NY-based indie pop/rock band Here’s To You recently released their brand new EP, ‘Wonder/Wander: Phase I’.
The EP serves as one out of three to be released throughout 2019, ultimately leading up to the reveal of their new LP, ‘Wonder/Wander,’ due out later in the year. The three EPs, which they have coined ‘Phases’, are the result of three plus years in the studio, creating a body of work that represents the band’s current synergy. Phase I’s tracks create a diverse collection, while also maintaining what built Here’s To You nearly ten years ago. Their first music released since 2015, Here’s To You have given their groovy indie rock sound a refreshing update and expanding their craft. Their signature sound is still present – the lead single “Burning Alive” is built around HTY’s meticulous guitar work, crisp vocals, and quality tones – but in 2019, their musicianship has matured. It’s impossible to not be curious about Here’s To You’s future releases; they are back, they are here, and the band is ready to unravel what they’ve been keeping a secret.
After playing together for almost a decade now, NY-based, indie pop/rock outfit Here’s To You are finally making a return with their sophomore LP, Wonder/Wander. Formed back in 2009 while still in high school, Charlie Giovanniello (Lead Vocals, Guitar), Stephan Stanzione (Drums, Vocals) and Greg Almeida (Guitar, Vocals) self-released their debut album Love Me Or Leave Me, inspired by their high school experiences. After playing hundreds of shows across the eastern seaboard, playing The Bamboozle Festival, South By Southwest Festival, and multiple shows with Atlantic Records artist Cash Cash, the group managed to garner a tight following. In 2016, the missing piece of HTY, Mike Fenimore (Bass, Vocals), was found to finally complete the group’s lineup. After spending the past three years writing, recording, rehearsing, and honing in on a fresh, updated sound, the band has used their experiences of growing up and falling in and out of love in the modern-digital age as the main set piece for Wonder/Wander. Every single rhythm, chord, and melody on Wonder/Wander has been carefully crafted, recorded, altered, and subsequently re-recorded, until each member of the band was satisfied with the final product. It’s the band’s attention to detail and meticulous songwriting on Wonder/Wander that will be sure to excite fans both old and new. Check out the band’s latest EP below!
We managed to catch up with the band as they talked about their latest EP and more!
So how has the initial release of your EP Wonder/Wander: Phase I gone down so far?
Stephan: It’s been incredibly satisfying just to finally have new music out in the world. Everyone’s reactions, from both old and new fans, has been super positive and uplifting without a doubt.
Greg: Not to toot our own horn here, but no one has had anything negative to say about the music so far. I would appreciate constructive criticism though; that’s always cool.
Charlie: Very exciting. I find myself listening to Phase 1 regularly partly because I’m proud and also because I love the songs! I’ve been getting some great feedback from friends and family about it and the love we’ve been getting on social media is super awesome.
Mike: I’ve been listening to Phase I non-stop since its release. We’re all definitely really proud of all of the hard work and time that we’ve poured into this batch, especially since it contains some of the oldest songs off of Wonder/Wander.
What is your favourite track from the EP?
Stephan: I think I would have to go with An Alliance. I’m probably a little bias because, as opposed to the other 3 songs, this one was recorded relatively recently, so hearing it come to life is still super fresh and exhilarating for me!
Greg: I would never be able to choose that because I have a track for each emotion honestly, and I go through waves of them. I will say that writing Drive/Burning Alive really got stuff going on this record, so I have a deep love for those songs’ place in time.
Charlie: I would have to say Burning Alive just because it relates to me the most emotionally. Also, the fact that it was the first one that we wrote for the album, which helped pave the way sonically for the rest of the album.
Mike: It’s definitely Drive for me. At the end of the day, it’s just a really cool song. It has such a literal “driving” groove to it and it just opens up Phase I with such a cool sonic atmosphere.
Can you tell us something about the EP no one else knows?
Stephan: Drive, Burning Alive, and Don’t Remember Me were recorded in the Summer of 2017, whilst An Alliance was just recently recorded within the past 6-8 months.
Greg: I appreciate the directness of this question. Here’s something else; the order of the tracklist isn’t necessarily how it will be on the album. For instance, track 3 might not be track 3 on the full “Wonder/Wander”. We tried to place each song properly in context when making the Phases.
Charlie: When recording vocals for Don’t Remember Me, the band constantly made fun of how I sang the lyric “dial tone” (in verse 2), and it took several takes to get that right because I couldn’t hold my laughter when it came to singing that part.
Mike: This is one of the coolest questions we’ve received thus far. When we were recording Drive, Stephan had a weird take in the bridge of the song where he hit the snare on the most random beats we could think of. Somehow we totally missed that while editing the drums, and it was there when I tracked bass the following day. We thought it was the coolest thing, so I matched the hits and we made a new part out of something that was originally unintentional.
Will there be a Phase II released this year?
Stephan: Most definitely 😉
Greg: And Phase III.
Charlie: 100 %
Mike: 110%! Had to top Charlie.
If you could work with any band on a new song, who would it be and why?
Stephan: Vulfpeck, so we can usher in the new era of HTY’s funk phase.
Greg: That’d be nuts – I back it. Also: Carly Rae Jepsen.
Charlie: Skrillex because he always finds ways to make each of his productions so unique. Even though it’s not our style of music, I think the mesh would be super interesting!
Mike: A song with Zedd would be really cool. His production is just ridiculously clean and he uses some of the coolest sounds. Or maybe Panic! At The Disco? Or both. We’re making a super band now, guys.
Will you be touring in 2019 at all?
Greg: We will definitely try to play at some point. Just making sure it’s right when we do.
Stephan: Stay tuned!
Charlie: We would love to. It’s tough to see that far into the future though especially with everyone’s crazy schedules.
Mike: I really hope the opportunity comes our way.
What do you all get up to in your spare time?
Greg: I work on music for many different projects, I play lots of video games, I also just try to go out and enjoy the earth and what life has to offer. I feel like the more out and about you are the more your brain can process stuff. Traveling will really make you wonder.
Stephan: Collecting vinyls, attempting to improve myself as a human, travelling, always trying to create something, and more!
Charlie: I like to travel with my girlfriend, produce electronic music, and read business and philosophy books!
Mike: I’m always trying to write a new song, binge watch a show or two on Netflix, and read for school.