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The indie folk band talks the way things change with RM.
You’ve likely heard The Head and the Heart’s music echoing through grad parties, wedding venues and even during sappy sitcom scenes. The Seattle-based indie folk band has always had a knack for writing grassroots music that somehow feels incredibly personal yet still made for the masses—think songs like “Rivers and Roads,” “Lost in My Mind,” and “People Need a Melody.”
Now, with six albums in the rearview and a jam-packed tour ahead—including a Raleigh stop at Red Hat Amphitheater July 16—the band is ready to turn a new page.
The six-piece is still churning out folky ballads that ring true at any occasion where reminiscing is called for, but after ~15 years as a group with various record labels, their sound was bound to shapeshift. For their sixth record, Aperture, The Head and the Heart’s goal was to head back home to their roots and reconnect with the strummy spirit of their early days.
“We intentionally tried to kind of get back to ‘being in the room’ vibes, really making a record focused on collaboration and starting songs from scratch all together,” drummer Tyler Williams told RM.
And they achieved that old-yet-refreshed indie sound in the most grassroots way possible: A Virginia studio down a gravel road. “It was like an adult summer camp,” describes vocalist and guitarist Jonathan Russell. “There was plenty of outdoor space, one of the houses had a piano in it and plenty of space in the studio.” All the wide-open vibes left plenty of room for creative expression—and room for all six members to get along.
“With six people, you can’t just plug it in and it automatically works, you know?” emphasizes Russell. “You have to be cognizant of people’s moods that day or who’s listening to what.” But fortunately, over the years, the band’s learned to “read the room”—and ensure every member has their fingerprints on the final product.
Truly going back to the basics on Aperture, it’s only their fingerprints on the final record. After label-hopping for years, the newest record was released under The Head and the Heart’s own label, Every Shade of Music. While a label and producer seems like the easier route, it felt far more removed from the original sonic goal. “It’s on us to do the leg work to actually make the final decisions, and therefore it actually sounds like our decision,” maintains Russell. “It’s almost like creativity loves hard work.”
After all the work behind the newest record, it’s time for more heavy lifting: Four more months of touring kicks off with Raleigh as the second stop, just after a short break from the road. With family matters now added in the mix—with some kids on tour and some kids at home—being able to take the stage is both more difficult and all the more worth it, the band describes.
“I’m so excited about it, because I think I finally figured out what I needed to do to hit the stage running,” Russell muses. “I’m so glad we are starting off in North Carolina.” So, head to Red Hat to tune in to refreshed indie ballads with same beloved sound. theheadandtheheart.com
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