We love these guys so much that we just HAD to chat to them again.
Long Islands Heavy on the Heart has released another absolute banger of a track in Not Now, Love.
We spoke to Nikki and Costas about their inspirations and what got them into music in the first place.
Hi Guys, Its lovely to chat to you again :)
Can you remember what performance or artist you saw that made you want to be a performer?
Nikki: I’ll actually never forget when I saw PINK in concert, she was all over the stage dancing and singing and literally flying through the air. It was incredible and memorable. She is so authentically herself and I really do look up to that.
Costas: I remember getting the blink-182 Enema of the State record for my 10th birthday from a friend and knew I wanted to play guitar right away. Then I saw the Pop Disaster Tour 2001 with blink-182, Green Day & Saves The Day and I knew at the show I wanted to play music. I was hooked after that night.
Who would you say is your biggest inspiration musically?
Nikki: Amy Lee would have to be one of my biggest influences. The fact that she was an opera singer and now sings rock is something I really admire. I used to sing opera and now I’m singing Alternative rock so she is definitely a huge influence.
Costas: It's honestly hard to say. My music taste has changed over the years. I find so much inspiration in so many bands and artists across multiple genres. Honestly, my biggest influences who I refer to often when writing are Third Eye Blind, blink-182, The Dangerous Summer, As Tall As Lions, Against Me! & Dear and the Headlights. But The Beatles, Nas, Mel Carter, Circa Survive & Foo Fighters hold near & dear to my heart & inspiration as well.
How often do you write music?
Nikki: Costas and I get together twice a week and one of those days we spend writing and figuring out new melodies.
Costas: I play music just about every day. Some days it’s like songs write themselves and other days I’m just fiddling around looking for that one riff or phrase to spark something in me. I never go in thinking I’m gonna write a song today. I usually just let it come naturally.
If you could learn a new instrument what would it be?
Nikki: I am currently learning the bass guitar but my next instrument is definitely going to be the piano. I’ve always wanted to learn.
Costas: Honestly, when I was a kid I wanted to play the drums so bad, haha. My parents wouldn’t let me. I ended up playing piano & guitar which I love dearly. Throughout the years playing music, I would always play around on the drums and fortunately was always around great drummers. When my old band (PRSNA) broke up I started demoing what would eventually become heavy on the heart. I was jumping back and forth between guitar, bass, keys & drums. I became obsessed with learning the drums, spending 3-4 hours a day playing them, playing to a click, learning other bands' songs & would spend most night watching YouTube videos and researching paradiddles & rudiments. I’m so glad I did because it made demoing and initial writing new ideas before I present them to Nick (our drummer) so much easier. I have a new understanding when it comes to song writing now.
What one song do you wish you’d written?
Nikki: Honestly any Shania Twain song. She is incredible and every song she releases is a hit. (My music taste is all over the charts)
Costas: Honestly, there’s so many songs I wish I wrote, haha. Basically anything off of Out Of The Vein (Third Eye Blind), Take Off Your Pants and Jacket (blink-182) & You Can’t Take This With You (As Tall As Lions).
If you could duet with one person - dead or alive - who would it be and what song would you want to do?
Nikki: I’ve never actually thought about this. I would have to say Probably Elvis. He has such a soulful voice and I would have loved to work with him in his early career.
Costas: Damn, this is hard, haha. I’m not much of a singer, but I can write you a melody. I would love to write music with Gloria Gaynor, I would love to shred guitars with Hendrix, I would absolutely love to be in a writing process with Dave Grohl. There’s so many people I would love to sit with and collab on music.
If you could pick someone to be your musical mentor who would you pick?
Nikki: When I say my music taste is all over I meant it. It would be a hard choice between Amy Lee, Pink and Carrie Underwood.
Costas: Hmm, Mark Hoppus, Travis Barker, Rick DeVoe, Jerry Finn, Dave Grohl, Prince, John Lennon.. So many in different respective areas of the industry and songwriting.
What’s the best piece of career advice you’ve been given?
Nikki: BE YOURSELF. be true and authentic to you. Don’t let anyone get in the way of your dreams and just have fun
Costas: Just get out there and do it. Don’t stop. It’s not going to be easy by any means. But it is a beautiful process and enjoy every moment of it. Appreciate the small and big victories, appreciate the rough patches and dark times because it will all shape up to the bigger picture. Just don’t stop, continue to pursue & make it happen.
Thanks for chatting to us again guys, looking forward to catching up again soon!
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Check out the video for Not Now, Love
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