Urban Heat Explained

Background:group_or_band
Origin:Austin, Texas, United States
Genre:
Years Active:2019 – present
Label:
Current Members:
  • Jonathan Horstmann
  • Kevin Naquin
  • Paxel Foley

Urban Heat is a post-punk band from Austin, Texas. It consists of frontman Jonathan Horstmann along with Kevin Naquin (beats, synths) and Paxel Foley (bass, synths). Their single "Have You Ever" went viral on TikTok in 2022, and received the 2023 Austin Music Award for Best Song.[3]

History

Horstmann, a native of California, was raised in a conservative Christian family, and had little exposure to popular music growing up.[4] He moved to Austin in his 20s, where he had played in Austin-area punk and indie rock bands. After the birth of his first child in 2019, he began writing songs using synthesizers, so he could write music with headphones on.[5] [6] He had also recently been diagnosed with OCD and bipolar disorder, and become sober after a history of alcohol and drug addiction.[7] Although Horstmann had intended for a solo project, Naquin demanded they collaborate once he heard his demos. Foley was then recruited to play bass. Horstmann was familiar with Naquin and Foley from the Austin indie community: he met Naquin at a video shoot for the musician SORNE, and he and Foley were part of the same group of fixie riders.

The band's progress was halted by the COVID-19 pandemic in Austin, Texas. They were slated to play at the 2020 SXSW festival, which was cancelled. Horstmann took his family to North Carolina to stay with in-laws for three months.[8] Despite the interruption, Urban Heat released six singles before their debut album, Wellness, came out in 2022.The band played at SXSW and the Austin City Limits Music Festival in 2022.[9] [10] In 2023 they played SXSW again,[11] [12] the Cruel World Festival, and toured.[13] [14] [15]

Their album The Tower is planned to release in 2024.

Discography

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Urban Heat . 2024-01-28 . Artoffact Records . en . 2023-11-28 . https://web.archive.org/web/20231128191539/https://artoffact.com/artists/urban-heat/ . live .
  2. Web site: URBAN HEAT — Spaceflight Records . 2024-01-28 . Spaceflight Records . en-US . 2024-01-27 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240127212252/https://spaceflightrecords.com/urban-heat . live .
  3. Web site: Renovitch . James . 2022/2023 Austin Music Awards Winners . 2024-02-02 . Austin Chronicle . en-US.
  4. Web site: Artist of the Month: Urban Heat . 2024-01-28 . KUTX . en-US . July 2022 . 2023-03-28 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230328222122/https://kutx.org/artist-of-the-month/urban-heat/ . live .
  5. Web site: Urban Heat: Could They Be Heroes?. Andy . O'Connor . 2023-05-24. Spin.
  6. Web site: 2022-04-28 . Urban Heat is Synth Pop for the Future . 2024-01-28 . Almost Real Things . en-US . 2024-01-27 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240127212335/https://almostrealthings.com/2022/04/28/urban-heat-is-synth-pop-for-the-future/ . live .
  7. Web site: Urban Heat’s Jonathan Horstmann on Getting Sober for His Kids. Spin. 2023-05-23.
  8. Web site: Schenck . Nick . 2020-10-15 . Austin Synth Trio Urban Heat Looking To Regain Its Momentum . 2024-01-28 . 3rd + Lamar . en-US . 2023-06-07 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230607022459/https://3rdandlamar.com/news/austin-synth-trio-urban-heat-looking-to-regain-its-momentum/ . live .
  9. Web site: Urban Heat . 2024-01-28 . SXSW 2022 Schedule . en . 2022-09-20 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220920030103/https://schedule.sxsw.com/2022/artists/2055927 . live .
  10. Web site: Portillo . Nayeli . 2023-02-10 . Urban Heat's Darkwave Road Map for Uncertain Times . 2024-01-28 . www.austinchronicle.com . en-US . 2024-01-27 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240127212252/https://www.austinchronicle.com/music/2023-02-10/urban-heats-darkwave-road-map-for-uncertain-times/ . live .
  11. Web site: Urban Heat . 2024-01-28 . SXSW 2023 Schedule . en . 2023-09-22 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230922005829/https://schedule.sxsw.com/2023/artists/2066119 . live .
  12. Web site: O'Connor . Andy . 2023-03-16 . Blondshell, Urban Heat Rock SPIN’s Five Worlds Party In Austin . 2024-01-27 . Spin.
  13. News: Rising goth stars Urban Heat slither into Savannah's Lodge of Sorrows. 2023-06-22. Savannah Now. 2024-01-28. 2023-06-22. https://web.archive.org/web/20230622115309/https://www.savannahnow.com/story/entertainment/music/2023/06/22/rising-goth-stars-urban-heat-slither-into-savannahs-lodge-of-sorrows/70335977007/. live. subscription.
  14. Web site: Moyer . Matthew . Austin darkwave trio Urban Heat return to Orlando for a Will's show . 2024-01-28 . Orlando Weekly . en . 2023-12-06 . 2023-12-16 . https://web.archive.org/web/20231216034735/https://www.orlandoweekly.com/music/austin-darkwave-trio-urban-heat-return-to-orlando-for-a-wills-show-35650737 . live .
  15. Web site: Austin’s Urban Heat on transforming post-punk . 2024-01-28 . soundvsystem . en-US . 2023-03-28 . 2023-03-28 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230328184330/https://www.soundvsystem.com/music/post-punk-urban-heat-interview . live .
  16. Web site: EP Review: Urban Heat - Wellness . 2024-01-28 . New Noise Magazine . en-US . 2022-07-29 . Becky . Stephenson . 2023-04-07 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230407010216/https://newnoisemagazine.com/reviews/ep-review-urban-heat-wellness/ . live .
  17. Web site: Urban Heat Unveils ‘Like This’ Video, Announce Sophomore Album. 2023-10-27. Spin. Marisa . Whitaker.