You need to hear Heartworms, the fearless new voice of British post-punk

For those already familiar with Heartworms and their gothic post-punk sound, it might be hard to believe they were as influenced by Plain White T as The Cure. “I had a boyfriend, so I took a year off,” Heartworms musician Jojo Orme recalls with a laugh. “I had no choice but to teach myself how to play the guitar, so I ended up learning “Hey There Delilah.” From that moment on, I knew in my heart that it was what I wanted to do. “

Despite having such a controlled musical and aesthetic style, there is a vulnerability at Heartworms’ core. Within minutes of the interview starting, Orme happily spent her childhood with me. He was born in London and raised in Cheltenham. She remembers this town fondly, “not because of the people, but because of the scenery.” Due to her strained relationship with her mother, she left home when she was still a teenager. Over the next few years, Orme hit her friend’s couch at her YMCA and briefly became her foster mother. In doing so, she says she has found a space to develop her craft, which she says is now settled in south London, and her move to the capital has been a rewarding one. . Especially since getting a volunteer gig at the Royal Air Force Museum allowed her to indulge her passion for military history.

her first two singles,Consistent dedication and “A terrible life’s retribution”Heartworms have announced themselves as an exciting new voice in the UK post-punk scene, with her debut EP comfort concept was released last week Through Speedy Wunderground. It’s been an exciting time for Orme and thankfully she can now share it with her mother. “My mother and I are very similar and I think she respects me more when I’m not living with her,” she explains. I am very happy to see you, and that is beautiful.”

Ahead of the release of their debut EP, Heartworms talks to Dazed about using music as therapy, her military-inspired fascination, and her strange obsession with Hasbulla.

in the music video forA terrible life retribution ”, You are dragging through mud and icy water. What made you and your audience suffer with your music?

Heartworm: It’s a kind of therapy for me. I was scared of it and I wanted to get over it. I wanted to prove to myself that I could do it and I thought it would be cathartic. lots of things going on. The lyrics are very vulnerable. There is one lyric in particular – “I hear that when you’re young, decisions aren’t fun / You run away from your worrying fears” – I like it because it is very fragile. We are all scared of something. We fear that something is always lurking behind us. I want people to feel that through music. It’s such an important song for me. The whole EP is very important to me because there is no filter.

Your musical influences are very eclectic. You mention Interpol, Kraftwerk, and PJ Harvey as touchstones, but what else do you look to?

Heartworm: My mother has a great sense of music, is into Prince, and helped me discover bands like Fleetwood Mac and Santana. She doesn’t know who PJ Harvey is.

As a teenager, I was desperate to discover new music. It might sound silly, but I used to search YouTube for ‘cool indie bands’. That’s how I discovered The Shins and they were very important to me.James Mercer opened up a different lyrical world for me. I realized that he could write lyrics that were dark and beautiful and so witty, that made me a better lyricist.

How important is style to you as a performer?

Heartworm: I knew that even before I thought about making a heartworm. We knew it was very important to have a style that people would remember. Because I admired artists like Prince who did just that. Looking at them, I knew I must have felt how powerful they were.I like to make people feel the joy I feel.

And now that style is military uniform. Why did you choose it for your look? So what are you trying to say?

Heartworm: I wanted to build the aesthetic pretty early on and control it while darkening it. I was always interested in aviation and military history, so that inspired me. I love how tailoring makes someone look so strong. I think it excites people. Seeing me on stage in it makes me uncomfortable, but I can’t take my eyes off it.Bands like The Clash have had a huge impact on me.

You love poetry, how did that influence your lyrics?

Heartworm: I started poetry quite late, but I love Pound, Keats and Dylan Thomas. It taught me a whole new way of putting my feelings and experiences into words. It can be so dark and so beautiful. I don’t know poetry as much as other people, but I do know that when you read poetry, you feel the need to express yourself.

What poems should people read now that they have gone away?

Heartworm: “The Funeral by Peter Redgrove.

‘I wanted to build the aesthetic pretty early on and control it while darkening it. I was always interested in aviation and military history, so that inspired me. I love how tailoring can make someone look so strong.” – Heartworms

When did you first realize the power of good music?

Heartworm: wasWhen we traveled somewhere, my mom played Celine Dion’s “I’m Alive” to me. I kept repeating myself while pretending I didn’t really like it. But obviously, I love it and that’s when I discovered the emotion.

Would you like to record the soundtrack for Rishi Sunak’s next campaign for £10,000?

Heartworm: yes. All recorded with glockenspiel.

What’s the worst advice ever given?

Heartworm: listen to your parents.

What’s your weirdest internet obsession?

Heartworm: Matty Healy and Hasbra. Both are sex symbols.

What conspiracy theories are you actually into?

Heartworm: The death and clone of Avril Lavigne.

Do you have recurring dreams?

Heartworm: I die many times in my dreams. listen to this should give you an idea.

Complete the next sentence with predictive text. “I am a musician…”

Heartworm: I’m a musician because I love to sing, but people don’t know I’m actually singing.

What was the last meme you saved?

What do riders wear?

Heartworm: Spitfire Mk Vc.

What is your zodiac sign? Are you a typical zodiac sign of that sign?

Heartworm: Aries and from what I’ve heard, maybe. Honestly, astrology is a headache.

comfort concept is now available