Interview With The Heavy North

by | Oct 28, 2020 | ARTIST INTERVIEWS

The Heavy North are a five-piece blues-rock band established in 2018 made up of Kenny Stuart (Lead Singer), Jose Ibanez (Guitarist/Producer), Andrew Horrocks (Bass Player), Ste Penn (Keyboard player), and Mark Rice (Drummer). 

The band released debut singles ‘Don’t You Wait For Me’ & ‘The Night Don’t Give No Love’ in November 2018, followed by live shows in Liverpool, Manchester, Blackpool & Leeds. The band’s third single ‘Some Good Lovin’ was released in June 2019 ahead of a festival debut at Liverpool International Music Festival (LIMF) and a live session & radio interview on BBC Introducing Merseyside.

Following a sold-out headline show at Jimmys Liverpool in September 2019, the band released their fourth single ‘As Long As You’re Here With Me’ in December 2019 and played a handful of shows supporting Temples, Saint Agnes & Cut Glass Kings on UK tour dates. 

They returned in May 2020 with the release of “absolutely stunning” breakthrough single ‘Lying To Yourself’, as heard on BBC Radio 6 Music, BBC Introducing Merseyside and Amazing Radio. In support of the release, the band played an exclusive lockdown session for BBC Radio Wales with Janice Long as well as being the most-watched artist performance at the first-ever Liverpool Digital Music Festival during the lockdown. 

In August 2020, the band played a live 30-minute full band set at the iconic M&S Bank Arena for the second Liverpool Digital Music Festival online streaming event, clocking up over 15,000 views on Facebook

On Friday 4th September the band released their follow-up single to Lying To Yourself – ‘Bring Me Love’, and announced that both singles will feature on The Heavy North’s upcoming debut EP ‘Dive Bar Blues’, available on limited edition 12” vinyl (300 copies) and scheduled for release on Friday 4th December 2020. 

 

NSG: What’s your favourite type of footwear, trainers, or shoes, and why?

Kenny: Adidas Samba or Spezial, they’re comfy and you can’t go wrong with a pair retro Adidas webs!

Jose: Vans black leather and hi-tops for casual. Also, Onitsuka Tiger because they’re super comfy and look very 80’s so remind me of my childhood.

Mark: The Vans classic stuff day to day just for comfort and the look, but I prefer drumming in Converse.  

Andy: For me, I’d go with Adidas Jeans or Dr. Martens Coronado’s. 

 

NSG: Prior to the pandemic, how was 2020 looking for the band? What did you have planned and how much has that plan, if at all changed? 

Ste: 2020 was looking great for the band after we played some boss gigs back in March before lockdown supporting Temples (ATO Records) and Cut Glass Kings (Skeleton Key Records), but being honest I think this year has turned out ok for the band considering the circumstances.

Kenny:  We’ve still been able to be creative over lockdown releasing two original tracks, doing interviews, getting radio airplay, doing isolation covers and streamed gigs, so we’ve managed to keep the ball rolling and building our fanbase.

Mark: Now things are opening up slightly we’re definitely seeing more emphasis on streamed gigs which I think is going to be an interesting change, but something we’re embracing as a band.

 

NSG: So recently you played the M&S Bank Arena for a live stream? How did that come about and what was it like to play an arena show under such strange circumstances?

Kenny: Yeh the arena was great, even for just the grandeur of it all! We were really well looked after by Ben and the LDMF team and it was such an amazing experience.

Mark: It was incredibly surreal but we loved every minute of it. It was mad getting to play our tunes in such an epic space, and we’re very grateful to have that opportunity given the state of everything at the moment.

Ste: Back in May we played the first Liverpool Digital Music Festival event and filmed a 15 minute set with each of us playing from our own houses. We ended up with over 10,000 views which was incredible, so that led to us being added to the August Bank Holiday event at the arena!

Jose: My little son (little Jose) stole the show on the Digital Music Festival lockdown sessions when he appeared in the last guitar solo of our video! We had thousands of views and were grateful for the opportunity to play the arena.  

Andy:  Playing the arena was a surreal moment. I must admit, it was hard to create an atmosphere in your own head before going on stage but I feel that we made the place our own as soon as they gave us the countdown. 

 

NSG: I’m guessing you’re heavily influenced by the blues? Could you tell me what or who has influenced you in the sound you have created?

Kenny: Yeh we listen to a lot of great music that inspires us; John Lee Hooker, Peter Green’s Fleetwood Mac, Cream, The Stones, The Black Keys. Also some soul music too, like Otis Redding and Sam Cooke. 

Mark: Personally I’m probably not as influenced by the blues sound as the others. A lot of the stuff I listen to has more of that modern hifi drum sound and Jose and I try to incorporate that into our production. We’ve purposely gone that way more with the last two releases and I think it adds an interesting dynamic to our sound.

Jose: For me, Peter Green, BB King, Stevie Ray Vaughan, and Jimi Hendrix are the ones that shaped my sound. Lately, Little Barrie are one of my favourite bands.

Andy: There’s always something boss playing on the speakers in the studio. Kenny opened my eyes to a lot of blues/soul music. I have recently gotten into Vulfpeck too. Joe Dart is a massive inspiration on bass for me. Also, I have always been heavily influenced by Joy Division. 

The Heavy North M&S Arena (credit: Blue22 Photography)

NSG: Who’s got the coolest or strangest hobby in the band and what is it?

