Harold "Happy" Chichester is a multi-instrumentalist making infectious, upbeat indie pop. Before embarking on a solo career, the Columbus, Ohio-based artist played with the groups Howlin' Maggie and the Twilight Singers.
His debut CD, Lovers Come Back is a mix of sweet harmonies, jangly guitars and inspired melodies. The song "Artificial Fanfare (Music in My Head)" starts the album with a groove comparable to Summerteeth-era Wilco. The short instrumental piece "Commercial Flight" switches the mood with airy synthesizers and distant guitar. The album returns to more pop with a catchy chorus on "Me and My Machine". "Shadows Remember the Day" offers a cool melody with vocals and strings flowing over a low drum and bass groove.
This past year, Happy Chichester opened for RJD2 on his U.S. and European tour. Happy's music has also been used by VH-1, MTV, P-Diddy's Fashion Trance, Ted Demme, the Oxygen Network, and the film Tied Up.
Copyright 2022 NPR. To see more, visit https://www.npr.org.