The Heavy Heavy had been milking the considerable magic of its debut EP, Life And Life Only, for more than two years, so it was reasonable to wonder whether the Brighton, England, duo had anything left in the tank. The universally solid One Of A Kind (ATO) should silence skeptics. At a time when band co-founders Georgie Fuller and William Turner could’ve opted for some outside help, they chose to keep things in-house. Recording nearly all the album at Turner’s studio, they’ve retained just enough of the throwback sheen that made the EP so refreshing without wallowing neck-deep in reverb. If anything, the Stones figure even more prominently in their latest batch of tunes. And there’s a slightly more sinister psychedelic edge that evokes the late-’60s Sunset Strip—a time when the mood swung darker in Los Angeles.
No doubt, the Heavy Heavy takes its craft seriously—and Fuller and Turner are headed back on the road in support of their proper full-length debut. We grabbed a few minutes with Turner as the band prepped for what’s likely to be another touring marathon.
After getting so much mileage out of Life And Life Only, what did you want to do differently on One Of A Kind?
We wanted to incorporate more of the live sound, which is groovier and a bit more bombastic—to pay homage to some of our British influences. That meant having a darker, grittier sound. We also wanted to build on the EP while keeping it in the same world, with a little less Laurel Canyon and more London.
You were on the road for a while touring behind Life And Life Only. How did you get into the right mindset to write and record One Of A Kind?
Some of the tracks had been sitting there for a few years unfinished, which meant we could listen to them on the road and ruminate on how we’d finish them. A lot of the demos were written during lockdown. We were listening to the Rolling Stones’ Goats Head Soup. A lot. That definitely seeped into our consciousness and helped us shape the sounds and atmosphere we wanted to create.
You’ve achieved such a unique sound by handling your own production duties. How was that more of a challenge for a full-length album?
It wasn’t that much more of a challenge. It just meant we had more tracks to play with, which was actually very enjoyable.
After the prolonged success of the EP, it could be difficult to keep the momentum going. What were your main goals when recording One Of A Kind?
Our main goal was to keep the aesthetic of the EP while kicking the door down and making a more powerful statement. We wanted to make the listener dance, feel good and provide fuel for the imagination.
What was the inspiration behind the lead single, “Happiness”?
“Happiness” came out of being stuck in a very cold and dreary gray winter and wanting to get back in the sunshine and on the open road again.
—Hobart Rowland
See the Heavy Heavy live.
