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Irish sister-duo Heathers recently released their fantastic new album Kingdom. GroundSounds caught up with the duo to discuss how they formed, the making of Kingdom, and what you must do when visiting Ireland. Check out the interview below along with a stream of the song “Forget Me Knots.” Listen to more tunes on their soundcloud and pick up the album here!
When did you start making music together? What did your first songs sound like?
We started making music together when we were 17. We had started going to punk shows and all of our friends were in bands. We thought, if they can do it, so can we! Louise took up the guitar and we began writing songs together. The first few were very high pitched and full of energy. They were quite folky as we were big into folk music around that time. We made some terrible recordings in our bedroom and put them up on Myspace. That’s where it all began.
Where did the name ‘Heathers’ come from?
We’re big fans of the 80’s movie Heathers starring Winona Ryder and Christian Slater. We had just seen this movie for the first time and we loved it. I remember sitting with our brother and trying to decide on a band name. He said ‘Ellie and Louise’ didn’t cut it so we went with Heathers.
How was the writing process different for you on Kingdom compared to your debut?
It was quite different. Both albums were a collaborative process but ‘Here, Not There’ was written on acoustic guitar with both of us sitting in the same room coming up with melodies. ‘Kingdom’ was predominantly written on Piano and garage band and involved us going off and working separately and then coming together with our ideas and finishing everything off.
The album is full of beautiful songs and melodies and I think it’s going to make a big splash here in the States. What was your goal for the sound of the album?
Thank you! I don’t think we had a specific goal in terms of what we wanted the album to sound like. We wanted to challenge ourselves and bring in new instruments but the sound of the album just seemed to form. It was a good 4 years between writing our first and second album and I think we had grown a lot since we were 17. We were also listening to a lot of different music which, I think, played a part in the sound of the album.
Do you have a song from the album that stands out as a favorite or one that you are especially proud of?
We are very proud of the album as a whole. We were going through tough times during the making of ‘Kingdom’ but we got through it and have an album to show for it. I think writing was our form of therapy!
“The Third Rail” is one of my personal favorites. What inspired this song?
The song was inspired by two things. Firstly, Louise had just read a book called “ The Mole People” which is about people who live in the subway tunnels under NYC. The song is also a letter to our 15/16 year old selves ( and also our younger sister who is 6 years younger than us) reminding us that things change and we won’t always feel like the odd ones out. “Don’t be so shy you’re so beautiful, things will change, one day you won’t remember at all”.
Tell us about the story behind “Forget Me Knots.” How did that song come about and how long did it take to write?
“Forget me Knots” is probably one of the most important songs we have ever written. We wrote it for a friend of ours who took her life a few years ago. The lyrics in the chorus are “It’s alright not to feel ok” and this is really the message of the song. So many people have written to us and told us how much this song means to them and it has blown us away. At the time, we were writing this song to ourselves…and we didn’t realise that it was something that people would really connect with.
What bands/musicians would you take with you on tour if you could choose your “dream tour”?
Definitely Beyonce. Followed by Haim (because you can never have enough sisters), Bruce Springsteen, Disclosure, Robyn and MIA.
What are your plans this Summer and Fall? Any plans to come back to the US?
Yes! We’ll hopefully be heading to the states during the summer for some touring! We can’t wait to return. In the meantime, we’re at home in Ireland writing new music.
If I were to visit Ireland for the first time, what is one thing I absolutely must do or one place I must visit?
The Cliffs of Moher, Co. Clare. We do a lot of our songwriting in Co. Clare and in moments of doubt, we head to the cliffs. It’s one of the most beautiful places I’ve ever been and it never gets old!! I’m also going to say… a pint of Irish Guinness. I know it’s a cliché but it really is never the same anywhere else.
Heathers – “Forget Me Knots”
