This coming Friday, August 16, 2024, American post-punk/synthpop trio Urban Heat will be releasing their ten-track sophomore album, The Tower, via Artoffact Records. Just this past weekend, frontman Jonathan Horstmann sat down before the band's show, taking a moment out of his busy day, to discuss The Tower with me.
Hello Jonathan, how are you doing today?
Jonathan: Groovy, coming at you from Springfield, Missouri before our show. In your own words, how would you describe your sound to people who have never heard your music before?
Jonathan: I always say that we exist at the intersection of darkwave, synthpop, and post-punk. I might need to update that description because this new record goes to a lot of other places, too.
How would you compare these ten new tracks on your forthcoming album, The Tower, to your previous album, Wellness?
Jonathan: Wellness was a band finding itself as a toddler, and I think The Tower is more of the band as an adolescent: curious, angry, frightened even. But full of vigour.
Your new album consists of ten songs that are immensely introspective and are said to manifest all your fears, anxieties, and insecurities into song. How much of this record’s process was a cathartic release for you?
Jonathan: Working on music is actually quite the opposite for me. Performing is cathartic, but in order to get to that place you really have to go through the dirt and feel everything. You can't write a depressing song and have a good day. At least I can't. Your new record is your first fully complete artistic expression that you wholly had a creative decision on. How was the entire process of the album’s writing and recording with such a newfound approach?
Jonathan: I wrote and performed everything on Wellness as well, but it was written over the course of eighteen months or so and is a collection of work over a period of time. The Tower was written in its entirety over the course of twelve days.
How does the album cover for The Tower represent and capture what these ten songs are about?
Jonathan: The cover represents more of what the record means to me personally, rather than capturing the content therein. Although it probably does inadvertently. I prefer to leave that sort of thing up to the audience's interpretation. The Tower is a card in Tarot that signifies a violent force that brings about change, and I suppose I was feeling that energy about the record, from recording to performing it.
In just three words, how would you describe your new record?
Jonathan: Fierce, dark, vulnerable.
Do you have any moment from writing or recording The Tower, that was so profound that it still sticks with you?
Jonathan: I mean, each song came in rapid succession, one day after another. That whole time was a creative whirlwind.
What are some of your favourite tracks on The Tower? Are there any that you just can’t wait to test out on an in-person audience?
Jonathan: "Blindfolds and Magic Bullets" and "Addicted to the Sounds."
What do you hope people will take away from these brand new ten new tracks?
Jonathan: Whatever the universe means for them to take away.
Thanks for taking the time to talk about the new album! Before you go, is there anything you would like to add?
Jonathan: I hope you have a lovely day.