If you’re a fan of intense, driving, minor-key rock n’ roll, then Heartbeater should be your new favorite local band. With a lack of pretension and a wealth of songs, these young men have made a name for themselves in a fairly short amount of time. In their current incarnation for less then a year, the quartet has released an EP and are in the midst working on a full length. Heartbeater recently gave us a few minutes of their time.
WOTT: Give us the down-low on Heartbeater. How’d you get together? What do you have in store for everybody in 2010?
Greg: A loose version of the band formed in late 2008 when Jon and I were neighbors in Murfreesboro. We played a few shows before the other two members moved away. At that point we thought the band was done. Jeff joined the band on drums in February ’09 and things really took off. We played some shows and recorded our self-titled EP in April as a three piece.
In July ‘09, seven of us moved to a giant house in Nashville with members of Evil Bebos and the Ascent of Everest. Around the same time we added Corey Taylor on guitar and we’ve been full steam ahead ever since.
2010 is shaping up to be a big year for Heartbeater. We’ve been working really hard on the songs for our first full-length album called “Slow Wavesâ€. We’re recording it the first weekend of March with our friend Mark Primeau at the Toy Box in East Nashville and hope to have it released on vinyl in the summer.
To help fund this project we launched a campaign on this website called Kickstarter. I believe the site is relatively new, but I think it’s a really innovative way for bands to operate independently.
You can check out our project here: http://www.kickstarter.com/profile/heartbeater
We start our first one-week tour through the Midwest on May 4. We’re also playing the last round of Road to Bonnaroo on May 17. We’re staying busy and having a blast!
WOTT: What’s playing in the car / cassette player / iPod / record player / 8-track, and what’s getting you about that music right now?
Greg: Computer World by Kraftwerk. I’ve always liked Kraftwerk when I’ve heard them, but I’ve never sat down with an album until recently. It’s minimalist and strangely danceable.
Jon: Exploded Drawing by Polvo. It’s nostalgia at it’s best. Also I’ve got a few tracks from locals The Goldroom on constant rotation. They’re the best band in Nashville /Murfreesboro right now in my opinion. Anxiously waiting for more from those dudes.
Corey: Smile by Boris. The whole record seems like an accident. They drop monolithic riffs out of nowhere.
Jeff: Everything psych rock and Krautrock. A couple highlights are Alpine Static by Kinski. They might be the best band on Sub Pop. Also the eponymous first release by Neu!. The ‘motorik’ beat at its finest, a huge inspiration when I jam.
WOTT: If you could open up for any band ever, who would it be, where would it be, and why?
Greg: The Stooges. I would love to have seen this band when they were in their prime. I would also enjoy getting drunk with Iggy backstage.
Jon: My Bloody Valentine at the Filmore. They’re the best band EVER.
Corey: early 70’s era Black Sabbath in the Roman coliseum, when there were Roman’s cheering on gladiators.
Jeff: Led Zeppelin so I could watch John Bonham beat the hell out of the drums from side stage. Radiohead would be rad too!
WOTT: What do you think about the current state of music / music business / music distribution, etc? You guys are offering digital downloads and limited edition physical copies, do you think there remains much of a demand for physical music?
Greg: The demand for physical music is not nearly what it was in the past, even 10 years ago, and I doubt it will ever reach past levels of demand again. There has been a lot of discussion about what people value in physical music. We’re going to release our next album digitally and as an LP. We are not making CD’s. The compact disc is useful but disposable, much like toilet paper or condoms. I can’t imagine asking someone to pay 10 bucks for our new album on CD, but I am comfortable in asking for that amount for a vinyl record. I think there’s a demand for high quality vinyl records and will continue to be for a long time.
Jeff: It really depends upon where you’re at on the spectrum in the industry. I like the direction independent music is heading. Bands are able to easily communicate and distribute directly to anyone on the Internet. It’s easy for anyone to hear your music instantly. I like that. To sell your music you need to have quality music and put extra value into the physical format to make it worthwhile. Having a great live performance helps, too, and it seems to be the most important thing nowadays to make any sort of living as a band. People will know and support a good band when they hear it.
WOTT: What are your favorite and least favorite things about Nashville / Murfreesboro (in general, and also in regards to the music scene)?
Greg: Nashville has a great thing going right now. There are tons of good local shows every week. Unfortunately, some really good stuff gets ignored due to over saturation. Also, people in the audience don’t really rock out very much at shows. Except at house parties and that Jesus Lizard show. Murfreesboro is a great place to start a band. Cheap rent, easy to meet musicians etc. I have friends in bands there that bitch because for a large part, Murfreesboro gets ignored by Nashville media. But that could change if they could get a good weekly publication there. Anything but the Pulse, that shit is awful.
Jeff: I like Nashville because it has a thriving local scene, a good place to get a start. At the same time Nashville is very critical, since everyone and their mom is in a band, so you will know soon how well you are received. This can be good and bad. It depends on what kind of band you are in. I am also in The Ascent of Everest and Evil Bebos and neither of these projects have been as well received as Heartbeater. The music made in those bands isn’t really Nashville friendly, if you know what I mean. It’s a lot more niche. As far as location, it’s great. There are a lot of opportunities to play with bands touring through.
Interview conducted by Ryan Ervin