Get ready to dive into the world of Heartlocker, a high-energy rock/pop group hailing from Brisbane, Australia. Known for their irresistible rhythms and electric stage presence, the band is fronted by the powerhouse vocalist Tyra, alongside showstopper guitarist Mitch, rhythm dynamo Callum on bass, and the high-octane drumming of Luca. With a talent for crafting catchy melodies and driving beats, Heartlocker is here to make an unforgettable impression. As they gear up for their single launch of “Heartlock” on November 14th at The Park Coomera, we sat down with the band to chat about their debut release, the story behind the song, and what’s next for this dynamic crew. This is a paid collaboration with 'Heartlocker'.
TRACK REVIEW
“Heartlock” hooks you in with its syncopated vocals weaving seamlessly through fuzz-laden distortion, scratching that itch you didn’t know you had. The smooth, grungy guitar tones perfectly complement the powerful vocals, creating a fresh yet nostalgic vibe. You can feel the band’s inspirations, with a strong nod to Paramore and the best of 2000s pop-punk.
The standout moment is undoubtedly the guitar breakdown—an unexpected and creative bridge that elevates the track to a whole new level. It’s a dynamic, high-energy anthem that showcases Heartlocker’s impressive musicianship. Well done, team!
Your debut single, Heartlock, has an incredibly powerful message about breaking free from toxic relationships. Can you share more about the inspiration behind the song and what it means to each of you?
Callum: To me, Heartlock is a snappy tune that gets me fired up and ready to fight the injustices of love! Going through a breakup? Bam! Potential suitor ghosting you? Bam! Can’t be stuffed to date anymore? Bam! Heartlock brings the vibes for any romantic upheaval
Tyra: It’s really quite funny as I just broke off an engagement four weeks prior to the song release, but this song was written last year! Just goes to show music can translate to different people at different times of their lives. I think the song is truly about reflection and rebirth, finding the love for yourself to leave someone that can never love you the way you deserve.
Mitch: On an emotional level, Heartlock is all about love, loss, being wounded and finding the strength to fight! That is what makes it so driven and powerful.
Luca: Heartlock is a hard song to play. It’s a challenge to keep the timing tight when it's moving so fast. It feels like I could lose control of this wild energy the song produces at any minute. But we always finish the song. It’s powerful, and passionate. The song reminds me of how strong the connection between a band and its music is, and how lucky we are to have music.
Tyra, you’ve mentioned Heartlock came from a place of self-discovery. How did writing this song impact you personally, and what do you hope fans will take away from it?
Music to me is one form of therapy. Writing this song last year for me was extremely cathartic, as I had to let go of two significant romantic relationships, as well as lost my father to cancer. Music and writing is extremely influential, and I hope I can empower people in a way that gives them the independence to put themselves first, always.
With a single launch coming up on November 14 at The Park Coomera, what can fans expect from the live experience? Are there any surprises or new material in store?
We have the amazing opportunity to perform at this event in a huge Westfield organised by the one and only Landon Hunt, so everyone can expect a fun night! We will be showcasing Heartlock of course, as well as our next single Sideshow, and four other originals, along with a feminine take on rock covers of famous hits, from none other than Michael Jackson and Nirvana. Even better - you can go bowling or mini golfing before or after your dance party with us.
Heartlocker formed in 2023 and you all come from diverse backgrounds. How did the band come together, and what do each of you bring to the group?
Callum: Luca and I met at school in the music program. We were both drummers in the same grade and though we probably should’ve been musical rivals, we ended up just becoming great mates and jamming heaps!
Luca: I moved primary schools for year 5. I went from a school with 300 kids to a school with 1000, so it was a big adjustment. I continued learning percussion at the new school, and was a part of a percussion ensemble, where I met Callum. We became closer friends in high school and started playing music together outside of school bands. Later on in our lives Callum mentions this band looking for a drummer and bassist, and now here we are.
Tyra: I played in bands growing up in Hong Kong, and unfortunately lost my passion when I got very sick with anorexia at 16. Once I was healthy again and moved to Australia, I felt drawn to be in a band again so I posted on the “Brisbane Musicians Wanted” Facebook Group and Mitch reached out with a demo for one of our songs “Hell of a Kind.” When I listened to the instrumental I automatically knew this was my sound and vibe. I wrote down lyrics and a melody instantly, went home to record it and the rest is history… I found Callum through a family member of his who had mutual connections with my day job, and funnily enough we originally auditioned him as our drummer. Callum then suggested Luca to audition as our drummer as he was more suited to our heavy rock sounds. I’m so glad both of them joined and Callum decided to stay as our bassist!
