Loudini Interviews Heartwood

Getting to Know HEARTWOOD

Exposed Vocals: So tell us your story. Where did you grow up? What made you decide to become an artist? Each of us grew up in a different city along the West Coast: San Diego, LA, Berkeley, and Seattle. We all have played music for as long as we can remember. There was never much of a decision that was made. We’ve all had that lifelong dream of playing music and being artists. We all met freshman year of college and became best friends. Creating Heartwood kind of just felt like a natural progression, there was never a huge discussion or anything.

Exposed Vocals: Since everyone was a start-up once, can you give any smaller or local bands or artists looking to get gigs and airplay some tips?Remember that it’s really hard work. Obviously you need good songs, but working your ass off is half the battle. Meet as many people as you can and always be super friendly. Play as many gigs as you can and make friends with other bands. Keep rehearsing, recording, and releasing music and do whatever you can to get your name out there.

Exposed Vocals: Do you ever make mistakes during performances? How do you handle that?All the time. Strings break, you play the wrong chords/notes, shit happens. You don’t really think about it too much in the moment and it’s not really that big of a deal if you’re putting on a great show.

Exposed Vocals: Do you tour? Anything interesting happen on tour that you think our readers would enjoy hearing about?We go to In N Out a lot. We’ve been to a lot of parties in random places with random people, that’s always pretty fun. James and Ameet are a lethal beer pong duo. One time Pat forgot his pedalboard about 2 hours down the road and half and hour before soundcheck. We had to find a guitar shop to try and pick up anything that would come close to mimicking his sound.

Exposed Vocals: Any planned studio upgrades? What are you working with now?We’re in the process of writing and recording a new EP. It’s some of our best stuff yet. We’re really stoked about it.

Exposed Vocals: How do you find ways to promote your music? What works best for you?It’s one fan at a time. We try to keep up with social media and play a lot of shows and parties, but at the end of the day it’s the fans that are most loyal that really are your messengers and spread the word. We also have to give a huge shout out to blogs like Exposed Vocals that are so awesome in helping us and other young artists get our music out there.

Exposed Vocals: If you could perform anywhere and with any artists (Dead or Alive) where and who would it be with? Why?Pat - People probably answer this question with artists like Jimi Hendrix, Jeff Buckley, Nirvana, the Beatles, but that’s just setting yourself up to be a huge disappointment compared to those acts. Based on that logic, my dream is to play with a cover band comprised of a bunch of 8-year old kids (who are good at their instruments for their age but just lack the experience of playing live shows so their nerves get the better of them) at the Hollywood Bowl. That way we look like the best fucking band ever. Michael - This is a tough one for obvious reasons. I might have to say John Lennon. I’m always inspired by the way he fought for people and peace and to be on stage with that energy would be out of this world. Ameet - Easy. I’d put together a bill with Green Day and Operation Ivy. Year: 1991. Venue: 924 Gilman Street. James - I’m gonna stick to my guns and say I’d play with Green Day on their American Idiot tour. I know the whole album, I love the rocking out, and it would be a monster-sized show.

Exposed Vocals: So, what’s next? Any new upcoming projects that you want to talk about?More music, more shows, more Heartwood.

Exposed Vocals: If you weren’t making music, what would you be doing?Pat- I’d probably be a personal trainer. In all honesty, that’s probably what I’ll end up doing in addition to this music thing. Michael- Probably work in politics. I want to help the world in some capacity so if it’s not via music it would be via policy-making. Ameet- If I weren’t making music, I’d be managing music or working somewhere in the music industry. That’s my ultimate goal anyway - start my own record label. James- I think I would want to study languages. I’ve always been fascinated with how different people all over the world use different words to express similar feelings. I would want to bridge that communication gap- maybe a translator?

Exposed Vocals: What should fans look forward to in the next year or so?We’ve got a new single that’s going to be coming out on Valentine’s Day called “You’re My Girl” and we’re really excited about it, so stay on the look-out for that. We’re hoping to also release a music video for that song, which is going to be our first music video as a band. Besides that look out for a new EP that we’ve started working on towards the summer/fall of 2017 and a good amount of shows throughout the year.