Harvee Bird: 5 Questions Before The Thesis

Since 2014, The Thesis has been Portland's premier monthly hip-hop event on the First Thursday of every month at Kelly's Olympian. With our partners here at Vortex, we'll bring you a fresh artist spotlight each month, offering a glimpse behind one of the artists rocking our stage.

This edition features Portland artist Harvee Bird. Bird has a unique background having started his music career playing in punk and hardcore bands. He's also an advocate for live band hip-hop, which is something The Thesis has featured on a few occasions. We're looking forward to his performance on First Thursday, November 7.

Describe your approach to playing The Thesis. What's your history with the event?

It's going to be my usual high-energy performance but packed with a few surprises. I've been an audience member and a fan of the event for a couple of years now, so it's really exciting to finally be getting up on that stage!

Where do you see yourself fitting in within the current landscape of Portland hip-hop?

Would it be out of pocket to say I don't care very much nor think about where I fit in too often? [Laughs] I'm a nomad of sorts, a jack of all trades. If I had to place myself somewhere I would like to think of myself as a community builder and live band advocate here in the scene. At the end of the day, I'm just trying to positively influence those around me and create something meaningful.

Who are some other artists in town who inspire you?

Firstly, my collective MG Productions, which consists of Cutty Flam, Daimyo, Moblin, Moldy Gold, and Yoshimaru. They inspire the crap out of me every day! Second, you have Mat Randol! I love his work ethic and fiery passion. His body of work is something else; I hope to have one similar to it in the future. And third, Alexander Mackenzie, fka Dusty Fox. He's been somewhat of a mentor to myself and MG over these last few years and everything he does from music to visual art is amazingly inspiring!

Don't miss Harvee Bird sharing The Thesis stage with [E]mpress, Ki$, BAQI and Verbz at Kelly's Olympian on First Thursday, November 7Talk about your background as an artist. What unique story do you bring to the table? How does it inform your art?

I'm a self-taught musician, started playing in rock and hardcore bands when I was a teenager and have never really let that energy go. I'm a fan of many genres and it was only fitting that I would change up and play so many different styles over the course of my artistic career. Although my style has changed over the years, my goal will always be to provide an energetic and engaging experience.

What should people expect from you in the coming year?

I have a few new projects debuting before the year is over and I'm planning on releasing a follow-up to my Articuno EP sometime before the middle of 2020, along with plenty of other surprises along the way.