I catch HEATH to talk about life on tour, their forthcoming EP and their love for Rae Morris on the London night of their tour with Mike Dignam.

After a marvellous gig and some hasty packing of equipment I finally get all the HEATH boys together. Casually lounging on the side of the pavement, as if this is the most everyday thing to do, I finally get to ask all the questions you may, or may not, want to know about Heath.

Their June EP, a progression from their former work, is due to be released on April 29th.

This EP is called “June” and it’s coming out in May – Tom Staniford (the frontman of the band) starts. Actually no! It’s coming out on the 29th of April. Our last “February” EP came out in April as well but this one is a bit more electronic. It’s a bit more up beat and driving whilst the previous one was more solemn.

Both months ‘June’ and ‘February’ seem to be current themes for HEATH’s EP titles. These months stand for certain aesthetics in their music and the difference between June and February is clearly a conscious decision.

The first EP was called “February” and as Tom said earlier it was more solemn than the current stuff that we’re putting out – Sam Wilson (synth) continues. The month February is, I don’t wanna say “depressing” but it’s true with all the weather and everything. And that is represented in the artwork and the EP itself. Even the colours. We feel that it represents the music really well.

“June”, which is coming out soon, is much brighter. It may sound really pretentious but we feel it’s just brighter music, it’s brighter artwork. Everything is looking forwards. It’s the start of something new, just like the first glimpses of sunshine.

The single The Outline of You taken from June EP is already out, but their next release – Brambles – is a track we really wanna dig into.

I started writing it in Australia – explains Tom. It was really about coming to a foreign land. Basically, the idea of a person trying to find their way home. Home doesn’t necessarily mean home, in the literal sense. It’s more about trying to find their calling. Finding your calling through whatever means.

We’re really excited about the album and we’re excited about writing again. We’ve spent so long touring. We even built a bus for this tour. We bought a school bus in January and knitted it up completely so we could take it on the road. We’re looking forward to getting back to writing new songs after this.

Life on tour seems to be a bliss and the bus, ‘Noah’, seemingly is a real centre-piece of the band’s tour survival.

I’ve heard horror stories where you like wanna slay each other’s throats after a week but not with these two boys – Rory Muldoon (self-proclaimed eye candy) states enthusiastically.

We built this bus for tour. We installed this entire wooden bus inside a mini bus and that what has kept us all together and really happy. It’s like a luxury living on a budget – Tom ponders whilst Sam adds – For the first night we played in Glasgow we tried to drive all the way up from Brighton but we didn’t quite make it. So we stopped like ten miles away and slept in the bus. There was something epic about it. It was fun. And we’ve got a super king mattress in the back.

We might all get tattoos of the bus.

Talking tour life, surely you get annoyed with each other, who is the most annoying person to tour with?

Dan!! Our manager – they all agree.

Sam has this OCD about things being in place and curtains being pulled across and small things like that. So even if I had to choose someone I’d say Sam just because of his OCDs – Rory adds.

Heading to Europe HEATH will meet a completely new crowd. The difference between UK audience and the audience on the continent is definitely something any band are aware off.

I think they’re more receptive. They’re less music snobby and enjoying the music more. It’s more saturated here.

Have you watched Eurovision?

Spending a lot of time on the road, surely the boys must have some favourite tour tunes.

On tour we’ve had a lot of like Belinda Carlisle.

All good that but the spark really flies when another female musician is brought up.

Tom’s one and only – I’ve enjoyed listening to Rae Morris and that’s pretty much the only one.

I’m really into 80’s music, like massive drum machine sounds to really retro synthesizers – Rory says.

Sam on the other hand needs a look on his Spotify so Rory answers – Sam likes a lot of funk stuff, like Michael Jackson, Elton John. We’ve all listened to a lot of Elton John actually.

Putting his phone down again Sam joins in – Yes, I have been listening to a lot of Elton John on this tour. I listen to all sorts of things, I tried to think of something current, I share my love for Rae Morris with Tom.

Loads of love for Rae Morris there.

Digging in the dirt, the guilty pleasures are brought to the table.

Belinda Carlisle, possibly – Tom burst out.

And as we are in the lady singing corner, Rory admits – I fucking love Katy Perry. She’s my one and only.

Sam on the other hand doesn’t really feel it – I’m not guilty about anything I listen to, I love it all.

HEATH are currently touring in Europe and their second EP June will be released on Friday the 29th of April.

Words and photo: Aurora Henni Krogh