Hearts have released their debut EP ‘EP1’.
Consisting of former Catfish and the Bottlemen drummer Rob Hall and members from The Bongo Club and Bottlecap, ‘EP1’ was recorded and produced by Fredrik Serholt in Audiofabriken in Gothenburg and mixed and mastered by Pieter Rietkerk in Chapel Recording Studios in Lincolnshire.
Speaking of the EP, the band said: “There’s always gonna be something special about a first release. We’ve been a band less than a year so musically we’re still getting to know one another, which is reflected in the music by our joy, excitement as well as the eagerness to create something together. The music came together quickly as we were united in knowing where we wanted to go, which is playing live, and having energetic songs to get us there.”
To celebrate the release of the EP, the band shared with us 5 tracks that influenced ‘EP1’.
Bombay Bicycle Club – What If | Listen via Spotify
The first time I shared the early version of ‘Collide’ with Rob, he immediately picked up on a Bombay Bicycle Club vibe in the initial guitar riff, but also especially in the drums. Inspired by this, we decided to incorporate a similar drumming style into ‘Collide,’ infusing our song with the same rhythmic energy that can be heard in Bombay Bicycle Club’s ‘What If.’ He’s a big fan of Bombay, so it’s always nice to pay a subtle tribute to bands that have influenced our musical journeys along the way.
The Killers – Smile Like You Mean It | Listen via Spotify
When we started writing songs for the EP, The Killers were a major influence. As we headed into the studio, I had a clear idea – I wanted to make synths a prominent part of our music, just like The Killers did in songs like ‘Smile Like You Mean It’. This choice to incorporate synths has not only defined the sound of our EP and our music moving forward, but also celebrates the electronic vibes that make The Killers’ music so captivating.
Future Islands – Seasons (Waiting On You) | Listen via Spotify
‘Seasons (Waiting On You)’ by Future Islands had a real impact on how we approached our song, ‘It’s Over’, especially in terms of how the verses sound. We love the synthesizers in ‘Seasons’, and it inspired us to bring a similar electronic vibe to our track. We wanted to capture the emotion and energy of ‘Seasons’ and weave it into ‘It’s Over’. I think the end result captured what we admire in Future Islands music, while still staying true to our own musical style.
Kings of Leon – Use Somebody | Listen via Spotify
In my opinion ‘Make Somebody Run’ and the chorus of ‘Use Somebody’ by Kings of Leon both share a common anthemic quality. In both tracks, there’s a soaring, larger-than-life sensation achieved by uplifting melodies. The grand choruses in both songs provide a sense of unity that people can sing along to. The big drums and bold guitar riffs amplify the impact and contribute a lot to the character of the tracks. The lyrics in ‘Make Somebody Run’ also carry a universal message of resilience. I wouldn’t say the song was written with ‘Use Somebody’ in mind, but it was definitely an influence going into the studio, drawing inspiration from the anthemic vibe of the track.
The Vaccines – Put It On A T-Shirt | Listen via Spotify
Rob was first to point out to me that my vocal style and melodic choices on the EP draw strong parallels to Justin Hayward-Young of The Vaccines. Given my admiration for the band, this influence is unsurprising but the comparison is still flattering. When diving into it, ‘Put It on a T-Shirt’ by The Vaccines exemplifies these shared melodic tendencies in a great way, with both of us having distinct vocals, creating hook-driven melodies that shift from gentle verses to powerful and intense choruses.
Listen to Hearts new EP ‘EP1’ via Spotify below:
Listen to the 5 tracks that influenced ‘EP1’ below: