I'm not really a band...just me. I make music because it's what I enjoy doing.
Ha Ha Said The Car is Johann Kloos, a Salford-based composer.
Johann composes in a wide range of styles, reflecting his own musical heritage and influences, taken from pop, jazz, folk, classical and avant-garde music.
He began making music in 1975 with homemade electronics, guitar and cheap cassette recorders, using primitive overdubbing techniques.
Johann recorded his first three track demo in 1980 at the Crypt Studio in Stevenage.
A second demo was recorded in 1984 at Cheops Studio Cambridge composed of five songs. One track "Mr Fowler" gets picked up on by Dan Treacy (Television Personalities) and the song appeared in Sounds music magazine in their "Psychedelic" chart at No.2. The song also received interest from Bam Caruso Records and 4AD. He formed a band "Ha Ha Said The Car" in 1985 to perform his songs.
In 1987, Johann joined a new band "Erick" as a founding member.
Erick released three albums on the Fragment label which earned critical acclaim, radio airplay and interest from Virgin Records.
In 1991 Johann left full time employment to return to full time education at Harlow College to study the BTEC ND in Performing Arts (Popular Music) and gained several distinctions.
Johann released his first solo album "Magic from the Attic" on Fragment Records in 1991.
That year Johann co-founded the Willy Brandt Cooperative, a loose collective of musicians featuring Toby Baron on drums (Ray Davies) Jamie Odell (Freerange Records, The Bays, Jimpster) and Aaron Liddard (Amy Winehouse, Beverley Knight)
In 1993 Johann performed as a member of the Harlow College Community Arts Theatre group, one of nine finalists in the Lloyds Bank Theatre Challenge, an annual showcase of young performing talent at the National Theatre in London.
He left Bishops Stortford to study Popular Music and Recording at the University of Salford in 1994, graduating in 1997.
In 1995 he produced an EP for Chicago band “True Colors,” which attracted major label interest.
In 2001 he took part in the "In The City" music industry event to promote his demo “Man On Fire.”
In 2003 Johann’s composition "Ships Passing” was used in a short video "Perfect Spot" by Jennet Thomas, which received its first showing at the Royal Academy of Arts.
He continues to make music.
I used to play live a lot. Now I just can't find the musicians!!
Musical influences were artists like the Beatles, Syd Barrett's Pink Floyd, Roxy Music, the Velvet Underground and the Beach Boys.
A computer, a guitar, a keyboard.
Clarinet, tin whistle, lots of VSTi synths.
