The project of 23-year-old Heath Michael Thomas, Heathers will release his debut album, Awesome, on October 30, arriving alongside the new single “I Believe in You,” which premiered on Apple Music 1.
The track follows two early introductions to the project: the anthemic “Bite” and the disorienting power-pop rush of “Drive/Park,” which landed on Pitchfork’s Selects. Across Awesome, Thomas delivers hook-heavy garage rock that’s as melodic as it is loud—songs that practically jump out of the speakers.
“I write about what makes me angry, because it’s what makes me human,” Thomas says.
“I Believe in You” takes a softer, more personal angle. Written about Thomas’ girlfriend, a speech-language pathologist, the song celebrates her belief in him while recognizing the demanding work she does. As Thomas puts it, her job requires “ten times more work” than his.
The road to Awesome began in Cape Girardeau, Missouri, where Thomas started making music at 11 using his father’s guitars and home-recording setup. After playing in bands throughout high school, he turned his attention to Heathers, a name inspired by both a Surf Curse song and the cult teen black comedy Heathers.
Thomas recorded much of the project at home, but brought in engineer Lars Stalfors (Wisp, The Mars Volta) to help shape Awesome. The goal wasn’t polish for polish’s sake—it was to make the songs hit harder without sanding away their raw edges.
“He did a good job not making it all sound too shiny,” Thomas says. “I wanted people to hear what these songs sounded like when I first put them to tape.”
With Awesome, they’re going to.
Upcoming Live Dates:
8/29 – Los Angeles @ Echo Park Rising
