Despite being 100% DIY, US alt-pop band Autoheart have become a cult sensation thanks to social media. Their albums mix indie, pop, piano ballads, nods to synth based material and disco in a concoction that, according to their own press, makes them hard to categorise.
On March 15th, the band will release ‘Punch Demos’, a collection of alternate takes and leftovers from their ‘Punch’ album sessions, to tie in with that album’s tenth anniversary.
The first taste of the upcoming collection, ‘Secret Diary’ gives fans an opportunity to experience their feel good sound in a slightly more organic form. With a bright piano sound lending a brilliant power pop core and a dancing bass thickening up a DIY sound, the track has a really strong core and a melody that never feels a million miles away from ‘Punch’s own ‘Lent’, but as the track plays out, it unveils something even quirkier. There’s something here that occasionally sounds like Ben Folds Five meeting with Barenaked Ladies; at other times, the nods to old style pop sound as if they’re heading for something more in line with the brilliant Portable Radio. It’s definitely the kind of track that’ll remind you – if necessary – that Autoheart have a real knack when it comes to arranging, and the fact that this demo track sounds almost ready to go will certainly make you wonder how a finished version might have turned out.
You can listen to ‘Secret Diary’ in full via the below YouTube embed.
Following the release of ‘Punch Demos’, Autoheart will head out across the US. A full list of tour dates follows the video link.
Autoheart US tour dates:
03/15 – Seattle, WA @ El Corazon
03/17 – Berkeley, CA @ Cornerstone
03/18 – Los Angeles, CA @ Troubadour
03/19 – Mesa, AZ @ The Nile Theatre
03/21 – Denver, CO @ Meow Wolf
03/23 – Ft. Worth, TX @ Tulips
03/25 – Atlanta, GA @ The Loft
03/27 – New York, NY @ Racket
03/28 – Columbus, OH @ A&R Music Bar