by Matt Kelchner
They may not be a very old band, but they have managed to create quite the following so far. Haerts, the four-piece multinational band who currently call New York City home, will be releasing their debut album later this summer. A few weeks ago, I was able to catch up with the band while on tour with London Grammar to chat about what’s in store with their very first full length album.
“We just have very high expectations for ourselves to make the best music we can and to make the best album we can,” guitarist Garrett Ienner tells me as they go over the kinds of pressure they are feeling as they prepare for their next release. He adds, “So if there is any pressure, it’s coming from us.”
Their EP, Hemiplegia, came out last year and has been building gobs of buzz ever since. When I ask if any of the songs from Hemiplegia will make their way onto the upcoming full length, Ienner jokes around and tells me, “That’s a secret, haha.” Haerts never set out to strictly write an EP and then go into the full length record. Instead, they set out to simply start writing songs. Singer Nini Fabi explains, “All in all, we can’t really say it’s changed because when we released the EP we had already written most of the material that is going on the album.”
As Fabi goes on, she and the rest of the band begin to get into the recording process for the album. The band traveled down to a small town right outside of Nashville to record at Dark Horse Studios. Fabi continues, “The songwriting process for each song is always very different for us. The EP is really just an excerpt of what you’re going to hear on the album.”
Part of being a relatively young band is going through all of the first time moments together. For Haerts, getting on the summer festival circuit is one of them. As they look to plot out their supporting tour behind this new album, they are aiming to intertwine those dates with a number of festivals. Fabi tells me, “For festivals it’s really going to be interesting because we haven’t played too many of them.”
Haerts recently played Govenors Ball in NYC. Today, they’ll have a set at Bonnaroo, followed by Firefly in Delaware on the 19th. And once this new record comes up, Haerts are looking to only add to these early summer festival dates. They still see themselves as nonames and feel that there is a lot of leg work that needs to be done. But with a young band comes a lot of excitement and energy to get themselves out there. Haerts are no exception.
Haerts debut full length album is scheduled to be released this July. Be on the look out once it makes it’s ways to the shelves, both digitally and physically. In the meantime, get to know them by checking out their 2013 EP, Hemiplegia. By the end of this year don’t be surprised if they are a common name amongst you and your friends. Just make sure you remember where you read about them first!
