Here’s what they have to say…
It seems I’ve unintentionally started a movement for The Heys here in Tampa. It began, as most music related things do, with me sending friends links to MySpace pages of bands I like. Usually this results in a response of “Yeah, pretty cool!” or something equivalent. The Heys, however, have led to further follow-up emails along the lines of “I can’t stop listening to these guys!” It seemed only reasonable then that we work with our friends at Planetary Group to get a copy of their debut album Youngbored&broke into the hands of two lucky RockSellout readers!
Even a quick minute with their new album Youngbored&broke will tell you why people are falling in love – The Heys produce Mod-Northern Soul-R&B-Rock with such seeming ease you’d think the guys were born from Paul Weller and Ray Davie’s shared pint at a Gloria Jones show. It’s not timeless in the sense it conjures a specific sound, but it is timeless in the sense it resists a dated sound – this is a fresh take for young Mods looking to let those scratchy old LPs have a breather. And one day Youngbored&broke will sit beside those beloved records, pulled out and played as a testament that good music can harken to a specific sound and a specific time yet still remain fresh for decades afterwards.
With all this in mind, we took the opportunity to ask The Heys a couple questions – some serious, some less so. Find out about the only job worth getting up for, breakfast at Burger King, and what to ask when having a pint with Paul Weller after the jump. And if you’re up for getting a free copy of The Heys Youngbored&broke, then find out what you need to do after the interview!
Part I: We Get Serious:
Keath: How would you describe The Heys to new listeners?
The Heys: Er…That’s hard when you are in it. Try: songs, guitars, voices, beat, honest, direct, uncomplicated, toe-tap, tunes.
Keath: Being in a band: harder than you thought or best job in the world?
The Heys: It’s the only job in the world worth getting up for. Being in a band is the best. It’s the only way of life.
Keath: What was the recording process like? A long slog or quick takes?
The Heys: Definitely quick takes. Doing it over and over again in the studio just sucks the life out of the thing. We rehearsed like fuck and were pretty ruthless with the bits. Then just recorded the vibe.
Keath: Which track off the new album is the most fun to play live?
The Heys: We’ve all got our favourites. And it depends on the night and the mood. Pressure is like riding a motorbike, Scene sums it all up, Elbow Culture is hairs on the back of the neck …
Keath: What is your favorite part of the process – writing, recording, or performing?
The Heys: That’s a hard one too. Without live stuff what’s the point? That’s where you can give it and get it. That’s where you start, its where you buzz. Its immediate. But then without the writing there isn’t any live. And its really mental when you get a new tune. When you have something on your mind you just have to find a way to say it. Or a tune going round and round in your head driving you nuts and you have to try and catch it with your antennae. We used to record in professional studios but it only lead to great expense and disappointment. So we built our own set up in a small cellar with our ‘puter and started having a laugh with it. We wanted to make the best album we could, that sounded like us in surroundings we felt comfortable in. So I guess it depends what your doing at the time ‘cause that’ll be your favourite.
Keath: You’re already doing shows in the UK – will there be a North America tour for the new album too?
The Heys: We really wanna come and play!
Keath: The lyrics are fabulous – snapshots of working class life. Do they spark the music or the other way around?
The Heys: No rules it just depends, sometimes its both. When you get a good tune there doesn’t seem any point wasting the lyrics. But at the same time they have to work and not fuck up the tune. We are not trying to preach or convert. We’re a band. If people wanna think about it then cool, but it still has to be a song. We’re just saying what we see.
Part II: We Get Less Than Serious:
Keath: Would you rather have a pint with Pete Townshend or Paul Weller? Bonus – I’ll buy the round if you tell us the one question you’d most like to ask the one you picked.
The Heys: That’s easy – Paul Weller! Alright Townsend’s in The Who, but he is a bit of a cock. Paul, “That’s a nice shirt, where did you get that from? Its your round”
Keath: Keith Richards – still the coolest man in rock or now just an old geezer wearing scarves with skulls on them?
The Heys: He’s Keith Fookin Richards! He’s in the Rolling Stones! He’s the real deal. The genuine article.
Keath: I never eat at Burger King – do they have a good breakfast? (Note: if you don’t understand this question, listen to the track “Youngbored&broke” at their MySpace page)
The Heys: Too right!
Keath: What’s the one question I should have asked but didn’t?
The Heys: “that’s a nice shirt, where did you get that from? Its my round”
MP3: The Heys – [listen] Pressure
MP3: The Heys – [listen] Fridaynight
Like what you hear? Want a free copy of Youngbored&broke? We’re picking two lucky winners – all you have to do is tell us what question you’d ask The Heys over a pint. Wednesday, we at RockSellout will pick our two favorites from the entries. You don’t have to be super clever or witty, just let us know what you’d like to find out. Good luck!
- Keath (MySpace)
