Atlantic Records just signed Record Heat who have been previously featured on Billboard, Consequence of Sound, Earmilk, and Interview Magazine Their latest single “The Truth” is being released Today!! The band will be releasing their label debut LP Born Yesterday on August 3rd and will be supporting The Struts on tour this fall in the U.S.
The Brooklyn, NY-based band, including singer Steve Cooper, guitarist Cal Stamp, drummer Ronen Evron, and bassist Paul Michel, are currently out on an epic summer trek alongside chart topping band Theory of a Deadman, plus select dates with Incubus. The summer tour comes on the heels of dates supporting The Struts and Fitz & The Tantrums and runs through August 14th.
Billboard recently featured the band stating “With news of their Atlantic deal, there’s plenty to shout about,” with Ones To Watch adding that Record Heat’s “…effortless, fun sound will probably have you wanting to join in singing at the top of your lungs.”
On Record Heat’s 2018 full-length debut, Born Yesterday, the band not only proves 808s and guitars can coexist in harmony, they also craft airtight songs that would delight in any era. Hailing from Brooklyn, NY, singer Steve Cooper, guitarist Cal Stamp, drummer Ronen Evron, and bassist Paul Michel make music that both bottles and transcends the moment.
“Something special happens when you dump a bunch of genres into a blender and just let it rip,” says Cal. “We want our songs to move in unexpected directions. We’ll take what we love about Arctic Monkeys or Kendrick Lamar or James Blake and pull the pieces together into something cohesive, new and fun. Nobody listens to just one kind of music anymore, so why write that way?”
“Songs come together from every angle,” adds Steve. “Sometimes it’s four guys jamming in a room. Sometimes it’s one person producing on a computer. Sometimes it’s two of us, a co-writer and an acoustic guitar. We lean into not knowing what will come of a session and take every risk we can. If we don’t do it, who the fuck will?”
Born Yesterday by Record Heat
Record Heat as we know it, though, nearly never happened. Introduced by a mutual friend, Cal initially passed on the opportunity to join the group as a guitarist. But after catching the band’s bombastic live show one night at Pianos in downtown Manhattan, he changed his mind. “I wanted to have as much fun as they were having on stage,” he admits with a laugh.
A “poptimist before the word existed,” the guitarist’s sensibilities dovetailed nicely with the other members’ eclectic tastes. Although Paul’s roots were in the D.C. hardcore scene, Ronen studied at Berklee College of Music, and Steve grew up on a strict diet of rap music, the guys bonded over a shared desire to push boundaries. “We’ve changed each other drastically,” Steve says with pride.
“We want this album to stick with you, but we also want it to be fun,” Cal says. “It’s more than just a good time, but it shouldn’t feel like more than a just good time.”
Elsewhere on Born Yesterday, “Karma” opens with a punchy bass riff before launching into a gleeful, stadium-sized ode to underachievement (“What do you want me to say?/I’m the Jordan of making mistakes!”).
For the piano-driven “JFK,” Record Heat teamed up with producer Ricky Reed (Jason Derulo, One Direction) for a more bass-heavy sound. “It’s a little more serious and contemplative,” Steve says. “‘JFK’ explores the gift-and-curse of having power and attention, but being a target as a result. You carry that around. You live with both. It’s not all good and it’s not always predictable.” Unpredictability is Record Heat’s bread and butter.
“We went from losing our indie deal to signing with Atlantic and working with our favorite producer,” says Steve. “In this game, anything’s possible. Our music shows that.”
Record Heat made a striking debut with 2013’s viral smash, ” The Black Jack White,” quickly earning them more than a million plays on Spotify alone. Relentless touring followed, as did 2016’s debut EP, WORLD WAR IV, highlighted by another hit single, “Regular World,” which drew more than 3 million Spotify streams worldwide.
Pre-orders for Born Yesterday are available today at all DSPs with exclusive pre-order merch offers now. All pre-orders will receive instant grat downloads of “Painkiller,” “Karma,” and the album’s lead single, “YEAH!” which is joined by an official music video, directed by Dan Kennedy (Anderson East, Connor Oberst, Usher) and Rafatoon (Gary Clark Jr, Foster The People).
Record Heat ON TOUR 2018
‡ supporting Incubus
* supporting The Struts
^ supporting Theory of a Deadman
July 27 – The Rave – Milwaukee, WI ^
July 29 – Surf Ballroom – Clear Lake, IA ^
July 31 – Bourbon Theatre – Lincoln, NE ^
August 2 – Anthem Hard Rock Hotel & Casino – Sioux City, IA ^
August 3 – The Riot Room – Kansas City, MO
August 4 – Buffalo Run Casino & Resort – Miami, OK ^
August 6 – Madison Live – Covington, KY
August 9 – Newport Music Hall – Columbus, OH ^
August 11 – Hampton Beach Casino – Hampton Beach, NH ‡
August 12 – The Fillmore – Silver Spring, MD ‡
August 14 – The National – Richmond, VA ‡
September 21 – St. Andrew’s – Detroit, MI *
September 22 – Piere’s – Fort Wayne, IN *
September 24 – National – Richmond, VA *
September 26 – The Opera House – Toronto, ON *
September 28 – Aura – Portland, ME *
September 29 – Paradise Rock Club – Boston, MA *
September 30 – Upstate Concert Hall – Albany, NY *
October 2 – Bowery Ballroom – New York, NY *
October 3 – Bowery Ballroom – New York, NY *
October 5 – Stone Pony – Asbury Park, NJ *
October 6 – TLA – Philadelphia, PA *
October 8 – 9:30 Club – Washington, DC *
October 9 – Cat’s Cradle – Carrboro, NC *
October 10 – Orange Peel – Asheville, NC *
October 12 – Variety Theater – Atlanta, GA *
October 13 – The Beachum Theatre – Orlando, FL *
October 14 – Orpheum Theater – Tampa, FL *
October 16 – Culture Room – Ft. Lauderdale, FL *
October 17 – Maverick’s at the Landing – Jacksonville, FL *
October 19 – Soul Kitchen – Mobile, AL *
October 20 – Club LA – Destin, FL *
October 21 – Druid City – Tuscaloosa, AL *
October 23 – The Pageant – St. Louis, MO *
October 25 – Temple Live – Fort Smith, AR *
October 26 – Texas Live! – Arlington, TX *
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Dan Victor is editor of Popdust and producer of Popdust Presents. He is also a music producer, bassist for Low Profile (live hip hop) & The Coldpress (indie rap) and front-man for Ductape Halo (indie rock). Follow on Youtube.
