Peter Hadar: Cool Weirdo
By Porschia Baker
An electronic, soul, and hip hop blend, Peter Hadar’s album Memories of The Heart reflects true musical originality. Born in New Jersey, but shacked up in New York, he is a continuation of a thick and inspiring sound. Driven by the melodies in his head, he is the dream weaver of his own reality, in full control of his music, with his hands dug deep in its every aspect: from promotion to booking shows.
Peter Hadar is confidently putting his music out on his own record label, Cool Weirdo Music, but there are signs all around that say this songwriting singer is on the right track, such as working with Eric Roberson and Carl Thomas, not to mention his unique merging of business, fashion, and music. Doing what he’s supposed to be doing, he produces genuine music that speaks to the heart because his songs are made of love, the place where all stories ignite. And for Peter Hadar that is exactly where he begins.
Nu-Soul: I read that you grew up in church singing. After you grew out of singing in church, did you consider singing as a career?
Peter Hadar: There were some thoughts, but not very strong thoughts. I didn’t look at the music business as being a very profitable career, like watching my father. He’s a gospel singer and he played in churches on Sundays. My mom was the more conservative person, who went to college and didn’t want to have to want for anything. I just knew I wanted to be successful.
Nu-Soul: Did you go to college and study?
Peter Hadar: Yeah, I went to school for a fashion marketing, for two years, and after that I jumped right into the fashion industry. I did some styling and worked for And1, Polo and a lot of hot boutiques. I’ve been grinding a little bit with this fashion thing. It’s kind of helped my career because fashion and music go hand in hand.
Nu-Soul: So you don’t do that anymore and just focus on singing?
Peter Hadar: You know, I do and I don’t. I still consultant for T-shirt brands that I have a good relationship with in New York. Either I wear their stuff, I consult small brands or if I travel in a New York brand, and I can’t get it into a different door or different market, then I’ll go to the store, talk to them and at least show them what they have. I still do it a little bit.
When my T-shirts come out, they’re not going to be a regular Peter Hadar T-shirts.
These will be exclusive T-shirts, from exclusive clothing lines, like Garbage or Leroy Jenkins. I’m part of the whole T-shirt movement. It will be T-shirts, from your favorite brand that you won’t be able to get from any place, but when you see me on the road or online. I’m going to have them available online or if you catch me at a show. That’s why it’s taken a little longer to get the Peter Hadar shirt pressed up because I’m going through some T-Shirt designs.
Nu-Soul: When did you realize that singing is what you are going to do?
Peter Hadar: When I lost my last job. I [thought] I got to do something different. I felt I was really good at what I was doing, but I probably wasn’t the most likeable person. I really wasn’t happy at what I was doing and I felt like I exceeded my job. I got bigger than my job. I knew more and just wanted to explore more. The job kind of kept me in a box. I showed my superiors, on many occasions, that it didn’t work out.
I wanted to do something that I had complete control over. I read some books and said I was going to do this. Everybody said you could sing. So I just tried it. I was really hard. It’s a lot deeper than what I’m saying. I basically couldn’t sleep at night. I would be haunted by melodies or songs. It was kind of like God calling me [and saying] it’s time. Are you ready to stop playing around? I kind of just listened this time.
Nu-Soul: Would you just hear music playing in your head?
Peter Hadar: Well, I would hear the songs in my sleep and I couldn’t sleep. I would hear melodies and songs. I would start happening nights in a row. I just made a decision to give up everything. I was ready to live on the streets at that point. I come from a very conservative family. They didn’t understand that, at the time, with me being cool with not having a job and going after my music, like I’m not doing anything, but this. I don’t care, if I’m on the streets, I’m going to do this music or do my album no matter what it takes. You know, it worked out for me.
Nu-Soul: That’s crazy how the things we’re supposed to be doing come to us, when we least expect it or don’t even know it’s there.
Peter Hadar: Yeah. I definitely didn’t know it was going to get to this. Even at this level, I’m just so appreciative. I still have incredible goals that I want to meet, but at this level it’s such a blessing.
Nu-Soul: What are some of your goals?
Peter Hadar: Well, I have my own label. I want to put out artists on my label. I want to compete, you know, with the Stone Throw’s and BBE. I want to have a big indie empire. Even if I sign a deal with a major, it’s only to propel my independent movement. That’s my ultimate goal: just create a humongous movement be it must or fashion. Just pushing music and putting out great artist and music.
Nu-Soul: You said you want to be in complete control of what you’re doing. I know that you are your own manager as well. So basically you’re in control of everything?
