By: Julia Cirignano
photo by Evan Elliott
Heaven for Real is a band within a band*. Consisting of fraternal twins Mark and Scott Grundy, Cheryl Hann, and Nathan Doucet, Heaven for Real is an indie rock band best known for their poetic lyrics. The four members are Canadian thoroughbreds who have gained something special from the solid Nova Scotia ground in which their feet are firmly planted. I recently had the chance to interview Mark Grundy about their debut album Kill Your Memory, and their unique musical sound.
The band has often been compared to the Talking Heads. Grundy eagerly takes the compliment, but also adds, “The Talking Heads are a band that accomplished a ton, so much so that I won’t pretend to comprehend their full scope. I take that comparison as a compliment, but I’m definitely missing some major touchstones of their catalogue.”
Heaven for Real is definitely up for the challenge. With post-punk energy, and their heads high on the inspirations that settles around Halifax, Nova Scotia, the band has just begun what will surely be a long career. When I first listened to Heaven for Real, I found their lyrics and vocal style to be the biggest quality that made them truly stand out. Their lyrics are unique, poetic, and seem to be presented as a narration. These lyrics are even performed sometimes in a way that reminded me of spoken word poetry. Since both Mark and Scott are the main songwriters in the group, Mark articulates clearly what songwriting is to him, “I think like most people I’m interpreting the world around me through the multiplicity of lenses that each day presents.”
After looking back on his time writing the lyrics in Kill Your Memory Grundy himself has turned a critical eye on his own work. “This record in particular has a ton of working through and moving on and getting forward themes I guess, skewering personal preoccupation with nostalgia, shedding bias and distraction from love and truthiness, and simple beauty.” While also enjoying the life of a musician, Grundy is quick to critique his own work. This particular characteristic is surely what will help him succeed in the songwriting world.
The Grundy twins have combined more traditional sounds with new and unconventional ones, which creates a wonderful contrast. Grundy talks about how the band in inspired about the creative atmosphere of Halifax, Nova Scotia. He explained that, from his opinion, bands from Halifax seem to have a “poppy edge” to them.
“I think there have been a ton of creative people come through that have shaped the music community that we came up in, and with the art school and other things going on there, there has always been a new crew of freaky awesome people mixing with the current fixtures in a melting quilt of trend and luck,” Grundy explains. Halifax has inspired and pushed him to keep up with his musical career, but this is primarily because of his friends and bandmates who has supported him.
*While all four members of the band are dedicated to Heaven for Real, they are all a part of different bands too (Monomyth, Nap Eyes, Old and Weird, Picnicface and Crosss). In Grundy’s opinion, the advantage to working with multiple bands is that “every time I have played the music of another person I have learned something about myself.”
Grundy shows humility, not uncertainty, by exploring other bands and showing a willingness to learn. While Heaven for Real has created a great album, Grundy realizes that there is always room to grow and more to learn. He is willing to critique, learn, and push himself and the band to greatness.
Unfortunately, Heaven for Real had to cancel their show here tonight in Philadelphia, but hopefully you will have the chance to see them soon:
8/04 Brooklyn, NY – Trans-Pecos w/Turnip King
8/05 Brooklyn, NY – Union Pool w/Mega Bog
8/06 Boston, MA – Out of the Blue Gallery
