Fredericton’s Heat $heets just debuted with brand new self-titled EP full of psychedelic garage rock. The six-song EP has been in the works since mid 2019 and these guys are more than ready to release their hard work into the world.
Being released on Fredericton-based label She Said Feck Records, this five track EP is packed with energetic tracks from beginning to end that showcase the bands range in genre from it’s punk roots to DIY garage band tones.
Some big changes as this trio has recently turned itself into a four piece with the addition of lead guitarist and vocalist Keegan Dobblesteyn.
“These guys have been my friends for years and it just kind of came together naturally while I was working on their songs” says Dobblesteyn.
“I remember I went to see Thrush Hermit around the time I was asked to join and those guys just seemed like they were friends having fun and making music together. I was interested in being in a similar environment and working on the EP had been so much fun, so it was an easy decision to make!”
Heat $heets have been on a roll, especially since having received the Emerging Artist Grant from Music NB. The grant give them the push they needed to start chipping away to complete their self-titled debut.
“We had previously applied for a grant and not received it, but decided to start putting the work in to prepare for the recording process, explained vocalist/guitarist Ryan Jennings, “We applied again and this time we already had the ball rolling with the recording process when we were approved for the grant!”
The harmonic vocals blended with their garage punk style showcase they band’s tones, with “Axel Grease” reminiscent of Nirvana with heavy fuzz and surf rock, jazz master-esque guitar sounds. With it’s very 90’s west coast sound, it stands out as the obvious crowd-pleaser on the EP.
When it comes to lead singles, that deep bass line on “Groger,” paired with a muted guitar solo, makes for a solid runner up, but where Heat $heets shine is on “Don’t Forget” where they delve into losing a friend along when it comes to not seeing eye to eye and focusing on one’s self confidence.
“We really nailed the feel we were looking for. This track is about losing a close friend due to differences in perspectives, and the pursuit of understanding and self confidence.” says Jennings.
“A highlight of the EP for me is the variety of tones and sounds that Alex, Ryan, and I came up with for the string instruments,” says Dobblesteyn. “Pedals can be a bit of a hazard for maintaining tone and we really made sure we could get the sounds we use live onto the tracks, without making things sound too muddy or too thin”
“I’m really proud of the EP and very happy with how it turned out. My favourite part was how diligent Alex, Ryan and Frank were throughout the mixing process. They really pushed me to get better at my craft, and made sure I was accurately representing their vision of what the EP should sound like. They really had a clear idea of what they wanted and they also really encouraged me to experiment with different ideas as well. It was a really cool creative process!”
Heat $heets will celebrate their EP release as a joint Second Birthday Party with She Said Feck Records at The Cap on March 7th alongside locals Marian and The Snorkelers.