The Heavy North – Where Are You Now? (2023)
In my favourite The Wombats’ single, ‘Let’s Dance To Joy Division’, the lads sing they’re back in Liverpool and everything just feels the same… Well, not anymore! For the past five years (give or take), Liverpool has been boasting the blues-rock band The Heavy North. Combining the natural talent of six musicians – Kenny Stuart (vocals), Jose Ibanez (guitar), Jack Birch (guitar), Andrew Horrocks (bass), Mark Rice (drums) and Ste Penn (keys) – this hard-hitting group is turning heads left, right and centre. With coverage from BBC Radio 6 to Classic Rock Magazine, Roadie Music, In Your Ears and many more, The Heavy North are reaching audiences across the globe.
In agreement with BBC Radio Wales Janice Long, The Heavy North can be easily described as “absolutely stunning”. Known for their engaging and energetic live performances, the lads hold audiences in the palm of their hands, but it’s not just on stage that we feel their overwhelming awesomeness. Almost a year after releasing the well-received album, Electric Soul Machine, The Heavy North entered 2023 with a new sound and honed style in ‘Where Are You Now?’
As with tracks like ‘Satisfy You’ and ‘Darkness In Your Eyes’, ‘Where Are You Now?’ embraces a strong 1970s classic rock sound with tinges of blues. The bold melody harmonically combines instrumentation in a high-voltage arrangement. Yet, while the guitars, drums and keys captivate listeners with the rough vibe, Stuart’s dynamic vocals whip your head about with the hard-hitting, rich tone. When discussing the meaning of the track, Kenny Stuart explained that “’Where Are You Know?’ is about remembering people who come and go in your life…the lyrics explore whether those people we used to know are still the same as how we remembered them…”
One aspect of The Heavy North that holds me captive is the roughness of the singles. Produced by guitarist Jose Ibanez, ‘Where Are You Know?’ has the sophisticated elegance of a studio-recorded track but a live set’s edgy robustness. Smooth and gruff, serene and brash, robust but mellifluous, ‘Where Are You Know?’ ensnares your senses with its multi-faceted appeal.
In addition to the single, The Heavy North released an official music video for ‘Where Are You Know?’. You can view the video below or via their YouTube Channel:
For more from The Heavy North, check out their official website, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Spotify.
This artist was discovered via Musosoup #sustainablecurator
