“THE TOWER is a story of a band that has begun to spread its wings,” says bandleader JONATHAN HORSTMANN. “It’s about taking the plunge into the unknown, and putting thousands of miles under its feet.” With The Tower (out today via Artoffact Records), URBAN HEAT share a seminal piece of themselves with the world. A highly emotionally driven record, Horstmann describes it as the most personal album he’s ever been a part of recording. “It’s moments of jubilation and moments of fear. The unbelievable joy of creation and the anxiety of fucking it all up. Ultimately, it is a bridge that leads us from who we were when we started this to all of the possibilities of the future.”
The 10-track record kicks off in a rousing and intoxicating place with the synth-driven “Take It To Your Grave,” and changes direction with the pop meets post-punk “Too Much Too Soon.” “You’ve Got That Edge,” their latest single which Horstmann called “a damn anthem,” is experienced most intensely during the exhilarating, guitar-laden chorus. “So many of our songs are about anxiety and fear and pain, and it seems right to have something that feels so emotionally supportive to get everyone ready for the rest of the record. ‘Cause the rest of it hurts,” he laughs.
Other previous singles include “Right Time of Night,” “Say The Words,” and “Seven Safe Places.” “Say The Words” is a hauntingly emotional song about identity struggle in a romantic relationship, while “Seven Safe Places,” with an addicting bassline and shimmery guitars, is a shiver and shake that occupies a coveted spot in the post-punk realm – a song so infectious and crowd-pleasing, it’ll cause the masses to lean in, much like the effect “Just Like Heaven” and “Enjoy the Silence” had decades ago.
Further, Hostmann shares that The Tower is the first complete album he has ever written. “I’ve released collections of work before under the title of an “album,” but The Tower is a complete statement. In Tarot, the ‘Tower’ card is widely associated with danger, crisis, sudden change, destruction, higher learning, and liberation. I think I was calling this kind of transformative fire into my life with this record.”
The Austin-based band, formed only five years ago as the brainchild of singer/multi-instrumentalist Jonathan Horstmann (vocals, guitar, synthesizer), has quickly become known in the music-capital for their fiery live shows and infectious darkwave anthems that harken back to the ‘80s, but are infused with a modern sensibility. Powered by the magnetic Horstmann’s melodic baritone vocals and the pummeling rhythm section of Kevin Naquin (vocals, guitar, synthesizer) and Paxel Foley (bass, synthesizer), Urban Heat have won over fans show by show.
Last year saw the band break through to a larger audience. Playing to their biggest audiences yet, Urban Heat made appearances at major California festivals like Cruel World in Pasadena and Darker Waves in Huntington Beach, with their set pointed to as one of the best of the day. At home, Urban Heat has long been the talk of SXSW and graced the stage of the Austin City Limits Festival.
In 2022, Urban Heat’s “Have You Ever” went viral on TikTok, boosting the band from playing Austin clubs to headlining shows across the U.S. On the strength of “Have You Ever,” the band took home an Austin Music Award for Song of the Year, and landed on the cover of The Austin Chronicle.
As for what’s to come, Urban Heat’s release of their sophomore full-length, The Tower, out TODAY via Artoffact records, finds the band at their absolute peak. After a headlining show at Los Angeles’ famed El Rey Theater as a highlight from their summer US tour to proceed with a fall European tour with Molchat Doma, Urban Heat is ready to show the world what anyone who has seen them already knows: they’re a band that is going to dominate the airwaves for years to come.