Hurtsfall: Finding Light in the Darkness of Goth

With a distinctive sound rooted in post-punk and darkwave, Hurtsfall are carving out their own place in the goth scene. Singer Sam Harrison Emm discusses the band's origins, the importance of goth culture, an unexpected remix collaboration with Palindrones, and the long-awaited debut album on the horizon.

For Hurtsfall, music is about more than sound. It is a way to confront difficult emotions, find a sense of belonging and connect with a wider community. Sitting somewhere between the post-punk of New Order and Joy Division, with echoes of Depeche Mode and the Sisters of Mercy, the band have developed a sound that draws on goth and darkwave traditions while continuing to establish their own identity.

The project brings together singer Sam Harrison Emm, Mike on Bass IV and Jamie on keyboards. Its origins began with an online advert that caught Sam's attention years ago. Drawn immediately to the name Hurtsfall, he responded to an invitation to write and audition with the band. Mike and Jamie, formerly of The Death Notes, were looking for a vocalist for their new project. After a year of auditions and deliberation, Sam emerged as their chosen singer.

Since then, the trio have built a sound that reflects a broad range of influences. Mike's use of higher guitar parts alongside the Bass IV adds another dimension to the band's arrangements, helping distinguish them from their inspirations.

“Over the years I think we’ve developed our own style,” Sam explains, while acknowledging the influence of the artists who helped shape their musical direction.

Goth as expression and community

For Sam, goth music offers a meaningful way to process emotions that can otherwise be difficult to express. Its appeal lies in its honesty and rawness, allowing darkness to be confronted rather than ignored.

That emotional openness is inseparable from the culture surrounding the music. Goth has long provided a space for people to connect through shared tastes, aesthetics and experiences, creating a community that extends beyond the music itself.

This is one reason World Goth Day remains important to Sam. In an increasingly fast-moving digital world, he sees value in occasions that bring people together and help subcultures maintain their visibility.

World Goth Day provides an opportunity for the global community to celebrate its shared identity, connect across geographical boundaries and introduce the scene to new audiences. For Hurtsfall, it is a reminder that the culture surrounding the music remains just as important as the music itself.

An unexpected collaboration with Palindrones

That sense of community also extends to relationships between artists. Hurtsfall's collaboration with Palindrones grew out of a series of near misses at festivals, where the two acts repeatedly found themselves on different days or travelling before they had the chance to meet properly.

Despite never quite crossing paths in person, they stayed in touch online, developing a relationship based on mutual admiration. Eventually, Palindrones offered to remix one of Hurtsfall's tracks.

Rather than setting strict creative boundaries, Hurtsfall gave them complete freedom to reinterpret the song. The result took the original material in a very different direction, offering the band a fresh perspective on their own work.

For Sam, hearing the transformation was part of the appeal. Allowing another artist to take a track somewhere unexpected created an opportunity to experience the music from a new angle, demonstrating how collaboration can push a song beyond its original boundaries.

Keeping the music alive

When it comes to his own listening habits, Sam admits to returning frequently to the music he grew up with, alongside new releases from familiar artists. Recent albums from The March Violets and Corpus Delicti have caught his attention, reflecting his continued connection to the wider post-punk and goth scene.

That balance between established influences and new material also informs Hurtsfall's approach to their own future. The band's immediate priority is their debut album, a project that has taken considerable time to develop but which they believe will be worth the wait.

“We’re always writing,” Sam says, adding that audiences can expect to hear new material at live shows as the band continue to develop their sound.

With the below single, 'Momento Mori' will feature on their debut album planned for release this year, Hurtsfall are preparing to bring together the ideas and influences that have shaped the project so far. Their upcoming performances will provide further opportunities to connect with audiences across the UK, including appearances at Goth City Festival in Leeds and Aatma in Manchester.

For a band whose identity is rooted in both musical expression and community, the next chapter is about continuing to evolve without losing sight of what brought them together in the first place.

As Hurtsfall work towards their debut album, their commitment to honest expression, creative collaboration and the enduring goth community remains at the heart of the project.

Follow Hurtsfall for updates on their debut album and upcoming live dates: https://linktr.ee/hurtsfalluk