The buzzing guitar and urgent post punk melody on Deep Heat’s latest track “Sleep” wouldn’t sound out of place on the roster of UK label La Vida Es Un Mus Discos or Canada’s Deranged records. As it is the band’s upcoming album Still Life will be released on Melbourne's Poison City, the local label who were also responsible for the band’s 2013 EP New Design and split with Melbourne buddies White Walls.Deep Heat have been busying themselves in other projects, guitarist and vocalist Gus Lord with the Stevens, Tyrannamen and Twerps while guitarist Alicia Saye and Jacquie Hynes also play in the dark and brooding Infinite Void.Recorded by Mat Robins at Coloursound, Still Life sees a return to the buzzy melody and shouty lyrics that bring to mind some 80s UK post punk and Pacific Northwest garage punk that have been filtered through the Melbourne suburbs of Northcote, Thornbury and Footscray.Listen to "Sleep" below and read a quick chat we had with Alicia, Gus and Jacquie.Noisey: The track is called “Sleep”. Is that because you all get enough of it or you just love the stoner doom band of the same name?
Gus Hunt: I have no problem with Sleep but the song is definitely not an ode to them and a good thing too, as it would do them a great disservice and offend their fans. Like most songs it’s a title born from a lyric. I get a lot of sleep these days but rarely feel rested. Sleep can be a nice respite. This song is about not getting any.Is there more melody or more volume on the new record (or both)?
Jacquie Hynes: We are usually pretty loud (whether by accident or on purpose) and we historically record live, which adds to the energy because we all feed off each other. I joke that Still Life sounds like a dry 70s pop record to me with some wanderings into 80s post punk and 90s lo fi indie rock.It's more melodic but varied more in terms of pace and texture. Gusto (guitar/vocals) tracked lots of nice acoustic overdubs too.I'm really proud of this record and I feel positive and excited about its upcoming release and touring it. Gus and Alicia have both really worked hard on writing this batch of songs. Katie aka Krang (drums) has always been solid as a rock. She holds us all together and puts up with the three of us making indulgent feedback and noise. Overall I feel privileged to work alongside such creative, talented and prolific artists.Alicia and Gus have shared most of the vocals in the past. Who does more on the new record?
Jacquie: Gus and Alicia continue to share vocals. The contrast keeps things interesting for me. Whoever writes the song usually ends up singing the main vocals. Then it's my role to write / chirp in with some vocal harmonies over the main parts. We all get a bit excited live and generally sing whatever we want though.Alicia and I both also play in Infinite Void where I sing most of the lead vocal parts. So I try to pull back from doing too much lead in Deep Heat. It also means I can drink more whiskey and relax when we play though. It works for me.Both Alicia and Katie have studied sound. Has this helped/influenced how you write songs or record?
Alicia Saye: Maybe unconsciously? It certainly helped being able to articulate to Steven what we wanted. As far as writing songs, we still just operate like any other band, someone writes a riff, we work out our parts, maybe re-write it or keep it how it is. A lot of the songs have come out of messing around at practice and someones ears pricking up once you hear someone playing something catchy.Jacquie: It's definitely been super helpful for communications with sound engineers. I just have no idea what Krang and Alicia are talking about anymore. It's a new language. I bow to their useful and superior wisdom.
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Gus Hunt: I have no problem with Sleep but the song is definitely not an ode to them and a good thing too, as it would do them a great disservice and offend their fans. Like most songs it’s a title born from a lyric. I get a lot of sleep these days but rarely feel rested. Sleep can be a nice respite. This song is about not getting any.Is there more melody or more volume on the new record (or both)?
Jacquie Hynes: We are usually pretty loud (whether by accident or on purpose) and we historically record live, which adds to the energy because we all feed off each other. I joke that Still Life sounds like a dry 70s pop record to me with some wanderings into 80s post punk and 90s lo fi indie rock.
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Jacquie: Gus and Alicia continue to share vocals. The contrast keeps things interesting for me. Whoever writes the song usually ends up singing the main vocals. Then it's my role to write / chirp in with some vocal harmonies over the main parts. We all get a bit excited live and generally sing whatever we want though.Alicia and I both also play in Infinite Void where I sing most of the lead vocal parts. So I try to pull back from doing too much lead in Deep Heat. It also means I can drink more whiskey and relax when we play though. It works for me.Both Alicia and Katie have studied sound. Has this helped/influenced how you write songs or record?
Alicia Saye: Maybe unconsciously? It certainly helped being able to articulate to Steven what we wanted. As far as writing songs, we still just operate like any other band, someone writes a riff, we work out our parts, maybe re-write it or keep it how it is. A lot of the songs have come out of messing around at practice and someones ears pricking up once you hear someone playing something catchy.Jacquie: It's definitely been super helpful for communications with sound engineers. I just have no idea what Krang and Alicia are talking about anymore. It's a new language. I bow to their useful and superior wisdom.
'Still Life' will be availabel from Poison City in April 2016.