In the heart of Australian suburbia, amid the clinking of beer bottles and working-class heartache, Brisbane’s Dirty Hearts has emerged as the embodiment of gritty, unapologetic rock. With their electrifying live performances and a sound that's equal parts familiar and difficult to pin down, the quartet has become synonymous with raw energy and heartfelt emotion.
In this exclusive interview, Dirty Hearts talk with us about their creative process, sharing insights into their songwriting, and the evolution of their sound on new record ‘Sunday Morning Anxiety’. From the blistering riffs and pulsing drums to the delicate, tender melodies, the band captures the full spectrum of the human experience with honesty and authenticity.
It’s fantastic to have this chance to speak with you – we’ve been hooked on ‘Maybe’ ever since it dropped onto our radar. Let’s take it right back, when did you first start making music?
Matt: “Originally, I think it was more of a means to an end. As kids, we’d all done the cover band thing to death. I don’t regret it, it served as a kind of 'apprenticeship', it allowed me and those around me to develop some confidence and get an appreciation for the technical aspects of writing. In saying that, for me at least there was a definite ‘use by date’ - once the first original piece came together, playing anything else seemed inauthentic or a bit of a cop-out – there’s also an element of unadulterated arrogance to it all, our stuff is just as good as anyone else’s.”
The new album is due out later this year, can you tell us a bit more about it?
Holly: “During this recording process for the new album, ‘Sunday Morning Anxiety’, we were very excited to be able to all have input in the recording. Groovy (drums) and Matt (vox/guitar), were the original band members, we were able to keep ‘that’ original sound or feel, but also experiment with new styles with ‘me’ playing keys and adding vocals.”
“Mace (bass) joined the band recently and with such a variety of skills and interests from all members, this project was so exciting to see what new sounds could be achieved. We are all very excited and feel a sense of ownership over the songs on the album that we hope our audience also enjoys.”
Are there any artists, moments, or experiences that influenced you when writing the project?
Groovy: “In the writing of this album, I'd have to say it was a combination of all factors that brought us to the end product. Varied artists always inspire our writing and having four musos with different tastes, you find you're reaching from the back pocket of everyone from The James Gang, QOTSA, Smashing Pumpkins and Steve Albini.”
“The moments I think of are when we're together jamming, hashing out songs and bringing our influences to each other’s ideas. Everyone has a different take on ‘our’ tunes. We all hear them differently and that makes it exciting. Dirty Hearts has evolved into a bit of a ‘melting pot’.”
What was your songwriting process with the album? How did it all come together?
Holly: “Matt is the lyricist and will put together a vague melodic structure, Groovy, Mace and I, all enjoy songwriting and as a team, we come together during rehearsals to share our ideas. Our process generally involves a band member playing a melody or progression for the group that they have been privately developing. The group will then have a jam session to see how it will sound with all components involved and if we think it will work. The lyrics usually come towards the end with Matt delving into his notepad of poetry and writing to further give meaning and insight to the music. As a collective we vote to keep or veto a song and have found for the most part we all seem to agree.”
What’s the most important thing when you’re writing a song?
Matt: “I don’t know if there are any hard and fast rules. At the risk of sounding trite, it comes down to ‘Feel’. It may be difficult to define or articulate clearly but if it ‘feels’ good in the ear or to play, we’ll start to advocate for developing it further as a piece that we’ll work on collectively. It might anything from a chord sequence or melody that we’ve stumbled on that can serve as the catalyst for something that we’d be proud to put our name to.”
How would you describe the sound on your latest release? Has there been a change or evolution in style since you first began?
Mace: “I think ‘Sunday Morning Anxiety’ further shows our heart on our sleeve, as did the band’s first album - but where that first record was born of 80s and 90s Aussie rock the likes AC/DC, Dallas Crane and You Am I, the new record, despite the smaller offering (6 songs), shows a band that has grown with their vast array of influences. There’s punk elements and heavier riffs and the song writing and suburban storytelling has only grown richer, all the while maintaining that original, Aussie-rock mongrel.”
Is there a central message or theme you were trying to convey in your latest release, and is there a moment in the release that really captures that idea?
Groovy: “I think the biggest thing in the release was the introduction of a new member. Matt writes the lyrics and each song varies from topic to topic in his crazy world. But the theme, if at all, was changing of feel and style in our music. Having Holly come on board with keys changed how we structured and how we all played in the songs. Not so reliant on the straight-up guitar-driven sound really changed the musicality of the group. And we feel that these new songs are some of the best we've done as we evolve together.”
What advice would you give to bands and artists who are just starting out and trying to find their sound?
Mace: “Chances are in finding the/our/my sound we’re only looking for permission to do what we already are probably gonna do anyway. To thine own self be true. Forget about what everyone else might want. Find what turns you on and get at it. If that’s playing Oompa band covers of Tool songs while dressed as Beyoncé, do it to the greatest degree that you’re able - people will take note. Be honest about your approach and your output, without expectation and you will do nothing but succeed.”
What has been your best moment as a musician or band so far?
Groovy: “Some of the best moments in the band will always be getting to share the stages with musicians who have influenced us over the years. We've been lucky enough to support some amazing bands, such as You Am I, Dallas Crane, British India and DZ Deathrays, just to name a handful. And the punters always make every gig a blast. We love feeding off their energy and it just lifts you. So, hopefully we get to keep having more of these amazing moments together.”
Is there anything you would like to say to our audience?
Matt: “Interviews can be tough-going, our regards if you lasted to this point! I can only hope that we didn’t come off as a bunch of conceited wankers the ‘whole’ time. Our sincerest apologies if we failed in our attempt. Regardless of the response we get, to the new material and the album we’d be doing the same thing, weekend, and week out, irrespectively – If a couple of punters can join in on the choruses and buy us the occasional pint of cheap domestic, we are all the better!”
Their upcoming sophomore release, 'Sunday Morning Anxiety', is a testament to the band's evolution, offering a journey that's as exhilarating as it is introspective. Led by singles like ‘Maybe’, the album promises to dive deeper into emotions without sacrificing an ounce of their signature grit.
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