Your sound combines the energy of rock with catchy pop elements. How did you all develop this unique style, and who are some of the band’s biggest influences?
I think our uniqueness comes from all of our different backgrounds, influences and experiences all meshed in one, which is beautiful! Mitch has been in the music scene for a long time, but his biggest influences for our band are Paramore, Blink 182, The Veronicas and Parkway Drive. Tyra grew up with lots of 2000s rock, notably Fall Out Boy, Linkin Park and Avril Lavigne being her biggest influences, but she also loves popular music from Taylor Swift to Vivaldi.
Callum’s biggest influence is his dad! He introduced him to everything from the 70's to 90’s as a kid. Personally, Frank Zappa is his “musical idol” due to his sheer authenticity and “NO BS” attitude when performing and writing his music - what a legend. One of Luca’s biggest influences is also Zappa - he showed what can really be done with musical knowledge and a wild imagination, inspiring him to work outside of people’s expectations - make the music you want to hear, not what others want to hear. However when people ask who his favourite band is, he says Primus, due to his mesmerising rhythms, and memories of listening to hours of the funk-metal trio while delivering pizza.
The chemistry on stage is electric. What’s the creative process like when you’re writing or rehearsing together, and how do you keep that energy high in each performance?
Tyra: In terms of our songs so far, Mitch has written all of them, but we are wanting a more collaborative process in the future. When he sends me tracks, the singing melody and lyrics come to me instantly. I used to think it was a normal ability, but have found out recently that it doesn’t come naturally to everyone…
Mitch: I generally write in the moment. Often I'll hear something or think of something great and catchy then put it down in the home studio whilst in memory. After writing some structure and rhythms around ideas, often and always, Tyra’s spontaneous connection and vibe allows her to come up with lyrics when she hears something great! After hearing her vocal ideas, I write to the feel and vibe of her lyrics and then it becomes a writing collaboration progressing the song.
Tyra: And in terms of keeping our energy high during gigs - Honestly our drummer Luca is the most magnetic, dynamic and determined drummer out there. He’s literally the heartbeat of our band and without him, we wouldn’t have such high energy. To make things even better, Callum and Luca’s bromance shines on stage. We like to always have fun when performing, that is the most important thing at the end of the day.
Heartlock touches on themes of vulnerability and resilience. What has been the response from fans so far, and how has it resonated with listeners?
We’ve been grateful to have a very positive response from fans so far, with many saying the song gets stuck in their head! It has also been said to be extremely relatable, touching and powerful - I think everyone has gone through a similar experience.
You’ve worked with notable engineer Bernie Wedrat at Lush Recording Studios, where acts such as Katy Perry and The 1975 have recorded. What was it like working with him, and how did he help shape Heartlock?
It was such an honour working with Bernie at such a prestigious and high quality studio. The process was easy and smooth due to his expertise, passion and efficiency. We got to smash out (spoiler alert) TWO amazing singles over a weekend, and Bernie did a great job capturing our sound, providing guidance and suggestions along the way. Notably he helped create the epic bass slide and drum pause in Verse 2 of Heartlock (listen back and carefully!), and assisted with Tyra’s vocal technique and range during recording to get the best sound and emotion.
With the band’s fresh energy and strong start, what are Heartlocker’s goals for the next year? Are there more singles, an EP, or a tour in the works?
As hinted at in the previous question, we have a really fun second single on the way. It contrasts Heartlock which is more emotional, so we are excited to show a different side of our band. We hope to get our full EP out next year, as well as a tour around Australia.
The 2000s pop-punk feel in Heartlock is nostalgic yet fresh. What is it about that era that resonates with Heartlocker, and how do you balance nostalgia with a modern twist in your music?
Music is constantly changing and evolving, and it's hard to put out something that is 100% original. As spoken previously with our influences, we take the best parts of all our musical experiences and influences while sticking to the general structure of a rock, and out comes something that is unique but also gives you a sense of “Déjà Vu”... The 2000s were iconic (at least for Tyra as that's the decade she grew up in!) and we wanted to tap into that strong connection that generation has (I mean, just see how popular the “When We Were Young” Festival is!), but with a bit more enhancement and refinement - especially with the focus of clean female vocals.
Comments