With a string of unmissable live shows in Manchester and Nottingham this December, we sat down with ones-to-watch Heart Sauce, the up-and-coming indie group made up of four friends from Leicester. Chatting all things beginnings, favourite venues, and performing on the moon...get to know Heart Sauce a little better with us.
What's the story behind the band's name?
For months, we exchanged lists of ideas, reviewing them together. "Heart Sauce" was one of the names that made it through several rounds of elimination and stood out to us. There was something about the combination of those words that seemed to resonate with the music we were creating. The meaning—or meanings—of the name came later. Over time, people have interpreted it in different ways, from the messy spill of heartbreak to a naïve perspective on the world, and this has given "Heart Sauce" its significance to us.
How did Heart Sauce come to be? What led you to form the band and start performing?
Ellis and Euan, childhood friends, had been playing together in bands since their teenage years, performing in and around the local music scene in Leicester. That's also how they crossed paths with Dan and Brogan, who were involved in various bands across the city. After Dan joined Ellis and Euan in their previous band, it felt like the right time to try a different musical approach and begin a new project, which eventually became Heart Sauce. We’re fortunate to be surrounded by talented creatives at our residential studio space, 247 Studios, where we met with bassist Brogan and solidified the foundation of Heart Sauce.
We’re excited for your live shows later this year! What are you most looking forward to about hitting the road?
We’re really looking forward to promoting our new music in some of our favorite cities. Some of the best times we’ve had as a band have been in these places, so we can’t wait to bring our live show to familiar faces and new ones. We've worked hard to craft a show that we feel truly represents us as a band.
Do you have any favourite venues so far?
We’re especially excited to play at the Bodega in Nottingham. Growing up in the Midlands, we’ve seen a lot of great artists perform there and had the opportunity to play alongside some really cool bands. Headlining our own show at the Bodega will be a special moment for us.
If you could perform anywhere, where would it be? (Fictional, completely impractical, and impossible locations count!)
Headlining Glastonbury! Playing in the USA and Europe would be amazing, too—maybe even on the moon one day. Who knows? (Or anywhere that would have us, haha.)
Where do you draw musical inspiration from? Were there particular artists you enjoyed growing up that have shaped Heart Sauce's sound?
There are so many! Our collective tastes and influences all contribute to the final product—everyone brings something different to the table. To name a few, imagine a party where Frank Sinatra, Modest Mouse, Talking Heads, and Wham! are all in attendance.
Who should we be listening to right now? Are there any new artists on your radar?
We’ve had Wunderhorse, Kate Bollinger, and English Teacher on heavy rotation lately. There’s a lot of great stuff out there right now.
Finally, if you could collaborate with any artist, who would it be?
ABBA! <3
Don't miss Heart Sauce live, performing in Manchester on Tuesday 10 December at the Castle Hotel, and in Nottingham on Friday 20 December at the Bodega.
Give them a listen:
