A Symphony in The Taste Gap with Harley Eblen (Billboard #1 String Arranger)
Love Music More · hosted by Luke F. Walton (Scoobert Doobert)
Guest: Harley Eblen
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Host note
Harley Eblen is a Billboard #1 string arranger raised in Hawaii, the kind of arranger who can take a string quartet and make it carry a pop song's emotional weight. His mother played him a Stevie Ray Vaughan CD when he was two days old and, by his account, he stopped breathing to listen. He heard cello on the radio at nine or ten and knew that was the instrument.
We trace the move from classical training into bluegrass, Irish music, and pop arranging, and what he calls the taste gap: the space between technical training and having something to say with it. Music is his first language and his outlet, he's direct about that, and about the satisfaction that comes from work that heightens someone else's music rather than his own.
Selected moments
- Harley's early music influence 2:34 Harley describes how music was ingrained in him from a very young age, sparked by a Stevie Ray Vaughan CD.
- Discovering string instruments 3:55 He recalls his first encounter with string instruments in school and how it shaped his musical journey.
- The classical to pop transition 5:17 Harley talks about moving from classical training to exploring different genres like bluegrass and Irish music.
- Opening up to creative expression 6:34 He highlights the importance of overcoming fear in order to express oneself through music.
- The importance of training 7:50 A discussion on the value of music training and the necessity of finding a personal voice.
- The taste gap explained 35:10 Harley discusses the concept of the taste gap and its role in a musician's development.
- Expressive music creation 61:15 He explains how music serves as his emotional outlet and the joy in mastering his craft.
- Music as a healing process 59:40 Harley reflects on music's powerful role in human experience and self-expression.
Selected excerpts
My mom said that when I was two days old she put on a Stevie Ray Vaughan CD and I stopped breathing and just like focused in and listened.
I heard cello on the radio for the first time when I was like nine or ten and I was like that's the thing I want to do.
In hindsight, there was no wrong way to do it. The thing I find most value with, in hindsight, is time with the instrument.
The pursuit of excellence makes life joyful for me; music is my first language.
Getting to work on projects to heighten other people's work makes me feel the most human.
FAQ
Who is Harley Eblen?
Harley Eblen is a celebrated Billboard #1 string arranger known for his work across various music genres, focusing on elevating pop music with strings.
What is string arranging?
String arranging involves composing the part for string instruments within a musical piece, enhancing the overall emotional impact of the music.
How did Harley Eblen start his music career?
Harley began his music journey inspired by his Hawaiian roots, starting with violin and eventually focusing on the cello.
These pages are host notes, not a full transcript. The episode itself is on the listen links above.