Whose Hearts Were His - Sound In The Signals Interview

I recently had the chance to interview Gabe Fry (From The Shallows, and Solace and Stable) about his new project Whose Hearts Were His. Check out the full interview after the jump.

For anyone not familiar with your project can you tell me a little bit about how it started and how you got interested in music?

Gabe: Whose Hearts Were His officially started in January of this year.  After about a year off from any musical obligations, and severe burnout, I felt the itch to release new music.  I guess it's kind of exciting for me to be able to be in charge of every aspect of this project, and work at my own pace.  I take my music probably too serious some would say, but it's nice not to piss my friends off trying to keep a band going full speed now.  Everything that does, and does not get done is because of me, and that in itself motivates me to work hard.  I think I have a very strong musical connection because I am an HSP (highly sensitive person).  Music has always made me feel deep, and rich emotions that I hardly experience elsewhere.  My first experience with an instrument was when my mom got a Casio keyboard for Christmas one year.  It turned out I had an ear for music, and natural rhythmic abilities.  From there I got my first guitar years later, and my bond with music grew until it was my only hobby. 

"Tongues Like Knives" is your newest single. Can you tell me a little about the songwriting process for it?

This is the 2nd song I have written for this EP.  I spent about 3 weeks refining, and polishing it till it was good enough to release.  To be honest as I was writing this song I did not feel it was a very strong one.  I questioned it up until the last vocal was completed.  I'm a very competitive person, and I compete with myself in the quality of the songs I write.  I never want the next song to be inferior to the one written before this one.  I've also worked on adopting the idea of finishing what I start, and moving forward when something is good enough.  I'm a perfectionist, and I will always want to refine a song further.  This song, just like the rest of the songs on the album, will be written, performed, and recorded by myself.  It usually starts with a riff, and I build drums around the riff.  Vocals are always last, and usually the toughest part for me. 

Why did you decide to pick "Tongues Like Knives" as a single?

One of the biggest reason I decided to release this song was because I felt releasing a song would help keep me motivated to finish the EP.  When you have a blank canvas, and no demand it's incredibly silent.  It's also risky to release a song you think is good, and have an underwhelming response.  That would make finishing the product increasingly more difficult as you feel now your only doing it for yourself.  Which the fun turns to work, and frustration really quick when trying to create quality songs.  I honestly feel the first song I finished is stronger than this one, but my computer was peaking as I was recording it.  I decided to build a new computer so that I would have one less thing to fight during this process.  Instead of re-recording the first song I challenged myself to write a new one, and keep myself from burning out on the first one. 

Your new album is due out soon. Can you tell me a little bit about it?

As I continue to complete the album I can share my thoughts on it so far.  I think that I have tried to find a good balance between critiques of the last Solace and Stable record, and the music I naturally want to put out.  I've tried to focus on more tempo changes, more simplistic sections, and letting the music breathe vocally.  I've also spent a great deal educating myself with the production side, and feel that I am better able to compliment the songs with the right sounds.  I'm striving for more of an emotion with this record than creativity with thrash/blast riffs like on the S&S stuff.  I'm really happy with the balance of genres this album is displaying so far while still feeling natural. 

What all do you have planned for the remainder of 2014?

I'd like to release another EP before the end of the year as well.  My goal with this project is to have frequent quality releases instead of one large full length every 2 or so years.  I've had multiple people ask if this will become a full band, and I don't know the answer to that yet.  If there is a way to balance the frequent releases while maintaining a tight set I would absolutely welcome it.  It's just much easier said than done. 

I guess that about wraps it up. Thanks for taking the time to answer the questions. Do you have anything else you would like to add?

Thanks so much to Sound In The Signals for your support, and this interview.  Thank you to everyone who has supported the project so far, and those who are reading this.  If you like WHWH please tell your friends, and spread the word. The more support I have the more motivated I am to keep releasing music.