Half Hearted Hero is a Pop Punk/Hardcore band from New Bedford, MA who formed in 2005. Though they've been together for years, the band is only now receiving the amount of attention they deserve. The band also recently released a new split with Deadhorse on Animal Style Records and today we bring you an exclusive interview with the band's guitarist, AJ. Click the Read More… link to read the interview.
Firstly, can you state your name and role in the band?
AJ: I'm AJ, I play guitar.
So you guys have been around for years, but tell us how the band was formed and how the name was chosen.
AJ: We formed in late 2005. Meyer and Anthony had been writing music together for years. Ian and Clinton had been jamming. Meyer met Ian and asked him how fast he could play. I came along later. The name doesn't really mean much. To be honest, it was probably the coolest thing we could think of as freshman/sophomores in high school.
Having said that, I feel like the band has only recently begun gaining the amount of exposure it deserves, this year. How much has being on Animal Style Records contributed to this? Do you feel the scene is evolving?
AJ: Matt at Animal Style Records has been great to us, helping us meet new people and get our name out there. A few friends at AbsolutePunk.net have helped us reach new people as well. The scene is always evolving. Pop Punk had an incredible year in 2011, I'm just not sure we fit the mold for most people. We sound quite a bit different than the popular Pop Punk bands right now.
Moving on, 2011 saw 2 releases from the band, the Running Water EP and split with Deadhorse. Was this always the plan or were the split songs left over from the EP? What has the reception to the songs been like?
AJ: We wrote and recorded everything off of Running Water and the split at the same time. We just felt that the two split songs had a different feel than the others, so we kept them off the EP and held onto them. We asked Animal Style if he liked them and wanted to use them and he hooked us up with Deadhorse, who of course if absolutely incredible.
What would you say were the most noticeable differences or changes when writing and recording these releases, as opposed to the first EP and album?
AJ: Well as for the writing process, we had contributions from everyone. Each one of us had a hand in writing which was a departure from our earlier work. We also recorded with our other guitarist Clinton, which gave us the time and freedom to approach it the way we wanted.
Are there currently any plans or hopes for some sort of new release on 2012?
AJ: We always have songs in the works, so I would definitely be on the lookout for a 2012 release.
Personally, I've always found Half Hearted Hero's blend of Melodic Hardcore and Pop Punk flawless, not to mention the expressive lyrics that accompany the music. Walk us through the typical process of composing a HHH song. Does the music come before the lyrics or vice versa?
AJ: Thanks for the kind words! To be honest, neither comes first. Anthony writes 100% of our lyrics, and he's always got a notebook full of songs and ideas. When any of us has a musical idea for a song - riff, chord progression, whatever - we sit down as a band and hash it out. We write the rest of the song, expand on the ideas and talk about it. Anthony rummages through his lyrics and finds the song that fits the mood and we work it out. There are exceptions to the norm but that's the typical process.
Musically and/or lyrically, what are some of the band's predominant influences?
AJ: Musically some of our biggest influences are Propagandhi, Owen, and The Full Blast. Lyrically we change from record to record. Religion and personal fulfillment influenced Running Water.
Now that the band is gaining more momentum, what other plans do you have for next year? Perhaps getting on the road?
AJ: We're hoping to tour as much as we possibly can. Unfortunately that's not as much as we'd like thanks to our school schedule.
What have you been listening to yourself lately? Care to make some recommendations?
AJ: Personally I've been playing a lot of Into It. Over It. - Proper lately. I slept super hard on that record. Jesu, Moving Mountains, and Owen all have fantastic new records that need to be listened to.
Thanks for your time and all the best for the future. Is there anything else you'd like to add?
AJ: Thanks for the interview man, we appreciate it. Hope everyone has a killer holiday and new year!
Exclusive: Life On The Sideline EP announcement, music video premiere
Since releasing Honesty Is A Dying Breed two years ago, Life On The Sideline has remained active on the road and is now ready to unveil its upcoming EP, Never Settle. To kick things off, we're premiering the music video for the band's new single, "Echo", which tells the sad story of a young girl reminiscing times spent with her deceased partner. While not a pop punk song per se, it's as catchy as one with an infectious chorus that you'll inevitably get stuck in your head. The band's sound could be compared to that of Transit's and The Early November's. Fans can pre-order the EP on iTunes and CD here, before it's released on June 7th. […]
