HHEAVEN
GOLDEN BOY PRESS INTERVIEW #260
Meet HHEAVEN, a duo experienced in glitter boogie. In this chat we discuss inspirations, how this duo came together to create HHEAVEN, and production style. We hope that the topics discussed in this interview will help you grow as a music artist as well. We feel as though HHEAVEN has come to really know themselves as artists, it shows in the quality of their work.
Could you introduce yourself?
Morgan: My name is Morgan, and I sing and write lyrics in Hheaven. I also play in the bands Other Houses (Aagoo Records) and Hollow Sunshine (Iron Pier/Robotic Empire), so I stay pretty busy. Most recently, I made my own Sun Kil Moon album. That’s some of it, I think. How are you? Bryant: Hiya! I’m Bryant. I do the production work and write most of the synth parts in Hheaven. I also perform and produce my own music under the name .paperman.
How did you all meet and decide to create together?
Morgan: Mutual friends, mainly. I understood that Bryant was very experienced with electronic music and synthesis, which is something I’d never dabbled in before. I think we are a Gemini and a Taurus. Bryant: Morgan and I have a lot of friends in common, went to each other’s shows for a while etc, and we wanted to work on something different from our main projects.
What’s your life philosophy? How do you try to apply that to your work?
Morgan: Creative work is almost like a curse, or a bargain you make with the Devil where you have to make the world exciting and beautiful until you die. You don’t choose it, it chooses you, and it can be the most euphoric feeling on Earth or just make you an insane person. Do work, stay working.
Could you tell us what you think makes you stand apart on the internet? Bryant: My production style has a sound to it that I think is recognizable no matter who I’m working with. I also hand draw most of my album art and show posters which gives them a certain ‘look’–I made the ‘A Single Rose’ cover.
What can you tell us about your debut EP, ‘A Single Rose’? What was the inspiration behind the work?
Morgan: Reaching your ultimate form as this blinding, heavenly body in the color of ice. The opinion room and the decision booth. Sheol and Hades. Eastern lore and Western nightmares. Laughing so hard I’m falling. Falling in love with my backpack on. Bryant: Morgan and I wanted to combine our different music backgrounds to make something new. He has worked much more with traditional singer songwriting and I have more experience with electronic music.
How do you feel this EP is difference from your past work? Do you feel it’s a new direction for you?
Morgan: Definitely a new context for me! It was a pleasure to deliver these songs through Bryant’s talents as an instrumentalist and arranger.
Bryant: ‘”A Single Rose” plays around with a lot of Mellotron string and brass samples and phasey synthesizers combined with very intimate, up-close vocals. My music with paperman tends to occupy more of a Cocteau Twins meets Pet Shop Boys kind of environment. To me, Hheaven feels like Kraftwerk covering a Mercury Rev song.
Do you have any rituals that you practice before you start working on a new project? Bryant: Before start a new project, I want to think about what the music will be “for”, who’s going to hear it, and how do I plan to share it with others.
What’s a typical day for you?
Morgan: Lately, I’m trying to read this really dense jazz history book. It’s like a brick. Small print. I’m still stuck in New Orleans around the turn of the century.
Bryant: This month, I’ve been starting most days with an episode of Mystery Science Theater 3000 while I eat breakfast and then I usually spend some time working on a new song; maybe later in the afternoon I’ll work on an animation or draw for a few hours before recording music again in the evening.
What are some of your goals for 2016?
Morgan: More records from Hollow Sunshine and Other Houses. I’ve got an ace (or two) up my sleeve. Bryant: I’m looking to help more people produce their records and share their music, I want to upgrade my animation setup, and I’m recording a few more EPs over the summer.
What makes you happy?
Morgan: I like jazz and coffee. Going out for two drinks with loved ones. Ever looked up reenactment videos of classic chess games on YouTube? We now live in a world where you can pick up your phone and read about everything that happened in the 20th century. Or listen to all the incredible music ever made. There’s great stuff in the world and everyone’s sad and bored. Bryant: Making something special, interesting, and enjoyable. I also love seeing people work on something that they’re really passionate about.
Any closing comments?
Morgan: Thank you for reaching out! I hope you like the record! Bryant: Thank you for talking with Morgan and me!
POI & ZAB
