THE HEART SHAPED ACES ARE GEARING UP FOR AN EP RELEASE AND WE'RE PRETTY NOSEY OVER HERE AT WIZARD WATER, WE THOUGHT WE'D DIVE RIGHT IN.
TRACK REVIEW - SINGLE NAME IS - BETTER - LISTEN HERE
Introducing The Heart Shaped Aces: a duo born from the creative synergy of Oscar Robson and Charlie Swansson, hailing from the lively music scene of Melbourne. Since dropping their debut single in August 2023, they've been hitting stages across their hometown, fine-tuning their sound and visuals to perfection.
Oscar and Charlie aren't just about the music; they're all about the vibe too. Their live performances are electric, drawing in crowds with their infectious energy and undeniable talent. And when it comes to their aesthetic, these guys don't mess around. They've got a keen eye for visuals that complement their sound, creating a total sensory experience for their audience.
So, buckle up and get ready to dive into the world of The Heart Shaped Aces. With their passion for music and commitment to their craft, they're destined to leave a mark on the industry that's impossible to ignore.
TRACK REVIEW
"Better" by The Heart Shaped Aces kicks off with a mesmerising acoustic guitar riff that immediately draws you in, reminiscent of the raw energy of Kurt Cobain's MTV Unplugged sessions. However, just as you settle into that familiar vibe, the track takes an unexpected turn into the realms of indie pop and British pop with the entrance of captivating vocals.
One of the standout elements of "Better" is the intricate bass work that weaves its way through the song, adding depth and texture to the overall sound. The production is top-notch, keeping every moment engaging and inviting, never allowing the listener to lose interest.
As the song progresses, there's a moment of surprise with what sounds like metal guitar tones (or perhaps keys) in the solo, adding a dynamic edge to the track. This leads seamlessly into an anti-chorus that releases the tension built up by the preceding production, creating a cathartic experience for the listener.
As the track draws to a close, we're left floating in a sea of washed-out reverb from the vocals, accompanied by the perfectly complemented instruments. It's a masterful ending to an epic journey through sound and emotion.
Overall, "Better" is a stellar track that showcases The Heart Shaped Aces' ability to blend genres seamlessly while maintaining their own unique sound. It's a testament to their talent and creativity, and leaves us eagerly anticipating what they'll come up with next. Great job, team!
Can you tell us a bit about the process of recording your EP?
CHARLIE –
We recorded the EP with Ben Irawan (AKA Elon Bust) who has a great studio space in Collingwood. We did ‘Fake A Smile’ with him, which became the last single before the EP cycle and the process worked really well for us. We brought in the stems from a home-demo and basically re-recorded each part properly. All the songs on the EP were recorded like this. We even opted to use vocals I’d done in my bedroom on songs like Better and Doves. Phantom comes to mind as one that really came together in the studio. We added a great deal of elements that weren’t in the demo which was really fun. I feel like every time we went into the studio we were all more or less cracking each other up with gags of varying quality, questioning ourselves as to whether Elon was only laughing because we were paying him.
Reflecting on your journey in creating the EP, what were some of the most memorable moments or challenges you encountered during the recording process?
OSCAR –
We had a blast recording this EP with Ben. The fluidity of our relationships created a really positive creative space for us all to occupy. A memory I look back on fondly was during one of the longer sessions we had in the studio, where Ben began to play around on the keys. I think Charlie and I both had guitars and we got lost in a jam for some time. There was something so refreshing about creating new sounds with these instruments after tweaking with already recorded tracks for an extended period of time. Moments like these remind me of how much I enjoy the creation of music, further alluding to how proud I am to be tied to this EP.
I also loved leaving the studio and blasting the most recent bounce in the car with Charlie. There was always an aura of excitement about pressing play and hearing what we had created, before my damaged aux chord would put an abrupt end to our listening.
What do you guys have planned to celebrate the launch of the EP?
OSCAR –
Aside from our party at The Gasometer, we plan to celebrate the EP with the band and our close friends and family. This is a piece of work we are really proud to release – working closely with one and another, our backing band and our producer Ben has been nothing but enjoyable. I think we’ve all earned a drink.
Melbourne is renowned for its vibrant and diverse music scene. How has the city shaped your artistic growth, and what aspects of its musical culture do you find most inspiring or influential in your creative endeavors?
CHARLIE –
Personally, I think the general health of the music scene in Melbourne nurtures young artists and allows them to develop their craft, particularly when it comes to performance. Though we may take it for granted, the fact that there are a plethora of venues willing to put on live music - more often than not for the love of it, rather than commercial gain - allows developing artists to get onto the stage at a very young age. It’s the willingness of venues to put on music of all varieties that I find really inspiring and encouraging. I was 17 when I opened up for an older band and played to a pub crowd on a proper stage. To that effect, I’ve been very fortunate to grow up here.
