heavy on the heart – Toe to Toe
Release Date: 9th February 2024
Taken from the EP It’s You That Has To Think released in October 2023, ‘Toe to Toe’ is a fun little track from American rockers heavy on the heart. Alt-rock through and through, ‘Toe to Toe’ brings a little something from many genres. Twinkly guitars that are a bit indie, vocally there are elements that are almost pure pop-punk, though it all comes together and merges delightfully. This is one that will have you putting the rest of the EP for sure.
Heya, thanks for taking the time to talk to us today! For those living under a rock, can you tell us a bit about yourselves as a band?
heavy on the heart. is a rock band from Long Island, NY. This project started in the summer of 2021 when me and Nikki began writing songs after the abrupt breakup of my old band. We connected with Nick, our drummer in November of 2021 and Andrew the following year. We debuted as a band last January 2023 and have been non-stop since.
You’ve just released new music, can you tell us a little about it and what it means to you?
“It’s You That Has To Think” was written over the course of a 10 week period in the summer of 2021. It was a different type of writing from what I’ve been used to. It was the first writing cycle where I was running back and forth between all instruments demoing and we ended up hitting the studio in September where we tracked everything within 7 days. The EP as a whole is just seeing your dark days through. Rising up to the challenge, finding the strength to get up and fight that good fight every day. It’s venting rage & pain while offering you and your future a glimmer of hope and optimism.
Do you have a favourite track on there or is it like picking your favourite dog breed?
Songs are like children, haha. It’s hard to pick a favourite because they all are a piece of you. They all come from different emotions, feelings and times.
Can you give us an insight into how you write tracks and has this changed as you’ve become more comfortable working together?
A lot of ideas stem from just sitting down with a guitar and fiddling around till some riff, chord or phrase strikes some type of feeling in me. Then I take it and run with it. When we meet as a group we solidify a structure and a skeleton of it and then we write the lyrics and melodies based off the feeling it sparks. We just finished recording a full length and this record was different in the sense of having other minds in the room to throw in input and ideas. Maybe a cool baseline or drum part could spark something new. We like to stay in a writing process and we’re really getting into keys and synths and all these ethereal type elements. Trying to figure out the way to incorporate it where it feels real and doesn’t take away from who we really are as a band.
What was the original inspiration for you wanting to get into music and is the current style where you thought you would head?
I’ve always been around music. My dad played guitar & piano. My mom played a little guitar back in her day. My cousin introduced me to bands like Kiss, Motley Crue & Poison. But it wasn’t really till I received “Enema of the State” by blink-182 for my 10th birthday from a friend that I was like woah, I want to play music. Throughout the years my musical taste has definitely grown and I’ve come to appreciate so much outside of that pop rock pop punk music. I try to incorporate all elements of what inspires me musically in my writing. But blink-182 is the reason I wanted to pick up a guitar.
Do you have any upcoming plans you’re excited about?
We actually head into the studio this week with Fred Mascherino (ex Taking Back Sunday, Say Anything & The Color Fred) to do a single. We have a spring east coast run and a full U.S. summer run we are stoked about. We should be announcing those shortly!
What’s the ultimate goal for the band? Headlining major festivals, playing a certain venue or just having as much fun as you can?
To reach as many people as possible. To connect with as many people as possible. To find the people who feel the same way we do and create a bond with them. The stage can definitely always be bigger but we are enjoying the ride, everything that comes with it and all the beautiful people and connections we’re making along the way.
Outside of the day to day band life, what gets you up in the morning?
I own a few businesses including a 90s-themed bar called Nostalgia in Bethpage, NY. I have 2 amazing dogs and honestly the adventure of the unknown of what will today bring. Every day is a blessing, good and bad days, I’m grateful for them all.
Finally, are there any bands that you’d like to give a shout out to?
Shout out to Playing Dead, Boston Flowers, Career Day, Val Astaire, And Also Bye & The Dartmoores.
Thanks for your time! Is there anything you’d like to say or promote while you’re here?
Thank you for having us! Be sure to follow us on social media to keep up with everything we have going on. Let’s connect and vibe! We’re also releasing a new single called “Smokin’ All The Weed” on 4/20/2024!