Born and raised in Mobile, Alabama, Hara Paper picked up her first (toy) guitar at the age of five. She began taking classical guitar lessons at age eight from Diane Bault, who continued to nurture Hara's musical growth all the way through her entrance as a Classical Guitar major at the University of South Alabama. Hara continued to study with Bault who was a professor at the University. Hara was also a member of the University's Guitar Ensemble.
Hara became intrigued with rock music early in her teens. After hearing Led Zeppelin's Whole Lotta Love, she became more interested in popular rock music. Hara found herself constantly playing rock riffs instead of practicing her classical lessons.
Declining interest in pursuing her classical studies made Hara rethink her educational goals. She had always been interested in art; drawing, doodling and creating designs from an early age, and was awarded in high school as the Senior Elite in Art. So she entered The Ringling School of Art & Design in Sarasota, Florida, and graduated with a BA in illustration.
Hired by BellSouth as a graphic artist, Hara lay down her guitar and dedicated herself to her career until hearing Tori Amos in 1991. Tori's "Little Earthquakes" CD made her realize that there were no restrictions on self-expression through music. After meeting Tori in 1992, Hara began songwriting and playing out in various venues in Atlanta, including Eddie's Attic. After BellSouth transferred her to Raleigh, NC, Hara increased her performance schedule and became a popular fixture in the local music scene.
Hara moved to Chattanooga, TN in 2002, and briefly stopped performing until on a whim, she decided to play at an open mic night at the Local Performance Hall, where she met a DJ from a local college station who encouraged her to continue performing, putting "Spanish Influence" into regular airplay to good response.
In 2007, Hara was selected to participate in the "Rock for Life" CD project, a collaboration between Illumina Records and Ground Control to help curb drunk driving. She hopes that "Spanish Influence" will contribute to this vehicle for change.
