Hearts and Rockets
Hearts and Rockets (formerly known as Heat Wave) is the Naarm-based bratwave duo of Kalindy Williams and Kurt Eckardt.
Hearts and Rockets are not only known for their tongue-in-cheek and not-so-subtle stabs at society, and their cheeky pop culture references, but also for their clever self-produced (but pro af) video clips.
Hearts and Rockets have not only garnered the attention of triple j, double j and rage, but are heavily supported on community radio across the country. They’ve been granted Album of the Week on PBS, SYN, 4ZZZ and EDGE, and have seen regular plays across 3RRR (playing five live to air sets across the years), FBi, 2SER, SYN, Radio Adelaide, RTR, 3CR, 2XX and many more.
They’ve shared a stage with the likes of X, Screaming Females, Moody Beaches, Shepparton Airplane, Pinch Points, Cable Ties, Lazertits, A. Swayze and the Ghosts, Dream Can (China), Bench Press, Slag Queens, SaD, Cry Club, Mere Women, Cong Josie, Penny Ikinger, Tactics, Michael Beach, Hexdebt, MOD CON, V, HEX (NZ) and all your favourite local bands. Kurt and Kalindy have also played at Leaps and Bounds Music Festival, Brunswick Music Festival, Bush Festival, King Street Crawl and more.
Find out more on Facebook / Instagram / YouTube / Bandcamp / Spotify / Apple Music / Soundcloud
Some press for Hearts and Rockets (FKA as Heat Wave):
Weirdo Wasteland (16/05/17)
"It’s a soundtrack of synth-heavy party punk that laughs at the futility of it all – made by a band that is choosing to face the world, lumps and all, with a sneer and a playlist of jams fit to dance to."
Matthew Lynch, 4ZZZ (15/05/17)
"If there were a dance party that snapped Daria Morgendorffer out of her anti-everything mood and on to the dancefloor, Heat Wave would have to be on the bill."
Hi-Tec Emotions, Purple Sneakers (02/02/17)
"Kalindy and Kurt from Heat Wave are the nicest people who make the funnest music. Dead End Town pulls you in with a catchy bassline that crumples into extreme distortion during the chorus, the synth feels like The B52s, but bleak, and the beats ensure this ode to hopelessness is a dance hit.”
Brendan Telford, Sonic Masala (25/11/16)
"The staccato drum machine, the Theremin-like whine, the bottomed out bass - it's a post-punk Heat Wave! Kurt Eckhardt (Astral Skulls) and photographer Kallindy Williams join forces to shine a sordid glow on the shadows of Australian inertia and hardwired desperation. Their album is called Dead Beats, so yeah, outlook is pretty grim. But with tracks like 'Dead End Town' at least the Apocalypse can be danced to."
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Deadpress (19/11/16)
"Restless Aussie rockers Heat Wave have now released a video to accompany their single ‘Dead End Town’. The song, which comes from the punk band’s forthcoming debut album ‘Dead Beats’, tackles the monotony that even Australians face in every day life..."
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Gen Fricker, JJJ 17/11/16)
"It's like Le Tigre got left out on the deck over a hot Australian summer. Love the spooky fun vibes."
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Monique Myintoo, Noisey (14/11/16)
"Gritty and poised, Heat Wave could best be understood as a byproduct of restlessness. Coming together in one of Brisbane's hottest summers, Kalindy Williams and Kurt Eckardt soon moved to Melbourne where the concept behind the band was simple: a single drum machine, synth and bass guitar, fledged alongside call-end-response vocals that tip into a hot, heavy boiling point.
"Focusing their energies into a mix of synth pop, punk and doo-wop, the duo found themselves writing about horror movies, strange houses, and Kalindy's day-to-day experiences on staying safe in the streets. Celebrated as the summer-goth-party band the Australian punk scene has been waiting for, "Dead End Town" is the first single off their debut record Dead Beats, due for release digitally and on cassette in February 2017..."
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Dave Ruby Howe, JJJ (02/11/2016)
"You make the town in this song sound so shit but if you're there then I'm coming too."
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