The Head and the Heart perform an acoustic set at The Current
September 22, 2019
As a six-piece band, The Head and the Heart are aware of the talents they bring to the table when it comes to writing and arranging songs. "Beyond the actual musical talent, there's just an awareness and almost a producer way of approaching songwriting that also each individual carries into the project," says the band's Jonathan Russell. "So everyone has their own strength. … Everyone has this ability to see what's in the song and what's not in the song."
The Head and the Heart's Charity Rose Thielen acknowledges a certain amount of selflessness is required. "You limit the ego for the health of the song," she says. "The good of the song is when everyone is ebbing and flowing in the right way."
The approach has served them well; since 2011, The Head and the Heart have released four full-length albums, including this year's Living Mirage. While in town for a show at the Armory in Minneapolis, three members of the band (Russell, Thielen and Matt Gervais) stopped at The Current to perform an acoustic set and to talk music with host Sean McPherson.
After releasing two albums on the Sub Pop label, The Head and the Heart moved to major label Warner Records in 2016. Living Mirage is the second album The Head and the Heart have released on that imprint, and their work ethic and experience served them well in the transition to a major label. "We had done enough work on our own — by 'on our own' I mean, of course, we had Sub Pop along the way, but that label's very hands off in the best way possible, as long as you have really great self-drivers in your unit, which we do, fortunately," Russell explains.
"I feel like we made smart decisions along the way and we had leverage; we asked for what we wanted, and we got it," Russell continues. "I don't think we would have just gone to a major label just to do it. … You hear the horror stories of working with major labels [but] we love the people we work with."
Use the audio player above to listen to the complete session with The Head and the Heart.
Songs Performed
"Missed Connection"
"See You Through My Eyes"
"Library Magic"
The first two songs are from The Head and the Heart's 2019 album, Living Mirage, and the third song is from their 2016 release, Signs of Light, both released on Warner Records.
Hosted by Sean McPherson
Produced by Anna Weggel
Engineered by Michael DeMark
Visuals by Mary Mathis
Web feature by Luke Taylor
External Link
The Head and the Heart - official site
