HSDC is proud to celebrate the outstanding success of former South Downs music student Harvey Jay Dodgson, whose journey from local college gigs to major UK and European stages highlights the transformative role of further education in preparing students for ambitious careers in the creative industries.
Harvey was able to develop his musical ability during his time at HSDC.
A Portsmouth-based alt/indie singer-songwriter with hip-hop and soul influences, 24-year-old Harvey has been writing his own music since the age of just 10. His musical heroes span a wide range of artists including Kasabian, Kate Bush, Kendrick Lamar and Nina Simone, meaning that his sound blends bold attitude and melody with gritty and meticulously written lyrics.
His breakout track, Marilyn Rose, has recently surpassed 250,000 streams on Spotify, marking a significant milestone in his rapidly growing career.
Harvey studied Level 3 Music Performance at HSDC South Downs from 2018-20, developing a strong foundation of musical knowledge, before embarking on the Level 4 Music Production course.
Taking these two courses allowed Harvey to hone not only his technical and creative skills, but also the professionalism, confidence and industry awareness needed to succeed in a highly competitive sector.
Since leaving HSDC, Harvey has progressed from performing solo to delivering polished, high-energy live shows with a full band. Together, they have performed at prominent festivals, including Isle of Wight, Victorious, Tramlines and Kendal Calling. He has also secured high-profile support slots for acts such as The Lottery Winners, Sundara Karma and Himalayas, further cementing his reputation as one of the most exciting emerging artists in the country.
In 2023, Harvey achieved a true career milestone when he played at Glastonbury Festival, a lifelong dream for many musicians. His second EP, Alligator, also released that year, earning multiple plays on BBC Radio 1, and fuelled his success in selling out his debut hometown headline show in Portsmouth.
The following years saw further success for Harvey, as he returned to Glastonbury for a second year running, and even opened the Victorious Festival main stage lineup!
Harvey recently returned to HSDC for Music Industry Week, delivering a talk, Q&A, and an exclusive live performance for current students. Speaking about how his time at HSDC helped him, Harvey said:
“The best thing about my time at South Downs was being surrounded by like-minded people for the first time in my life. Being involved in a close cohort of students who had a real passion for music was amazing, and the gigs that we played at college were key to give me a launchpad into the industry.”
HSDC is incredibly proud to have played such a key role in Harvey’s musical journey, as it was at College where he gained the confidence needed to take the first steps into a professional career in the industry.
Everyone at the College wishes Harvey the best of luck as he prepares for the production of his fourth EP!