Humans don’t seem to tire of expressing love. With flowers blooming and hearts exploding this springtime, Texas dream-pop band Acid Wave are giving us their own spin on that age-old feeling. Their newest album, heart2heart, explores love and all the forms it can take.
Drummer/vocalist and songwriter Audrey Villalobos began writing the songs for heart2heart during a move to Oklahoma that took her away from the band’s homebase for a short while. Keyboardist/vocalist Jet Gil-Robert, guitarist/vocalist Eva Vasquez, bassist/vocalist Isanette Olivarez, and drummer/vocalist Mary Moreck remained in El Paso, but this didn’t slow down the band’s collaborative spirit. Working remotely for several years, the band managed to slowly put the pieces together. Their 2020 record Love Trauma introduced the world to their gleaming choruses and shimmering guitar textures. With heart2heart, Villalobos wanted to create an album of songs inspired by her partner.
Today Glide is offering an exclusive early listen to the album ahead of its official release on Friday, May 5th.
The album’s opener “New to Me” is just under two minutes, but it’s chock full of everything Acid Wave does so well. Gorgeous melodies stand like tall trees amongst a grassland of vocal, guitar, and synth textures. The repeated phrase “I don’t want to lose this” speaks to the way new love can bring out obsession in us so easily. “Everything and Nothing” sounds like a perfect blend of Cocteau Twins and The Pains of Being Pure at Heart. Groover “Summer Moon” features sustained fuzzy guitar leads, showing the band’s ability to play with texture and still make overdriven signal sound lush.
“Blushing” was released as an early single, and it’s apparent why. On an album chock full of hits, it’s a standout. Its melody will be stuck in your head, and it’s cascading and swirling layers of sound ebb and flow so naturally. On “Basement of My Brain,” Villalobos sings, “I need to rediscover my own guiding light.” While it’s easy to think of love as an action or feeling directed at others, this song points to the importance of self-love in a world that continually pushes self-loathing. This summer, it’s okay to be comfortable in our own skin.
There’s so much more I could talk about on this record. Villalobos is able to capture the way that humans tend to ruminate and fixate on things so well in her repetition of lines; it imbues the songs with this sense of longing. The band is able to match those feelings sonically and give us a gorgeous collection of songs. heart2heart shows growth for a band that was already writing incredible, moody pop music. Incredible things are on the way for this band.
Listen to heart2heart below and stick around for an exclusive interview…
heart2heart feels like a Springtime record to me. It reminds me sonically of flowers opening up and color returning to the world. Did y’all always plan to release it in Springtime?
Audrey: Although we didn’t plan on a specific date or season, it’s cool how art reveals itself at the right time and place. I feel like we recorded and prepared for the album – perfect timing for the spring and summer time! Thinking back on it, I met my current partner in the spring/summer and most of the tracks on this album are about her so I think it was meant to be!
Y’all worked on this record from a distance. Did the miles between members influence the sound of the record?
Audrey: It definitely did! I wrote the demo tracks back home in OKC by myself and when we were all in the studio, the girls and Ross helped bring the sound I was picturing for the songs in my head to life.
This is an album of songs about connection. Do you think that music is a good vehicle for exploring vulnerability and openness?
Audrey: Yes, definitely!! Whether you’re making or listening to music, I believe it’s a form of communication. For example, hearing a song that reminds you of someone and sending it to them. Or saying something in a song you find it hard to say in plain words, it’s a way to express yourself.
What was the workflow like at Brainville? Did the New Mexico horizon have any influence on the songs?
Audrey: Now that I think about it, it really did. Especially the drive home after spending the day recording. It’s a long drive from Brainville to my house, so I would use that time just reflecting on what we did that day.
Does the band have a collective favorite song from heart2heart? Or, does everyone have their own individual favorites?
Audrey: Everyone has their own favorites but “Everything and Nothing” is in everyone’s top 3!
Do y’all plan to tour on these songs?
Audrey: Yes, we do! We’re actually going on a Texas Tour in May and will be performing songs from the new album!
Dates down below:
May 19th – El Paso, TX at Whole Lota Denim
May 20th – Marfa, TX at Planet Marfa
May 21st – Denton, TX at Rubber Gloves
May 24th – Houston, TX at The Compound
May 25th – Houston, TX at 1810 Ojeman
May 26th – San Antonio, TX at Snake Hill Social Club
May 27th – Austin, TX at Electric Church
3 Responses
Omg finally! I can’t tell you how much I love this album!
This is Justin from Acid Wave’s label, Hogar Records. We’re so glad you’re loving the album – thank you!
I LOVE ACID WAVE!