Your new single ‘Better’ marks a transition into more of an indie pop sound, is this something we can expect from the rest of your upcoming EP?
Better is definitely on the more poppy spectrum of the EP, but it does introduce our listeners to the direction the music is taking. The EP reflects our early work… when we were collaborating without really an idea of what The Heart Shaped Aces was. Take a song like ‘Casting Shadows’, for example. I remember Charlie sending me the demo and I had it on in the car thinking ‘this is exactly what I want our music to sound like’. There was something about the grit and sleaze of it that occupied me. Now we could compare it to ‘Phantom’ and wonder what on earth happened. I think that’s the beauty of this EP. For me, it represents the space between the two sides of the original idea that brought Charlie and I together, musically.
Ben really helped accentuate the indie-pop elements of the songs, pulling the demos apart in a way which we hadn’t experienced before. Whilst this EP has been recorded and released independently, we feel as though the quality of the production will stand the test of time.
Your music blends various genres and influences. Can you share some insights into how you weave these diverse elements together to create your unique sound, and what you hope listeners will take away from it?
CHARLIE-
Whilst I don’t think any of the genre-blending thus far is outrageously innovative, I think the variety within ‘our sound’ is largely due to the eclecticism within my writing process. The way I write music is a reflection of how I consume it. For better or for worse, it’s the age of the song, not the album. I grew up listening to singles not albums. If I’m writing a song, more often than not it takes me somewhere rather than the vice versa. I’m at the mercy of whatever emotion is coming out so I don’t really worry about the concept of genre or making it compatible with other songs. Obviously, when putting together an EP the processes of curation and production become really important. I hope people find something that speaks to them across this variety in sound. One song might connect with an individual better than the others and I encourage that. That’s the beauty of an EP.
Who are some of your influences, would you recommend your music to fans of any particular artists/bands?
OSCAR –
I think often why the collaboration between Charlie and myself works well is due to our similarity in music taste and influence. The tunes we have on in my car, on the way to shows or practice, consistently evolve with a new recommendation - or an admittance of a guilty pleasure we’ve had hidden away. The duo was formed with strong influence from The Last Shadow Puppets, The Beatles, The Kinks, Lana Del Rey, Joy Division etc. Classic indie influences. As many people are already familiar with these artists, if I was to recommend three songs from artists that are slightly more left-field I would say:
Dirty Mouth – Alice Pheobe Lou
Blush – Adored
Nabokov – Fontaines D.C.
How does your collaborative process together influence the creative direction of your music, particularly in crafting the sound of your upcoming EP?
CHARLIE –
For the most part, our collaborative process occurs after the song is written and there is a home-demo of it. I’ll send the demo to Oscar and sort of just hope he likes it. If it’s a song with some sort of quality or merit, he’ll start to formulate ideas on how to bring more out of the song and we’ll bring those ideas into the studio. It’s a process that requires a lot of trust and understanding I think. But, we’ve also written songs together in person which is a lot of fun. In terms of crafting out the EP sound, we kind of just picked out our six best songs. They all were written at a similar time and have consistent lyrical themes so it was just a matter of finding the right producer to employ consistent production.
Having immersed yourselves in the music scene within Melbourne for a little while, generally speaking, what do you make of Melbourne’s live music scene?
CHARLIE –
I think I often take for granted what we have in Melbourne’s live music scene. On any given night, there is live music across a variety of genres available in Melbourne. It’s a testament to our cultural appreciation for live music. It’s something a great deal of us have an incredible appetite for, from the musical omnivores that dabble in a bit of everything to the pure death-metal heads. It’s something I come to better appreciate the more I hear about what it’s like to play music in other places in the world.
As you gear up for the release of your EP, could you offer a glimpse into any special events or initiatives you have in store to engage with your audience and celebrate this milestone?
OSCAR –
We have a massive party planned at The Gasometer on May 16. We will be supported by Pretty Moi who have been having a massive year, along with DJ sets from Bubba and Melanger Le Miel. With four musical performances, punters can expect a night full of rock, pop, punk, soul, funk, electronica, techno, DnB and much more.
On top of this, the gig is in collaboration with our good friends at Market755. Our 6-piece live band will act as live mannequins for their store, with our outfits available for purchase in store, at : LEVEL 1/755 Burke Rd, Camberwell VIC 3124, the following week.
We can’t wait to see everyone there and celebrate our new music.
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