Divided Heaven recently released their new single 1983 from the upcoming album Cold War, due out on 20th July.
Divided Heaven is the brainchild of Jeff Berman—a singer/songwriter who started out in various punk and hardcore bands along the East Coast in the mid ‘90s. After moving to Los Angeles in 2009, Berman formed Divided Heaven and released their debut album A Rival City in 2011 and its follow-up album Youngblood in 2014. Following this, Divided Heaven toured America, Europe and Asia, took part in the Vans Warped Tour, and supported everyone from Less Than Jake and Anti-Flag to Sundowner and Jonah Montranga.
Cold War was Produced by Charlie Stavish (Ryan Adams, Jenny Lewis, Butch Walker, La Sera) and displays the band’s softer, more contemplative side. Check out 1983 below!
We caught up with Jeff as he talked about their latest single, upcoming album and more!
How has the release of 1983 gone down with fans so far?
Excellent. 1983 is the most vicious song we ever released and it seemed to kinda stun some our fans, which was the point.
Can you tell something about the single no one else knows?
‘1983’ used to be call ‘Wargasm’.
How pumped are you for the release of Cold War?
Extremely pumped! We put our hearts, our tears and our sweat into Cold War. My CD and record collections are riddled with bands that release one record, maybe two records, but never get to 3. Alot bands don’t get as far as 3 records. To see Divided Heaven grow into what it has become is really special and significant for myself and my bandmates. We put pressure on ourselves to make a great record and to make a different record from our previous two (2011’s A Rival City & 2014’s Youngblood). At times, that pressure mounted and was quite difficult to overcome. Seeing Cold War come to life is really special and we’re excite to share it with everyone.
What is your favourite track from the album?
Honestly, it changes everyday. My answer today is ‘Delancey’; a beautifully poetic ode to my former life in in the Lower East Side of New York City. ‘Delancey’ swells with reverb and plays like walk through a critical moment in your life you wish you could relive.
If you could work with any band on a new song, who would it be and why?
I would love to work with two people who–in my opinion–always think outside the box of songwriting and production yet do with simplicity and originality, and who’s respective bands always punched above their weight and set a different standard for their brands of punk rock and rock ‘n roll: Paul Westerberg of The Replacements & Darius Koski of Swingin’ Utters.
Will you be touring at all this year to coincide the release?
Yes, North America and Mexico this Summer (right now), Canada and Europe in the Fall.
What was the first ever gig you went to?
I am from Lancaster, Pennsylvania and our hometown heroes, +LIVE+, performed at F&M College in Lancaster in 1993. That was my first concert.
What do you get up to in your spare time when not working on music?
I wear many hats for work: songwriter, mover, handyman, bartender, etc. I also love to travel with my new wife and enjoy professional wrestling. Shout out to our boy, Sami Zayn–get well soon, bud!