Last week, I got an opportunity to catch up with Peter Hadar at his performance at J. Crew. We talked about his latest EP, upcoming projects and how his mom felt after watching his videos. I discovered Peter back in 2008, and today I'm still surprised that he isn't as well known as I think he should be. Hopefully, after this interview, he'll gain some new fans. Check it out!
Chanel Laren: Most of your album titles have been off the wall? How'd you come up with them? (ie. She's 4 Months, Take off Victoria, Well Dressed for the Art Show)
Peter Hadar: I'm a weirdo. She's 4 Months came from a song I did with Nicolay. Nicolay didn't want to put it out, so I put it out anyway. The soul community gravitated to it very well, especially when I put out a song called Watermelon. I made my first baby making album my way. If you listen to it, it's not your average baby making album. I went kind of left with it. She's 4 months is just saying after you listen to the album, she should be pregnant.
CL: Do you come up with the concept of the album first or do you record the songs first?
PH: I typically come up with the album title first and then build from there. If you're a R&B dude what else is there to talk about besides women? You can write message music. Sam Cooke and Marvin Gaye wrote message songs after their hits. I have to cultivate my fan base first.
CL: You have a lot of EPs, why don't you put out a full blown album?
PH: Right now, we're in a digital age and it's so competitive with people putting music online. It's not the most inexpensive thing to put out a project, especially the way that I would want to put it out. I pay for studio time. I don't record or mix my own music. She's 4 Months did well for me. If it's not broke, why fix it. If you put out a big project, you really need to go on a strong campaign. Not that I can't do that, these are just concept albums and that's more of the reason why I put out EPs. Keep the fans wanting more.
CL: What's your take on this mixtape trend right now?
PH: Mixtapes are way too long. I don't want people to say "I don't know who this dude is and why is his mixtape so long". I want to give people a taste of it and then give them more. When it gets to the point of fans saying we need a whole album, then I'll definitely give them what they want.
CL: I always get your emails from The Honor Program about your shows in New York. When are you coming to the DMV?
PH: I have a show in DC July 13th. I have new material so I'm trying to tour as much as possible.
CL: I love your style. Where do you get your fashion sense from?
PH: I'm a magazine addict, so I get a lot of ideas from websites, magazines and just from living in New York. I love Highsnobiety, Nylon and Paper magazines.
CL: Describe your live shows in one sentence.
PH: It's like you're in a underground soul capsule.
CL: Which musicians did you look up to growing up?
PH: My father was a contemporary gospel singer, so I listened to Commission and the Crouches. Gospel is all we listened to in the house. I didn't get into R&B until high school.
CL: Your music is really sexy and so are your videos. How would you describe it?
PH: I would have to agree, it is sexy. I've been getting some flack from the ladies lately about my videos. I don't want to be pigeon holed into it, because I can write all types of songs. I just like everything sexy. I love all types of women. I don't think the media presents women in a beautiful way. Provocative for sure...but not beautiful. My mom's a minister and she recently saw my Body video. I explained everything to her. She understood what it was.
CL: What else can we expect from you this year?
PH: My new project is called Entree's Gourmet. It's a little bit more progressive with bigger records. It should be out this fall.
