Band of the Week 2 - HEO
"HEO magically blends dream pop & shoegazing sound in a language of electronica.”
HEO (Hey-Oh) as described by Younha Kim of the Korean Music Award Committee and I couldn't have said it better myself.
HEO is a duo out of Seoul, Korea led by HEO himself on vocals, guitars, bass, synth and programming with Kim Boyeong on vocals, keys and bass.
HEO casts a dream pop sound mixed with post-rock and electronica which can't help but give you a warm feeling from your toes, through your dancing hips straight to your heart.
Just your first taste of this incredible duo. Lots more below!
Aside from being an amazing band, they are also amazing people and you will not regret following them everywhere:
Now, let's talk albums! A short discography with mini-reviews, and check below for links (music, videos, purchasing and more)!
Luna (2009)
1st single
Stunningly passionate dream-pop with a brilliant video to match!
LightGoldenrodYellow (2009)
1st album
Decidedly more pop with soft vocals throughout. We love the acoustic guitar on the lullabye-esque track 8, Overpass! Beautiful piano melodies find their home in nearly every other track.
Structure (2014)
LP
First album for the duo, from the opener through the bookend at track 9, this genre-shifting LP deserves to be listened to straight through. It is a beautiful showcasing blend of the band’s musical and vocal talents. Don’t miss the powerful track 3, Word of Silence!
Sleep Tight (2015)
single
A driving track with electronica mixing perfectly with alt-rock, Sleep Tight takes love songs to the next level. Check out their thought-provokingly dark video below!Mono Sand Hill (2016) - single - We absolutely LOVE this track! Find your dancing shoes and enjoy the ride~ Boyeong’s vocals are a dream throughout :)
Actress (2016)
Latest LP
The entire album will hit you from your toes up to your grooving hips and straight into your heart. DO NOT MISS track 7, This Obsession! If forced to choose, our favorite HEO track to date (and thus featured in our intro video for this BOTW). Turn down the lights and fall in love with a glass of wine and good company <3
Relax after a hard day's work by listening to some new, dreamy, electronic, chill-enhancing rock!
All about the albums here:
Luna
buy it: Buy the Structure album! (singles also available)
LightGoldernrodYellow
read about it: Listen to it. Buy it. Write a review and send it to us!^^
Structure
read about it
http://jamsphere.com/…/album-review-heo-structure-rock-rhyt…
Sleep Tight
buy it: Buy the new album Actress! (singles also available)Mono
Sand Hill
buy it: Buy the new album Actress! (singles also available)
Actress
LIVE music, it's what we love!
Fall in love with HEO by seeing them live on stage~ <3
HEO is well traveled and is easily a band you may see on a bill near you someday. They played South by Southwest in 2015 and 2016 and have hit other areas of the States, including playing Culture Collide in California in 2015. Even Russia had the pleasure that year!
In addition to festivals and gigs around the world, HEO has a special place in our hearts as they took part in one our charity shows in 2015.
If you get the chance to check them out, here's why you should jump on it:
1. Their shows are spectacular and their sound is always perfection.
2. Their melodies and rhythms pulsing through you from massive amplifiers amidst a crowd of fans is a musical journey all its own!
And most importantly, they are wonderful human beings who will happily have a friendly chat with you if you see them after.
While you wait for your next chance, turn down the lights and watch this video of them live from the Korean show "On Stage," and wish you were there:
We hope you've now gotten to know HEO a little (better). Last but not least, we'll close out BOTW week 2 with the most important part, the songs!
It's recommendation time! 5 songs, 10 words of feeling:
"This Obsession" → Lovingly dark
"Mono Sand Hill" → Hauntingly driving
"All the Things are Passing By" → Beautifully thought-provoking
"Word of Silence" → Intensely soft
"Cave on the Shore" → Enigmatically pensive
There's so much awesomeness here, we could do this every week!
To help you get into them even more, go buy Actress on BandCamp/iTunes, or watch the video to our personal favorite, "This Obsession," and sing along:
And as a courtesy, here are the lyrics so you can join in!
I wanna get to you.
I wanna shout it out to you.
I wanna get to you.
I wanna sing it through my eyes.
Everything is love.
Everything I need.
Make me feel hatred of sorrow.
Make me afraid of despair.
I’m covered in dirt.
I’m covered in dirt.
You’ll get used to this.
That’s gonna happen today.
You’ll get used to this.
Nothing can stay the same.
How can I get out of the wheel in my cursed cage.
With this obsession, I’ll be on the edge of my fate.
This conversation is over.
