Interview with The Heavy North: ‘That riff sits so easy, every now and then you’ll get one of those gems…it’s our trademarkey sound’

Liverpool-based garage blues band The Heavy North will release their single ‘Where Are You Now?’ tomorrow (24 March), marking the first track from their eagerly awaited second album, due for release around September/October this year.

The band comprises Kenny Stuart (vocals), José Ibanez (guitar), Andy Horrocks (bass), Ste Penn (keys), Mark Rice (drums) and Jack Birch (guitar).

Stuart describes ‘Where Are You Now?’ as ‘being inspired by lots of different people moving through your life’: ‘You know, those crazy people you’ve met? You wonder what they’re up to now, if they’re still just as crazy,’ he said. ‘The lyrics explore whether those people we used to know are still the same as how we remembered them, or have their circumstances or situations changed for better or worse? I’d describe it as the “Cream of the Stone Age” (laughs), that’s the brief we were working towards, we’re massive fans of Cream and Queens of the Stone Age.’

Ibanez’s addictively distorted, chuggy opening riff turns out to have been the starting point for the song: ‘José came up with the riff, he had it for a while,’ Penn said. ‘We’ve been using WhatsApp a lot for ideas. That riff sits so easy, every now and then you’ll get one of those gems. It was a similar feeling with ‘Darkness In Your Eyes’. It’s our trademarkey sound. Our new album has a mixed bag of tunes, it’s familiar. On ‘Where Are You Now?’, I feel that Ken’s vocal is a bit more drawn back, it feels like Ken doesn’t need to be as loud.’ Stuart laughs: ‘I can’t hog the limelight all the time! It started with this riff, then the lyrics, that chorus and then building from that. If you can sort out your subject matter, you can do the rest. When we jam, there’s a lot of me singing gibberish over the top (laughs).’

As it kicks off: “Dance through the streets at night. Trying to free your head. Can’t relax by candlelight. Or even in your bed. Where Are You Now? Do you still dance? (In the night?) Or have you changed? Or have you changed? Been changed by life?”

‘We’re being a bit critical of ourselves, asking: “Do we feel this’ll bring something more to the album?”‘

The new album will likely comprises around 10-12 tracks and Penn describes it as ‘marking a progression’: ‘We’re being a bit critical of ourselves, asking: “Do we feel this’ll bring something more to the album?” We want to offer that spread. We’re 10% to 20% off finishing the album,’ he said. ‘There are tracks like ‘Where Are You Now?’ but some don’t sound like The Heavy North at times. The guitar riffs are there but we hope it comes out as a left field sound. We had a couple of slower songs on ESM, we want to follow that foundation. There’s a song ‘I Got You’, the sound of the tune on keys is quite repetitive, it doesn’t sound like The Heavy North. It reminds me of a computer game (laughs), it’s a driving song. At first, me, José, Andy and Mark recorded it, just jamming it but we thought it had potential. The working title is ‘I Got You’, but Ken’s lyric hook is “I got you, so I don’t need money” and it’s one of the new tracks we’ve been working on recent weeks – we’re just not 100% on the official title yet!’

They’re clearly not afraid to try new sounds and this time round they also have the addition of Birch to fill out their already impressive wall of guitars. He joined the band in January last year – after Electric Soul Machine had been recorded – so this album also marks his debut recording with them: ‘I’m buzzing at the thought of just having my name on the second album to be honest, I might be being presumptuous there, though!,’ Birch said to me afterwards. ‘Having the opportunity to play on it has been great, it’s lovely to be a part of the process with the lads and watching it all unfold. The new dynamic has only been a live thing up to now, so it’s nice to hear it on record and it still works, thankfully! I think diversity is the theme with album two; we’re exploring a few styles that are a tad different to ESM, but obviously the core of it is still there, you can definitely tell it’s a Heavy North record.’

Endearingly, his bandmates are very appreciative of everything he brings to the band: ‘Jack’s got a knack of making things sound more interesting, outside the box,’ Stuart said. ‘You think it’s boss.’ Horrocks nods: ‘Everyone picks up a bit more with Jack, he makes you want to be better and push yourself. On the last album, I forgot making it in parts but this time, in the same room, you feed off people’s energy – no, not crystals,’ he laughed. Penn weighs in: ‘Jack is such an accomplished player,’ he said enthusiastically. ‘Him and José take turns with the lead (guitar), it drives me to be better on keys, it motivates me to learn more, to challenge myself and up my game. José’s also an amazing band member to have, he can do anything, I’m learning from him, too.’

Horrocks agrees: ‘We’re more comfortable, we understand each other musically, we’re seeing where we can go. And I’ve learned bass!,’ he quipped. Stuart joins in: ‘We recorded a few songs recently for the album that I’m really confident with. A lot of it is about general life, passing the time, circumstances, it’s not a concept album. I wouldn’t necessarily pinpoint one track but there are a few tracks you can bounce to (laughs). It’s gonna be better than ESM.’ Penn agrees: ‘It goes back to ‘Where Are You Now?’ and reflecting on people, moving through your life, a theme of dancing.’ At this point, Stuart gets up and starts showing us his enthusiastic dance moves. Penn continues, laughing: ‘It’s been fun to work on it in the same room, not in lockdown, that’s made a real difference. The second half of this album has come quite quickly.’

‘We’re really lucky, we’re never short of songs – José is a riff machine!’

Interestingly, all of the upcoming tracks are new, none of them are left over from Electric Soul Machine, although the genesis of some of them predates the second album: ‘It’s all brand new stuff but a few ideas have been knocking about for a while,’ Stuart said. ‘We’re really lucky, we’re never short of songs – José is a riff machine! We’re discussing another six tracks to record.’

Last year, Ibanez, who’s originally from Granada in Spain, described Electric Soul Machine to me as ‘blues with a bit of soul, Black Sabbath and a mixture of styles’: ‘What stands out for me is that they’re all good songs, they’ve all got their own identity,’ he said. ‘I’m very proud of it, there are no fillers.’ Birch agreed: ‘It’s pretty diverse from one track to the next, there’s some blues, a few soul-oriented numbers and some big riffs. There’s something for everyone.’ Or, as Penn put it at the time: ‘I think we misfired by calling our EP ‘Dive Bar Blues’, it would have been a great name for the album, that’s our sound!’

It was one of my favourite albums last year, with Stuart’s unique vocals shining throughout. Tracks on it such as ‘Darkness In Your Eyes’ could easily be a Black Keys song, from the addictive shredding at the start to Ibanez’ heavy yet melodic solo around halfway through. ‘To The Wind I Go’ is one of the highlights, mashing up 70’s glam rock, a whole lot of soul, some inspired harmonica playing from Stuart and heavier, crunchier riffs that provide the backbone to the track. ‘Satisfy You’ takes a dig at social media and online trolling and is one of their rockiest songs to date, with echoes of Led Zeppelin. The late bridge reels you in as does Rice’s crashing drum beat and the seriously hooky chorus, underpinned by Horrocks’ equally infectious bass line. The album closer and standout track, ‘As Long As You’re Here With Me’, has got such a wonderful, deep rooted old school vibe that it seems inconceivable that it wasn’t actually written in the 50’s, although, ultimately, it’s a tribute to blues legends like Sam Cooke and Otis Redding from that era, who created their own unique blend of gospel, blues, pop and rhythm & blues.

‘We’d get through a few pints like! I’d ask him who his influences were, he’s a big Bowie fan.’

To coincide with the release of new music and the second album later this year, they have announced a handful of headline shows in May which will see them return to Scotland to headline Glasgow’s Audio (19^th) followed by new Sheffield venue Network (20^th), The Live Rooms in Chester (25^th) and the legendary Water Rats in Kings Cross, London (26th). They have also announced their biggest hometown headline show to date at Liverpool’s Camp and Furnace on Friday 1 December 2023. The huge Liverpool show follows their sold out 500-capacity Arts Club show last year where the band performed their debut album from start to finish, accompanied by a 12-piece band featuring strings, a brass section and backing vocalists. ‘We’re playing our first show in Spain this summer,’ Penn said delightedly. ‘One of the promoters, he said make sure you emphasize you’re from Liverpool, land of The Beatles (laughs), they apparently love that over there!’

If they could go for a pint with anyone, Horrocks picks Joy Division frontman Ian Curtis: ‘We’d get through a few pints, like! I’d ask him who his influences were, he’s a big Bowie fan.’ Stuart is looking at him: ‘It doesn’t sound like a fun night out, I’m not gonna lie (laughs). Keith (Richards), gotta be Keith, he’d be a laugh. I’d ask him where did he get his weed from (laughs). It’d be great to be in his company. He went to Muddy Waters’ house for a bevvie, I’m sure that he’d feel like that when he comes to see me (laughs).’ Penn is thinking: ‘My first instinct would be Nick Cave, he’d be quite interesting.’ Stuart is looking horrified: ‘Me and Keith are going to another bar!’ Penn laughs: ‘Or I’d go to a whisky bar with Jim Morrison!’

Their dream line beautifully encapsulates their influences: ‘Peter Green for me, I’m a massive Peter Green fan,’ Stuart enthused. ‘Fleetwood Mac is my favourite incarnation, it would be great to be chilling with them.’ Penn is trying decide between two: ‘It’s a toss up between Pink Floyd and The Kinks, my favourite band of all time, I’ve never seen them live, just Ray Davies but last time he was taking his top off in his 60’s, I don’t know if I want to see that (laughs).’ Stuart is looking intrigued: ‘What was he singing when he took his top off, was it Lola?’ Penn is trying to remember: ”Come Dancing’, I think.’ Horrocks picks a brilliant addition: ‘The Sex Pistols, they’d fucking blow the roof off!’ ‘Yeah,’ Stuart said, looking at him. ‘We’re headlining, though!’

(Top photo from left to right: Jack, Ste, Kenny, José, Mark and Andy. Photo credits: Blue22 Photography.)