The Head and the Heart: 2025

This  FUV Live session is also available as a podcast, "FUV Live Sessions." We're elevating WFUV's long history of live sessions and interviews via a podcast that you can find on Spotify, Apple Podcasts and Amazon Podcasts. New episodes drop every Monday.

FUV has had a long history with The Head and the Heart, since the release of the the Seattle-born band's self-titled debut back in 2011. Their most recent visit to Studio A marked their fifth time they've traveled to the Bronx for a visit (they also did an additional FUV City Winery gig back in 2016.) A family emergency sadly derailed their headlining Cheer slot last year, but The Head and the Heart have been an important part of FUV's story over the last 15 years.

The Head and the Heart released their sixth studio album, Aperture, in early May and as they told me, they approached making this new album as they did that long-ago debut. All hands were on deck as every current member — Jon Russell (vocals, guitar) Charity Rose Thielen (violin, vocals), Kenny Hensley (piano), Matty Gervais (guitar),  Chris Zasche (bass), and  Tyler Williams (drums) — shared songwriting and production duties.

One of the songs from Aperture has shot straight through my heart as soon as I heard it. "Arrow" features the band's unparalleled harmonies — and a great message about following your own path and trusting yourself. In this latest FUV Live set, they also played another new song from Aperture, "After the Setting Sun," and something from their debut too, "Down in the Valley."

Russell, Thielen, and Williams also told me how "Arrow" has really turned into a mantra for them. They also shared how after 16 years as a band, some things have changed, but some things have stayed the same.  Says Russell: "We're all so much closer these days. Communication is on point."

[Recorded: 10/23/24. Engineered by Jim O'Hara with Renee Majekford, Julia Maling, and Gwen Taylor. Produced by Meghan Suma. Videographers: Adithi Vimalanathan, Stephanie Lane, Therese Burgo, Bella Lipayon, and Olivia Wahlert.]