INTERVIEW: Pop Punk from heavy on the heart.

Hailing from Long Island, New York, heavy on the heart. is a melodic rock band fuelled by the raw energy and unapologetic spirit of four talented musicians who are determined to carve their own path. Comprising the talents of singer Nikki Brady, guitarist Costas Themistocleous, drummer Nick Kolokathis and bassist Andrew Nicolae, heavy on the heart. channels a dynamic range of influences, drawing inspiration from the likes of Third Eye Blind, The Dangerous Summer and Blink-182. Their music embodies a unique blend of soulful melodies, resonant lyrics and a driving rhythm that captures the essence of their alternative rock and pop rock inspirations.

The journey of heavy on the heart. began to take shape in the summer of 2021, when Nikki and Costas embarked on a collaborative musical endeavour after the disbandment of Costas’ former outfit, PRSNA. Fuelled by their shared passion for creating compelling music, they soon found a kindred spirit in drummer Nick Kolokathis and later, bassist Andrew Nicolae joined the fold in October 2022, completing the quartet. With their formation solidified, the band wasted no time in making their mark on the music scene.

Since their electrifying live debut in January 2023 and the release of their debut single, “Mr. Know It All,” in April of the same year, heavy on the heart. has been steadily building a dedicated following with their distinctive brand of alternative rock. Driven by their relentless determination, they’ve swiftly turned heads and captured the attention of listeners around the globe. Their music resonates with an authenticity that speaks to the universal human experience, and their dedication to their sonic vision shines bright in every note they play.

Now the band unveils their highly anticipated sophomore single, “Not Now, Love.” Produced and recorded under the expert guidance of Gary Cioni at Sound Acres Recording Studio, the track perfectly captures the band’s evolution and growth. As the song unfolds, Nikki Brady’s compelling vocals take the lead, weaving a narrative of unrequited emotions and untapped connections. The opening notes, adorned with softly crunching guitar riffs, gradually build in intensity, setting the stage for a burst of energy propelled by Nick Kolokathis’ driving drum beats and the distorted guitars. The result is an irresistibly catchy pop punk anthem that exudes vibrant energy and embodies the spirit of modern punk pop.

The accompanying music video for “Not Now, Love” adds a visual dimension to the song, capturing the band’s dynamic live performance against a backdrop of vibrant colours and personal home recording footage. This visual complement enhances the song’s emotional depth, offering an immersive experience that amplifies its impact. Beneath the infectious melodies and energetic instrumentation lies a poignant story of two souls grappling with a magnetic yet untapped connection.

As heavy on the heart. continues to make their mark on the music world, their journey shows no signs of slowing down. The band’s upcoming festival appearances and live shows, including their hometown Munoz-Stock in September, are poised to confirm their reputation as a captivating live act. Furthermore, with plans to return to Sound Acres Recording Studio to begin production on their debut full-length album in September, heavy on the heart. is primed to embark on the next exciting chapter of their musical odyssey.

We caught up with heavy on the heart. to find out more about their musical journey so far, their new single “Not Now, Love” and what they’ve got lined up for the future. Check out our interview with heavy on the heart. below.

How did you get together as a band?

Nikki: Back in 2020 Costas and I started working together when I reach out to him to help me out together a song. I fell in love with the process of making music and being able to sing again. During the summer of 2021 Costas’ band that he had been a part of for many years had abruptly come to an end, and I had front row seats to how that unfolded. While we worked on my solo project I thought it would be fun to be a part of something bigger and convinced Costas starting another band would be fun. We started working around the clock getting things together, I ended up going on maternity leave and leaving finding the rest of the band to Costas while I raised my son. I came back and had had found our missing pieces; Nick and Andrew. Thank god be believed in me because here we are today!

Which artists do you draw most inspiration from today?

Costas: Honestly, I draw inspiration off of so many different artists ranging from a variety of genres. I was in Vegas back in March and I had the pleasure of seeing Luke Bryan at a 5000 cap theatre and I was completely blown away by the performance, the show & the overall experience. There was plenty of elements from that I have brought over to this band on a smaller scale level. I love adding intros, outs & interludes within our sets & I am constantly referring to other artists & bands while writing & in the studio. Some artists I draw heavy inspiration from are Third Eye Blind, The Dangerous Summer, Dear & The Headlights, As Tall As Lions, Hot Mulligan & Blink-182.

How else do you find inspiration for your music?

Costas: I tend to draw a lot of inspiration from past experiences, feelings & emotion. When I wrote I tend to think how does this riff or phrase make me feel. What emotion does it spark? Where does it bring me back to? Then I try my best to translate it out through melody and words.

What do you love about your local music scene?

