uses * USS ''McFarland'' (DD-237) ...

in North Carolina.Harness, Kyp (2006) ''The Art of Laurel & Hardy: Graceful Calamity in the Films'',

McFarland & Co Inc McFarland may refer to: People * McFarland (surname) Places in the United States * McFarland, California, a city * McFarland, Kansas, a city * McFarland, Missouri, a ghost town *McFarland, Wisconsin, a village Other uses * USS ''McFarland'' (DD- ...

, In 2007, McFarland published 'The Art of Charlie Chaplin' by Kyp Harness. In 2009 Harness launched a webcomic, Mortimer the Slug, which updates every weekday. In 2011, Harness released his ninth independent album, ''Resurrection Gold''. Harness has been associated with other Canadian singer songwriters, such as

Daniel Lanois Daniel Roland Lanois ( , ; born September 19, 1951) is a Canadian record producer, guitarist, vocalist, and songwriter. He has produced albums by artists including Bob Dylan, Neil Young, Peter Gabriel, Robbie Robertson, Emmylou Harris, Willie ...

, Kathleen Yearwood, who covers three Harness songs on her ''Doglogic'' album.

Mary Margaret O'Hara Mary Margaret O'Hara is a Canadian singer-songwriter, actress and composer. She is best known for the album ''Miss America'', released in 1988. She released two albums and an EP under her own name, and remains active as a live performer, as a con ...

and

, who covers Harness' "Thumbelina Farewell" on his '' Blue Boy'' album (2001). Lanois calls him a "great writer", and Ron Sexsmith refers to him as "my favourite songwriter...it's his lyrics that set him apart. They are every bit as powerful as the best Dylan, Cohen and

Lennon John Winston Ono Lennon (born John Winston Lennon; 9 October 19408 December 1980) was an English singer, songwriter, musician and peace activist who achieved worldwide fame as founder, co-songwriter, co-lead vocalist and rhythm guitarist of ...

combined." ''

Exclaim ''Exclaim!'' is a Canadian music and entertainment publisher based in Toronto, which features in-depth coverage of new music across all genres with a special focus on Canadian and emerging artists. The monthly Exclaim! print magazine publishes 7 ...

''s Michael Barclay stated in 2003 that Harness's work "should rightfully be hailed as a national treasure." In 2016, Harness published his debut novel ''Wigford Rememberies''. The book won the

ReLit Award The ReLit Awards are Canadian literary prizes awarded annually to book-length works in the novel, short-story and poetry categories."Three indie writers honoured by ReLit Awards". ''The Globe and Mail'', July 19, 2007. Founded in 2000 by Newfoundla ...

for Fiction in 2017. He received another ReLit nomination in 2019 for ''The Abandoned''."40 books shortlisted for 2019 ReLit Awards"

CBC Books CBC Arts (french: Radio-Canada Arts) is the division of the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation that creates and curates written articles, short documentaries, non-fiction series and interactive projects that represent the excellence of Canada's div ...

, April 12, 2021. Harness is based in Toronto and has two children with his wife and poet Allison Grayhurst.

Discography

*''Nowhere Fast'' - 1991 *''God's Footstool'' (Amatish) - 1992 *''Welcome to the Revolution'' (Amatish) - 1994 *''Houdini in Reverse'' - 1998 *''All Her Love'' (Porterbeach) - 2001 *''The Floating World'' (Porterbeach) - 2002 *''The Miracle Business'' (Porterbeach) - 2004 *''Fugitives'' - 2006 *''Resurrection Gold'' - 2011 *''The Wrong Way'' - 2012 *''Can a Poor Man Get a Fair Trial?'' - 2012 *''Armageddon Blues'' - 2014 *''Stoplight Moon - (2016) *''Kyp Harness'' - 2018 *''You Can Walk On Water'' - 2019

References

External links

Kyp Harness
{{DEFAULTSORT:Harness, Kyp Canadian folk singer-songwriters Canadian male singer-songwriters Canadian folk guitarists Canadian male guitarists Canadian activists People from Sarnia Living people 1964 births Canadian male novelists 21st-century Canadian novelists 21st-century Canadian male writers Musicians from Toronto Writers from Toronto