Renee Heartfelt
http://www.reneeheartfelt.com
With: Pete
Interview by Dustin
This interview was done through email with Pete of Renee Heartfelt. The interview was conducted in December 2004.
How did Renee Heartfelt begin?
Colin (our drummer) and I wanted to start something that was more rock influenced so we were getting together before and after Count Me Out practices and putting songs together. He decided to join AN and was
gone for about a year though so I reverted to working on the songs alone. I ended up at our guitarist's home studio in DC and recorded some songs taking over the drum work myself. With that demo I convinced Charlie from Count Me Out to play bass and Mike from Striking Distance to play guitar. Like all bands, we've had some lineup changes, but we've been at it for about a year and things are great. I think we are writing better
now than ever.
Does it help that you guys have been in some big bands, or do people not really care?
A little. We've had some loyal fans of CMO or SD coming out to some of the shows. It's a little harder to pull off of that because we don't really sound like our old bands. But, it's helped I think. It's tough to make a name for yourself these days 'cause theres like 4000 bands that
live in my buildiing alone... haha.
What make you go from hardcore to this post-hardcore/rock sound?
I was really struggling musically. I'm in love with melody. I was really conflicted when we were writing permanent. I was bringing these songs like, "My Regret" trying to infuse melody in any way I could. I think it worked to some extent; but I really wanted to expand on it. Slowing down the tempo and giving the notes more room has been awesome.
I'm still in love with heavy. I don't think I'll ever leave that behind... completely, but I think we were all ready for a change musically. Stilll, as I've been saying, it's been really natural and fluid for me. I still feel like I'm writing count me out songs, just slowed down.
What is the songwriting process for you guys?
I try to work on the song at my house to get a framework of parts together and then I come to practice and we build the song together. Adding and removing parts. Aaron (who played bass on the EP and is now playing
guitar) will come up with some leads, or a better way to structure a part... etc. This can be awesome and we can write a song in an hour, or we can spend two hours working on the pause before the coda and get nowhere. Songwriting is give and take and really depends on your mood. You have to try everything and be endlessly patient. The song will come about on its own time. You can't force it.
Where did the name Renee Heartfelt come from?
Some years back a German student was murdered and eaten by her professor. He said he did it out of an act of complete infatuation and love. Her name was Renee Hartvelt. I don't really know why we named our band after her. I will say that very horrible things happen to normal people and it is forgotten. That's pretty frightening, but to be expected. As humans, we try not to remember or dwell on the bad things in life.
How did you end up on Limekiln Records? Have they treated you well so far?
Yeah, thus far it's been awesome. They've done their damnest to help us out on a lot of things. We're stoked. I think they are going to be an influential label in the future. They have their eyes set on it. I think they like good music. Hopefully they can set themselves apart. Indie music is in a weird spot right now because mainstream America is paying attention. Which in turn, makes indie music bend to be more mainstream. That's unfortunate because that means most of it becomes horseshit pop
songs infused with the "screamy part" that makes the frat brother at school think he's are listening to "aggro" music. It's silly and I'm sorry to see a type of music that was once typified by bands like Failure, Sunny Day, Promise Ring, and Texas is the Reason into something sold at Hot Topic. But money will have it's way.
What influences you guys musically?
Wwesome live shows. Watching Year of the Rabbit or Engine Down. Bands that are just effortless on stage and completely convincing. I return home from those shows and I just want to write. We played with Engine Down not too long ago and then drove two hours to get back home around 3 a.m. I got on my guitar until like 5 a.m. completely inspired. And it's not so much in the songs they are writing, but in the way that they play them. They play them with a desperation. There's a lot of "desperation" in lyrics and music today, but 99% is fabricated. I'm sorry those bands aren't getting more attention. They should be the ones headlining Warped Tour.
If you could only have one album with you for the rest of your life, what album would that be?
Jesus... that's a mother of a question. I guess I would have to say "Diary." For me, that record is timeless.
Are you guys writing for a full length yet or have you just been focused on playing shows?
We are really just trying to play out. That's been tough because booking agents and clubs are flooded right now. But, we are writing too. We are writing for a full-length and I've never been more excited about our band. I can't wait to record.
Thanks for your time fellas. Any last words before we wrap this up?
Thanks for the interview. Please listen to more Renee Heartfelt. We
have a single 7" released on North Sea Records (www.thenorthsea.co.uk). It has an unreleased track on it, please check it out. Thanks!
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