Costas: I have a very love hate relationship with my local scene, haha. Most recently it seems that cover bands or tribute bands is the new fad and they continuously sprout like the plague. I have no issue with people paying homage to their idols, but I think it has a drastic negative affect on original music and the local scene. I think venues are getting too comfortable paying these acts big bucks while they shut the door on talented original music. We should be showcasing the raw & natural talent our home has to offer. Long Island, especially has been home to such incredible musicians & bands. Billy Joel, Mariah Carey, As Tall As Lions, Taking Back Sunday, Brand New & that list goes on. We should be showcasing the freshman classes and not inhibiting them.

Another thing about our scene is it is very gate kept. Friends helping friends. Rub my back and I will rub yours. It is inhibiting to less known talented acts who deserve to be seen and heard. I feel the reason Long Island music scene hasn’t grown at the level it once has or has been custom to is because of this. There’s only so many showcases you can present with the same 10-15 bands recycling. Rinse, repeat. Fortunately, there are some promoters, venues & individuals trying to change that. I support and respect the hell out of them for it. It is certainly not easy. But one thing I believe is it will rebound. We will get back to the glory days again in a more modern way.

What would you say is the perfect setting for listeners to enjoy your sound?

Costas: Honestly, I never thought about this, haha. I love listening to music in my car. I love long drives and getting lost into whatever I am listening to. Whether it be us or anyone else, I think people should listen to music where they want. I think people should listen to music in a space where they could learn and understand where that artist is coming from. What they are trying to portray. What they are trying to get off their chest. Otherwise, people should listen to music where they have been already.

How has your own style and sound evolved since you started out?

Nikki: My style has drastically changed over the course of being in this band. Our EP that is going to drop later this year we recorded two years ago and i listen back and it was my first time ever really recording music, I needed to break out of my shell. After performing live and continued practice with the band i have definitely broken out of that shell and found my “voice “. I love the rasp and growl that I have found and the power I didn’t know existed. I have much more to learn and more growth but that’s the fun, finding yourself through music is magical.

How did you find making your new single “Not Now, Love”?

Costas: The making of “Not Now, Love” was fun. We hit Sound Acres Recording Studio with producer Gary Cioni (Free Throw, Hot Mulligan, Kayak Jones, Moose Creek Park) in April 2023. In the course of 2 days, we ran pre-production, tracking & initial mixing. That was quite an experience, haha. In my experience, typically it takes a little longer than 2 days to complete a song. But I trust Gary and I trust my bandmates. Not going to lie, at the beginning of day 2, I was worried we wouldn’t finish. But as the day went on and more progress was made, I realised we had it in the bag! I was stoked to see this song come to life in such a short period of time.

How was it making the music video?

Nikki: This music video was really fun to make. Our individual shots are always fun. We added some videos we all took together. You get to step into our lives together as a band as you see we traveled to Florida together to write music and step out of our comfort zone. We showed a glimpse into our friendship together and the process of how we make music. It’s very personal and raw.

What artist have you been listening to most recently?

Nikki: I have been listening to a lot of Third Eye Blind and The Dangerous Summer. Costas comes up with a lot of the melodies to our music and I wanted to learn more about who he draws his inspiration from and get into his head more.

What’s the main thing you want people to get out of listening to your music?

Nikki: Honestly, I would love for people to realise they aren’t alone. We all go through very similar things in life. We aren’t a band that writes about money and drugs and non relatable things. (Which most music is now a days). We have very relatable music and topics that everyone can relate to. Love, loss, hurt, happy.

What’s been your favourite live performance so far?

Nikki: It’s hard to pick one single performance, I’d have to say two stand out to me. Our debut performance because it was incredible to see all of our hard work finally come to light. We had an incredible crowd and the energy that night was immaculate. We also performed at the Jones Beach Bandshell, that night was actually the second set of our first time playing twice in one day. We knocked it out of the park. We vibe off one another like never before. The crowd. The performance. The energy. The venue. It was all perfect.

Who would be 3 artists to headline your dream festival? And where would it be?

Costas: blink-182, Against Me! & Third Eye Blind. Honestly it could be anywhere as long as we are on that bill, haha.

Do you have any advice for a new artist wanting to follow your footsteps?

Nikki: Find bandmates that you trust, love and feel supported by. Find a family. And just get out there and do it. Know that it takes A lot of time and energy. But it’s worth it. Have fun and just go for it.

Finally, what do you have lined up for the rest of 2023?

Costas: Our debut EP “It’s You That Needs To Think” will be coming out this Fall. We will be announcing more in the following weeks.

We’re heading back to Sound Acres Recording Studio in September to begin production on a full length record.

We have numerous shows and small runs we will be doing before we head out on a full U.S. run this January.
8/27 – Jimmy’s Summer Fest – Kearny, NJ
9/8 – Teaneck, NJ
9/23 – Munoz Stock – Huntington, NY
10/12 – Leesta Vall Direct To Vinyl Session which you can pre-order here.

Watch the music video for Not Now, Love below