Project Description

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Interview with
DONNI HEAT

(18th May 2022)

Interview by Dave Bruce

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Have you always wanted to be a musician? When did you get the song writing bug?
Always. From the moment I picked up the drum sticks at age 10, I was hooked. I did not know I’d be in this deep!! It’s all I do now, if I’m not working or sleeping, I’m playing an instrument or writing lyrics. I grew up admiring poetry and I wrote lots of fictional stories growing up, but I started properly song-writing when I started learning how to sing back in 2012. I self-taught myself a couple guitar chords and went at it, haven’t stopped since. From that moment, I became more than just a drummer-I was becoming a versatile and multi-faceted musician.

How would you describe your sound? Why do you think people resonate with your music?
I’m very in-tune with ways to get my music feeling nostalgic, and I think that’s why people resonate with the stuff I produce…’cause it reminds them of the early 2000s, but blended nicely with today’s popular sounds. I never want to take away the hard-hitting punk-style drums and gritty rhythm guitars. That’s the stuff my friends and I grew up listening to for the last 20 odd years, and it works! When writing, I’m always thinking, “how would Travis Barker write drums for this?” or “how would Patrick Stump sing this line?”. It all flows out nicely once I can envision how things are going to be played by such people, and I feel like listeners will appreciate that once they hear the songs. I want my people to listen to a track of mine and go, “dude, those drums sound huge, did Travis Barker play on your record!?” – that’s the vibe I want to bring, a familiarity blended with a new sound from today’s emo-pop music.

Which artist’s music and/or performance, past or present, inspires you today?
Like I said, I grew up on early 2000s Emo/Pop-Punk and Rock music like Fall Out Boy, Paramore, MCR, Panic! At The Disco, and later found out it’s not just a phase, it’s a whole lifestyle haha! I’ve also been listening to a lot of Blackbear, Machine Gun Kelly, and Yungblud to name a few current artists, so my sound has developed into this new-wave/post-punk style that I think many will enjoy. Performance-wise, I watch so many YouTube videos, observing front-men on stage to emulate their stage presence. The main people would be Freddie Mercury, Michael Jackson, Brendon Urie, and Yungblud. Insane energies. Donni Heat will have the same for a live show, don’t you worry.

Your debut single ‘Stay’ has just been released! Describe its origin and evolution.
Heck yeah, FINALLY! Well, ‘Stay’ was written in late 2021 when I was struggling with my motivation to make music due to some personal reasons. My best mate Jay came over, and literally forced me to write about something real, and I told him about another mate’s relationship that was going south-and he told me to write like I was in his shoes. When you’re pressured to do anything, you can make some killer stuff happen. Thankfully Jay stayed for hours and we pretty much knuckled out the basis of the song. I took it into my mate Jethro’s studio not long after and the rest they say is history! A couple of my mates hopped on it and recorded, and that’s what I want to do with all of the songs-collaboration is key. I honestly want the song to speak for itself, so go stream it!

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Is there an EP or Album on the drawing board?
At this point no, mainly because I’m still experimenting sonically. I want to release a few more singles that will showcase some more versatility that I know I’m capable of before I develop a record based around a theme or a sonic style. The next single is already in the works though, and it’s going to be just as energetic as ‘Stay’, if not more.

Any tours or events coming up soon? What are you looking forward to, and what can the fans expect?
Would love to try and book some shows in the near future, absolutely. I have so many friends I’ve promised to play alongside, and when that time comes, people can expect some killer nights filled with talented performers and fire-work performances. I’m just looking forward to jumping on stage again. I’m just a quiet little boy off-stage, hiding in the shadows and waiting for my time haha! In terms of a tour, I’d love to celebrate some kind of EP/Album release with a nation-wide tour later down the track. Would be an amazing way to celebrate it’s release.

How has COVID affected you to date? What have you introduced to balance the losses from missed events?
Don’t get me bloody started. I’m sure I can speak on the behalf of so many up-and-coming musos, it was whack. No shows, no dancing, live music was literally non-existent so many artists like myself had to do online live-streams and play to audiences via the web, which was just not the same of course. But now that I’ve been doing it for the last year or so, it feels normal. It’s a fun way to gain new viewers, make a little income, and have fun doing what I love from home. But the amount of shows I’ve missed out on; I’m going to try and play double the amount when I get back out there!

If you could perform with any music artist, Alive or Dead, who would you choose? And why?
Aw man. So many possibilities. I won’t pick dead because that’s literally just dreaming of it, so I’ll say Brendon Urie of Panic! At The Disco. I’ve seen him perform live, skipped work for that and it was truly worth every penny. The man’s a performer to the nines. He has the musicality, stage presence, personality, and is the whole package, much like a Freddie Mercury of today, and I’d love to share the stage with him for a few songs…may happen one day, let’s see hah!

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Do you have any long-term aspirations as a music artist?
Tour Tour Tour! My goal is to play a circuit around Adelaide, then take it national, and ultimately start booking for Europe, America, Asia, and more. That’s all I want to do, and that’s what I’ll set my heart out to do. Make some memories, travelling, and doing what I love, and that’s inspiring others through my art and saying hello to my people.

What is the best thing about performing to a live audience? What’s been the career highlight so far?
The energy in the room. The voices singing back to you. The sweat in your eye as you mosh. I can’t decide!! From the stage looking down into the crowd, I love that feeling so much because everyone is there to witness your performance. I had the amazing opportunity to perform nostalgic music with the band ‘it’s not a phase!’ at the Adelaide Fringe of 2022, and that was definitely a moment I’ll never forget. I hadn’t played a show for 2 years, so you can imagine I went all-out. My neck felt like snapping the next day, and my knees looked like the night sky, but I’d do it all over again!

Finally, a few questions for some quick answers –
FAVOURITE:
Album – Can’t pick an all-time fave. Current fave is ‘Pray For The Wicked’ – Panic! At The Disco Artist – Brendon Urie
Movie – Bohemian Rhapsody is a great one. So is Whiplash.
Venue to play – Haha, the Crown and Anchor is always fun and rowdy! It was my stomping ground for a time.
Food – Can’t go past a good steak. Medium-rare!!
Drink – Coffee is my life-blood
Person in History – Martin Luther King Jr.
Tattoo – (If you don’t have one, what would you get?) I don’t have one yet as I’m quite impulsive and indecisive…But probably something to represent my parents, keep them with me forever.

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Follow DONNI HEAT
Instagram – Facebook

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AMNPLIFY – DB

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Press Release 18th May 2022 (below)

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AMNPLIFY – DB