Feature: Augmented Hearts Decodes “Self-Destruction”
What was the creative process like for this particular single?
“Self-Destruction” is actually a song we started over a year ago and stepped away from. We had a full demo, but just weren’t loving the verses. We ended up circling back to it when we began putting together possible song selections for our EP The Weight to be Honest. We completely stripped away all of the original instrumentation, the verse vocals, and started from scratch working around the chorus vocals. In the end, it was still the verses we figured out last, but they finally hit for all of us!
How did you work with the producer or engineers to bring your vision for "Self-Destruction" to life?
We had spent a decent amount of time recording and fine-tuning a self-recorded demo of our ideas for this one due to the rewrite. Sooo, we went into studio with the sections ironed-out, thinking we had a pretty solid idea of how everything would sound in the end... wrong! Our producer, Kevin, who is absolutely fantastic btw, always helps us flourish what we have into something even more amazing and this song was no exception! He and our drummer Robby added the middle section of the song with the ambient strings and piano. That section really makes the song!
What impact do you hope "Self-Destruction" will have on your audience?
As with any of our songs, we hope our listeners get a chance to go on a journey and fall into the world we created for a few minutes. Everyone will have their own interpretation, and we want people to connect to the song in their own way. However, “Self-Destruction” isn’t about a light topic, so for those who feel the journey - we’re right there with you.
The moments when you’re really going through something, overwhelmed and stuck in your own head - having your person or people present there with you, serving as the reminder that you’re not alone and you can get through this - that’s who we aspire to be for our listeners - that person, that reminder, and if needed, an escape.
Can you tell us more about you as a band?
We have one singer (well, one GOOD singer), one guitarist, one bassist, and one drummer. We all choose to make music because it’s what gives meaning to our lives. Working a job, day in and day out, that will most likely never get more interesting than it is already, is the most depressing outcome someone could have with their life. Creating music allows for an escape from the everyday. People want to put you in a box and classify you by a function. That’s why the question “what do you do for a living” is so popular. We’d rather be defined by what we choose to do for fun, and that’s make original songs that don’t sound like anything else!
How do you cope with the vulnerability of sharing your personal emotions and stories through your songs?
This question is interesting! I (Jenny) don’t think I’ve actually thought about being vulnerable or sharing parts of myself (or ourselves) as something I needed to cope with. When it comes down to it, I am comfortable with who I am as a person - there are the good parts, the bad parts, the things I’ve worked on and changed, things I’d still like to improve on - but they’re all part of what makes me, me. And although I’m a work in progress, I like me. I’m not ashamed to admit I’m not perfect. In a world where a lot of people are pretending to be something they’re not, it just gets exhausting. We want to be a space for people to be real and who they are.