Jose: My hobby used to be recording demos in my bedroom, then recording mates for fun, and then this became my job – the coolest job in the world! Hanging out, producing, and recording great bands. 

Kenny: Andy insists on sending us random pictures into the band’s group chat which is a hobby of his. Why do I want to look at his bike leaning on a bale of hay on a Sunday morning?

Ste: It’s definitely not the coolest, but until recently I used to keep up with the WWE. Not that he’d admit it, but Kenny’s partial to a bit of wrestling chat too and does a boss Macho Man impression (Ohhh yeaahhhhh!!!).

Andy: I’m teaching myself a couple of coding languages but, yeah, mainly my road biking, or as Kenny calls it ‘pissing about in tight kecks’.

Mark: I got into barbering about a year ago. I love having it as another creative outlet alongside music and I work in a shop in Litherland called Barber Shed.

 

NSG: What’s the best movie ever made in your humble opinion? 

Kenny: The Blues Brothers.

Mark: American Psycho. 

Ste: ‘This Is Spinal Tap’ or ‘The Big Lebowski’ for me.

Jose: Indiana Jones! First 3 movies by far. Dr. Jones was a badass I wanted to be like him! Or maybe Kurt Russel in Big Trouble in Little China. 80’s movies are the best.

Andy: Submarine by Richard Ayoade.

 

NSG: I loved your video for your latest single  “Bring me Love”. Could you tell me the message behind it and the song?

Kenny: I try and pull bits from my own experience and build around it. ‘Bring Me Love’ is loosely based on how I met my girlfriend; “Out on a Sunday with my friends in Heebie Jeebies, I saw you around town around town around town”.

Jose: I have a good memory of the meaning behind this track. Kenny met his girlfriend and we all went to my flat to carry on the party with our mates. We had a boss time and the ‘Love’ in Bring Me Love started right there and then!

Ste: We worked with our mate Dan Hewitson (Freakbeat Films) and Andy Conga (Blue22 Photography) on the Bring Me Love video. We didn’t really have a plan for this one but we wanted to do something a bit different to our previous videos, so we filmed individual shots and Dan pulled it all together and did a boss job as always. 

Bring Me Love

 NSG: Name a band you love to listen to but feel a little embarrassed to admit?

Kenny: I don’t think there are any.  I nearly said Meatloaf but that’s not that bad! The Bat Out Of Hell album is boss!

Ste: Morrissey. He’s been in the news for all the wrong reasons over recent years and I don’t agree with his political views, but I’m a big fan of The Smiths and a lot of his solo records. 

Jose: The Midnight (proper 80’s synth-wave – don’t tell Kenny!)

Andy: Sound’s like we’re all a sucker for an 80’s tune, ay. Hall & Oates or Tears for Fears. 

 

NSG: Some of us have been quite isolated during the pandemic, can I ask you,  when did you last get a real decent hug off someone and who was it?

Kenny: My dad every time I see him – Big Gil the legend!

Mark: This morning actually, off my girlfriend Sammy.

Ste: I should probably say my girlfriend too but I think I’ve hugged our dog Tilly more recently. 

Jose: I get a few every day when I get back home from my 2 little kids (Little Jose and Carmen) which make my day. 

Andy: Aye, probably my arl man too – ‘Conga’. I’m not much of a hugger but he’s always there to shake my hand and give me a hug after getting off stage. Shortly followed by telling me what notes I dropped during the gig. 

 

NSG: Liverpool or Everton?

Kenny: Both! Two Blues and three Reds.

Ste: I reckon it’s more like two Blues and one red myself but Kenny doesn’t like being outnumbered. 

Jose: I’ve gotta say Liverpool on this one! Although my home team is Granada CF! Vamos!

Andy: I’m with Ste on this, Two blues and one red. Marko has to Google the offside rule and Jose supports Granada… Who? Exactly… 

 

NSG: What has been the most enjoyable gig you’ve played and why?

Ste: For me personally, I enjoyed supporting Temples at the Zanzibar before lockdown because I’ve been a fan of theirs for a few years now and it was boss to play alongside them. 

Kenny: Yeh, supporting Temples at the sold-out Zanzibar was great, and the crowd was amazing. The whole line-up was class. A two-piece rock band called Little Triggers played before us too and they smashed it. 

Mark: I really enjoyed LIMF in Sefton Park last year, just for how smoothly it went and it was also one of my favourite sets we’ve played. It was our first outdoor festival gig and was just boss being involved in such a big event. 

Andy: There have been so many memorable gigs to date and each one has it’s own place in my scrapbook. If I had to pick one, I’d probably go with LIMF too. Was great to share the stage with some superb locals bands. Plus, you can’t beat a Liverpool crowd when there’s a stage full of local bands. 

The Heavy North (credit: Blue22 Photography)

NSG: Thank you for giving us the chance to interview you, anything else you’d like to add?

Ste:  The only thing to add is if any readers fancy a copy of our debut EP ‘Dive Bar Blues’ on 12” vinyl, visit www.theheavynorth.com. We’ve only had 300 made and we’ve shifted about a third of them already on pre-order so get on it!

Kenny: Yeh, we wanted to offer something special and this 4-track vinyl is the perfect way to tell the band’s story so far as well as being a collectible limited edition record. 

Andy: Just to say thank you to everyone who has supported the songs and come along to the gigs. Looking forward to seeing you all again soon.

 

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