Published: July 12, 2024 · 11:43 AM EDT
Today, Urban Heat are back with the final single previewing their highly anticipated sophomore album. 'You've Got That Edge' is out everywhere now and 'The Tower' will see its global release on August 16th via Artoffact Records.
Reflecting on the single, bandleader Jonathan Horstmann shares that it was "the first song written for the Tower," and that sonically, it gave them "permission to go so many places," intertwining a very synthpop verse and big guitars brought in with a halftime breakdown. Further, explaining that while 'You've Got That Edge' is not "the 'new' Urban Heat sound or anything like that," it provided them with "an example of how many other genres we could explore. The rest of the songs just sort of spilled out after this one.”
Rich and driving from the first beat, Horstmann added that the song is "a damn anthem. So many of our songs are about anxiety and fear and pain and it seems right to have something that feels so supportive emotionally to get everyone ready for the rest of the record. Cuz the rest of it hurts lol."
With 'The Tower', Urban Heat share a piece of themselves with the world forever. A highly emotionally driven record, Horstmann describes it as the most personal album he's ever been a part of recording.
Austin is known as the music capital of the world — and Urban Heat is one of its greatest exports. The band, formed only five years ago as the brainchild of singer/multi-instrumentalist Jonathan Horstmann, has quickly become known for their fiery live shows and infectious darkwave anthems that harken back to the ‘80s with a modern sensibility. Powered by the magnetic Horstmann’s melodic baritone vocals and the pummeling rhythm section of Kevin Naquin and Paxel Foley, Urban Heat have won over fans show by show.
Last year saw the band break through to a larger audience. Appearances at major California festivals like Cruel World in Pasadena and Darker Waves in Huntington Beach saw Urban Heat play to their biggest audiences yet, with their set pointed 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 is gearing up for the release of their sophomore full-length. Titled The Tower, the album features the band at their absolute peak. Songs like the arena-ready “Seven Safe Places” and the intricately steady “Take it to Your Grave,” show the band’s sonic versatility. The latter, which best exemplifies the majority of the record, is about feelings of unworthiness and fears of self-sabotage. Introspectiveness dots Horstmann's lyrics, driving home its power and relatability.
With a headlining show at Los Angeles' famed El Rey Theater and 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.
URBAN HEAT IS:
Jonathan Horstmann - vocals, guitar, synthesizer
Kevin Naquin - vocals, guitar, synthesizer
Paxel Foley - bass, synthesizer
