1-1 The Earth Harp

Interviewer: Well there's so much great art and entertainment to catch here at the Western Oasis. We are joined by William Close. Now William, we just heard a little bit of what you do on the Earth Harp there. Amazing.

William: Oh, thanks a lot. You know, it's super fun to be here in the Western Oasis. It's just such a great vibe in here, you know.

Interviewer: Is it your first time here at the Calgary Stampede performing?

William: Yes, this is my first Stampede. I just got this hat yesterday. I'm super psyched about it. Um, I love the people here are amazing and they just, it's been great. People love the Earth Harp.

Interviewer: Tell us a little bit about the Earth Harp itself, the logistics, how you came up with it.

William: Sure. The Earth Harp is an instrument I created. I've invented about a hundred unique instruments. And the first time I set the Earth Harp up, I mounted it to one side of a valley and ran strings a thousand feet across to the other side. So turned that valley into a giant harp.

And then from there, you know, I realized that I could install it in theaters, in architecture. So today the Earth Harp is resting on the stage and the strings are going out and attaching into the architecture of the Western Oasis. Literally turning the Oasis into the instrument.

Interviewer: How many times and for how big of crowds, how many people have seen the Earth Harp in all its glory?

William: Well, you know, I, you know, one of my things, I cruise around the world and I play a giant harp. That's what I do. Um, I came in third on America's Got Talent a couple years ago, third out of ten thousand.

So ever since I've just been, you know, really sharing what I do with everybody and um, it's been great. You know, I've traveled all over the world, the Grand Theater in Shanghai, the Coliseum in Rome, Lincoln Center. So the Earth Harp has made its rounds.

Interviewer: When did you get started with the creation of all these instruments?

William: Uh, you know, I studied sculpture, music and architecture in art school at the Art Institute in Chicago and started building instruments.

And since then, you know, I've just gone with it and built lots of different things from violin jackets that you can wear, fusing fashion and music. Um, I've got big drum pieces like fifteen, twenty feet across, um, four or five neck guitar sculptures, all sorts of stuff.

Interviewer: Unbelievable. And people can come down and check you out each day of the Calgary Stampede right here in Western Oasis?

William: Yes, I'm here, um, I'm playing I think almost every hour on the hour starting around one. Um, and yeah, it's really great. You know, it's really great to be here in Canada connecting with my fan base in Canada.

And I recently was signed to Nettwerk Records, which is a Canadian record company. And so, I don't know, I just love the Canadian connection, you know.

Interviewer: Well we love having you here. Is there a website that people can go to to check out more of your stuff and kind of keep in touch with you?

William: Oh yeah, you know, they can Facebook me, William Close, or you know, just go to earthharp.com and check it out.

Interviewer: Awesome. Thanks so much.

William: All right, thanks.

Interviewer: We're having an amazing time here in the Western Oasis, enjoying getting out of the sun a little bit. This is Cowboy Casino Saddled Up right here on Shaw TV.