Childhood Friends Forge Sonic Brilliance
Emerging from the depths of the mundane suburbs of upstate New York, Head Sound’s new single “Optimistic” is a shimmering gem that defies its origins. This shoegaze masterpiece is a sonic journey through the hazy landscapes of suburban ennui, yet it carries an undercurrent of hope that cuts through the monotony of Schenectady, New York, a town that Dr. Suess uses in his book, “I Can Read With My Eyes Shut”. For those who love Schenectady, there’s a replica of the sign from the book in Universal Studio’s theme park that you can take your picture next to. “Schenectady”. What a great word, I can understand why Suess wanted to use it!! Anyway, enough of why I loved getting to know Head Sound, I want to convey the fact that this is a band that is worthy of more than local fans to support them and their music.
Crafted by a group of friends who have known each other since childhood, “Optimistic” is a testament to the power of shared experiences and the ability to find beauty in the most unlikely of places. The track is a delicate tapestry of ethereal guitar textures and hypnotic rhythms, weaving a dreamlike atmosphere that envelops the listener in a warm embrace.
For shoegaze enthusiasts and newcomers alike, “Optimistic” is an essential addition to any playlist, a masterful fusion of sonic artistry and emotional resonance. It stands shoulder to shoulder with the greats of the genre, a testament to the enduring power of music to transcend the ordinary and elevate the human spirit.
Here is our exclusive interview:
SBN: Can you tell us a bit about your background as a band and how you all came together?
HS: Stewbie got tired of playing folky acoustic guitar songs and having the audience louder than him. After getting heckled by his uncle during a show to play Freebird he vowed not to play anymore without the ability to be loud. Richard came along with his sonic expertise and amplified everything. He also turned Stewbie onto guitar pedals. Richard’s longtime musician friends from church, Aiden and Phil, joined on bass and drums respectively, giving their washy wall of sound a good, solid backbone.
SBN: Growing up in the deep suburbs of upstate New York, what was the local music scene like, and how did that shape your musical influences? Is there a music scene where you are?
HS: There is a great music scene here and many cool bands that play in places such as Albany, Saratoga, and Troy. Some of these bands even get a bit shoegazey or dream poppy like we do. Growing up I don’t think we were very influenced by local music though. Collectively, Radiohead and Sigur Ros were major influences on our sound, and more recently My Bloody Valentine and Slowdive have had the greatest impacts on us.
SBN: Your single “Optimistic” is inspired by the lead singer’s wife and her positive outlook on life. Can you share more about the story behind this song and the songwriting process?
HS: We have two songwriters and singers in Head Sound; Stewbie and Richard. This song was written by Stewbie, and without being too on the nose it relates to his wife being a bright light for him even when he is being a sad sack. The songwriting for this one started as all of Stewbie’s do; playing a few chords and singing whatever melody comes to mind in gibberish. The chords and melody were done in 15 minutes or so and then many months and revisions were spent on the lyrics.
SBN: You mention drawing inspiration from bands like My Bloody Valentine, Slowdive, and Radiohead. How do you feel your sound pays homage to these shoegaze/alternative rock pioneers while still maintaining your own unique identity?
HS: We love the wall of sound heard in shoegaze production and do our best to emulate that. Something that could be unique to us is while the vocals aren’t very forward sonically, there is often a lot of effort put into the lyric writing process in an approach similar to writing poetry. We hope the skeletons of each song would hold up even without all of the dreamy production elements.
SBN: Your live performances are known for the band’s quirky attire, including cowboy hats, bolo ties, and astronaut helmets. What’s the inspiration behind this aesthetic, and how does it tie into your overall artistic vision?
HS: We want to be versatile as a band and in a tongue-in-cheek kind of moment decided to create two more bands with the same members; one to open for Head Sound and one to close. One is a dreamy Americana band complete with bolo ties and cowboy hats. The other is spacey post-rock with space suits and astronaut helmets. Each band has a unique name, backstory, and poorly executed accents.
SBN: In the recording process for “Optimistic,” you jokingly mentioned almost making Phil the drummer’s arm fall off from recording so many tambourine tracks. Can you share any other funny or memorable moments from the studio sessions?
HS: Phil went back through just about every song and recorded tambourine. His arm got very tired but he still managed to crush it. We recorded the whole album in just two days and everything was played together at the same time. We started with recording the main parts of songs and then went back through and added additional parts such as ambient-sounding guitars, Moog bass, and tambourines. We recorded in our drummer Phil’s parent’s basement and after we were finished we plodded upstairs and had probably the greatest homemade spaghetti and meatballs known to man.
SBN: As a band with a unique sound and aesthetic, what has been the most rewarding part of your journey so far, and what challenges have you faced in carving out your space in the music industry?
HS: Recently DKFM Shoegaze Radio started playing our music, and a large shoegaze/dream pop Instagram page shared our music. That’s huge to us as we especially aim to reach the ears of the fans of the genre. It’s also been rewarding to just simply create the kind of music that we would want to listen to. Something challenging has been gaining traction in the local scene, but after the release of the last two singles, we are gratefully getting to know some local bands and hearing Head Sound on local stations.
SBN: With “Optimistic” being your latest release, what’s next for Head Sound? Can fans expect a full-length album or any upcoming tours in support of this single?
HS: We don’t want to tour. We like our boring lives that favor our relatively normal families and jobs. We will continue playing the best music we can though locally, and will continue to release our music so it can be enjoyed by those who might live farther away. We will release our first album of about 8-10 songs in the next couple of months. Richard is working hard on the mixing and mastering. We will also continue doing local shows and podcasts and hope to have a recorded live performance happen soon.