Peter Hadar: I’m pretty much in control of everything. I have friend, who help when they can, but day to day it’s me. Booking the shows, contacting you, contacting your boss and try come up with marketing ideas and concepts. Just grinding. Trying to do gigs and figure out what’s best for me and my company.
Nu-Soul: Are you able to handle both sides, with the PR, management, and being the artist? Does it get over whelming?
Peter Hadar: Tremendously sometimes. My mom always [tells me] you need to get rest, but I just love finding and putting the pieces to the puzzle. It’s very challenging. Sometimes you’re like I wish I had a budget to pay this person do this, but if you can’t, they’re not going to work as hard as you would. It’s at a level where I still miss out on things because I don’t have 10 million hands, but I make sure I pay attention to the things that I know are going to make a mark in the movement.
Nu-Soul: I’m sure that people who help you get paid in many ways beside monetary.
Peter Hadar: They do, but they do it, when they can and it’s definitely a blessing. I lived it. So I can’t expect them to go as hard as I would. I can’t expect them to do the same.
Even if they say they can do something and they don’t pull through, I don’t get up set.
Nu-Soul: Did you arrange and produce the entire album yourself?
Peter Hadar: I didn’t do any of the production, but I wrote every single song. I have a partner, Mike Janedo. He’s a really good friend of mine. A Filipino brother. He actually has a label, Social Studies. We’re doing a drum and bass album right now called Mathematics Versus Peter Hadar. It’s already playing overseas on BBC radio. We got a lot of songs done, but I have to finish it. I think fall or spring it will be out.
Nu-Soul: On the opening track “Provider,” you say you’re a dedicated servant. Who are you serving?
Peter Hadar: I’m just trying to give the listeners and people that love good music good music, just well written songs and try to bring them along in my journey. Hopefully I don’t lose them. Just trying to serve them the best I can. Without them there’s no me.
Nu-Soul: Basically you make music for you self and everyone else at the same time?
Peter Hadar: Yeah, I have a theory that artists get into this thing about ‘I make music for myself and if people like it they like it, if not I don’t care’ that’s that not my challenge. To me a genius or someone that’s an incredible artist can put something in new that intrigues the listener without going over their head. You know what I mean? The whole Motown era of talent musicians did incredible stuff that was still commercial. Like The Beatles did incredible music, but it was still popular. We still study The Beatles like wow I can’t believe they did that or I wish I wrote that song. To me that’s more ingenious than just writing a creative song that the average person can’t understand what’s going on. That’s what I’m on: writing well written songs the world can relate to.
Nu-Soul: Yeah, I know what you mean. Like the one track, “Marvin,” people can definitely relate to it.
Peter Hadar: I grew up in suburbia. My mom kept me in suburbia and a lot of my family lives in the urban area. So when I grew up, I moved there for different reasons: to spend more time with my family. I didn’t really get to spend time with them, when I grew up. That summer and that year I spent with my family is where that song comes from. Basically seeing, with my own eyes, what was going on in the urban community and kind of expressing that in my own way.
Nu-Soul: I didn’t realize until after I listened to the album that the title sums up the entire album. I can tell, when I listen to the album it’s genuine. So without that love you put into the album or the love you receive, from people, where would you’re music be or where would you be?
Peter Hadar: Nowhere. Everyone asked where were you [during the album]. I was in pain. You talking about somebody who didn’t know why they was here, what their purpose was and just regular heart break that everybody goes through. Then just saving yourself. The clock is ticking. What are you going to do with your life knowing you want to something more important than where you were?
I think every album that I have is going to include pain and love. That was another reason I wrote “Marvin.” I’m way bigger than a love song, but I believe without a love songs and stories about relationships what is life. When you talk about the people we respect and love, they wrote about a ton of different things. People relate to love and they want to hear something that relates to them. I think my album will always have a mixture of different feelings and different side of Peter Hadar.
Nu-Soul: When are you going to perform in Los Angles?
Peter Hadar: I just got booked for the Temple Bar. This young lady that I’m working with is co-manging. Her name is Emoni Fela. She’s 16 and she’s a monster. I think we’re doing a New York, D.C and LA show. It should be in [late August].
Nu-Soul: When is your next album dropping? It’s not the Mathematics Versus Peter Hadar album?
Peter Hadar: This album is called Fresh Attire and there’s going to be a lot of production by Montique Willis. He [produced] “You Don’t Love Me” and “Marvin” on Memories of the Heart. It’s going to be piano driven. Real organic hip hop beats and just whatever I come up with. It’s going to be a jambalaya of all that.
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