The internet’s favorite UK-Based trio, Autoheart, embarked on their first tour back in March. Capturing the hearts of their adoring fans, the group embodied the relatable, unique, and uplifting nature of their discography on stage. Interactions between their fans were heartwarming and genuine. The mutual love and adoration was felt in each corner of whatever venue they played in.
My first exposure to the band was at their Berkeley Cornerstone set on March 17. The excitement my friend had finally seeing Autoheart live extended to me. I was drawn in my their catchy tracks and creativity. Their exploration of different genres is captivating. If you’ve never seen them live, let alone listened to their music, I would recommend doing so.
Learn more about the band, their experience on tour, and what to look forward to on their next tour through the interview below.
How has it been being a band for the last 10+ years? Is there a specific moment during this journey that you’ll always look back on fondly?
It’s been a rollercoaster with massive highs and equally massive lows. Obviously the tour selling out, the incredible audiences and meeting the people who’ve supported us over the years (who’ve called themselves Heart-heads!) has been lifechanging and wonderful. Finding some success as a 100 per cent DIY artist has been vindicating. But I think also perhaps the most important thing we’ve gained over more than a decade of being in a band together is the bond we have as a band. Speaking for myself, I’d have gone mad many times over if it hadn’t been for Simon and Jody.
How did it feel re-releasing Punch at the end of last year?
It felt great. It has been wonderful to reflect on everything that album meant to us and also touring it, rediscovering just how much fun those tracks are has also been a joy.
Is there a particular thing you like to try or an activity you attempt to do when touring in a new place (if you have the time to do it)?
So this is the first time we’d ever toured, and these were actually our first proper gigs in almost ten years. We’d mainly played in London with short trips elsewhere. So it was all new. It’s a bit like a camping holiday, tbh. I think as long as you embrace the fact that you’re truly living out of bags and eating at truck stops, you’ll have a ball.
What has been your favorite show in the States?
I’m going to do the lame thing of saying all of them. Obviously the first show in Seattle to the biggest audience of the tour (and the biggest audience we’ve ever had) was wild – the blood sweat and tears it took to get to that point and then the absolute euphoria and release of performing to such an incredible crowd, I don’t think anything will replicate the feeling of going on stage or playing that night. Selling out the Troubador in LA was pretty special and it was a wonderful setting to play in. But the smaller local shows in Columbus and Detroit were magical too. Every night we hung out after the show and met as many people as wanted to stay to chat to us, and that was really the highlight for us all.
The band is known for experimenting with different musical styles. Is there a particular style that drew you in the most?
I don’t know how other people do things but I feel like we start from scratch with every song and ask what will bring it to life the best. Often they’ll be massively different once they are finished from the place they started. Someone described our style as gay angst, which we think is quite fitting. But I think we also manage a bit of joy and hope even to the bluest moments, and vice versa.
It was lovely seeing the interactions between the band and the audience during your Berkeley Cornerstone set. If there was something you’ve always wanted to say to the fans but haven’t had a chance to, what would that be?
Someone at one of the dates – it might have been Berkeley – had a sign saying ‘Autoheart Saved My Life’. I said it in a sort of jumbled way during the shows but those people in the audience – some who came from as far away as Canada to see the show – saved our lives over and over. Their positivity kept us going even when we were taking out bank loans to fund recording and worrying how we’d pay them off. One thing that gets said about us by people who like our music is that we’re underrated. But our fans’ love for what we do and positivity has sort of manifested our success and we feel so grateful for that, and not underrated whatsoever. I feel like we said it in the shows and we got to say it in person to many people which felt important to us.
Autoheart
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Cover image by Lezli Rose
