Q&A: hey, nothing Explores Grief Through Storytelling in New EP, ‘33°’
INTERVIEW
INTERVIEW
☆ BY FAITH LUEVANOS ☆
Photo By Cole Silberman
TRAGEDY AND GRIEF, HOW DO WE LEARN TO COPE WITH IT? – Georgia-based indie rock duo hey, nothing wants their fans to know that grief comes with living, and that there are many ways to approach it. Their latest EP, 33°, opens up that conversation between the band and fans, telling the heart-wrenching story of a boy who’s living with depression and the untimely death of him and his brother, all while exploring the grief their mother is facing.
Recently, they’ve released their very first official music video for the EP’s title track, “33°”, a cinematic visual to set the scene for the emotional EP. Completely directed by the band, the video combines DIY elements with professional camera footage to accompany their lyrical storytelling. Readers can watch the video below.
The EP's sorrowful power creates a tragic scene that pulls the listener in and leaves them aching to hear how it all will end. From the minds of Tyler Mabry and Harlow Phillips, 33° is an immersive experience, weaving raw emotion with intricate production. This EP marks a significant chapter for the band, an emotionally mature progression showcasing love, loss, and the weight that memories hold.
Since their first release as a duo in 2021, the band has seen an overwhelmingly positive response to their music as they become a key component to the indie-rock scene. With 33°, they solidify their reputation as a band unafraid to tackle the complexities of human emotion, offering solace and connection through their music. As they continue to evolve, hey, nothing proves that sometimes, the heaviest stories are the ones that need to be told the most.
The Luna Collective had the opportunity to chat with hey, nothing about their new EP, the formation of the band, their musical inspirations, and more. Read the full interview below.
Photo By Cole Silberman
LUNA: What’s the overall message you hope to convey to listeners with this EP?
HEY, NOTHING: We’ve been able to write vulnerable songs before this, but this EP was the first time we were comfortable with the idea of writing about pure tragedy and grief. We want listeners to relate and be comfortable with expressing pain and the idea that there are going to be a million different ways you can do it.
LUNA: Were there any songs on the EP that felt the most challenging to complete? Why?
HEY, NOTHING: “Barn Nursery” was the last song we wrote. It was the final piece of the puzzle that we really didn’t want to waste words on. We also put a lot of effort into making sure it served the story of the EP and added different perspectives and crucial thoughts of the characters.
LUNA: The EP sounds like an emotionally mature progression for your sound. How would you describe the evolution of the band up until now?
HEY, NOTHING: Every time we go in to make any project, we try to think about how we used to make music, what we liked about it, and how we can improve and be more intentional, mature, and tasteful. 33° specifically, thanks to our producer Tommy Trautwein, has a lot of little ambient elements and tricks that we were able to learn about and lean into. As we get better at the music-making process, we’re learning to think more about how certain sounds make us feel and how to tell stories with those sounds.
LUNA: How did the band form?
HEY, NOTHING: It started out as Tyler’s solo project in high school but shortly after its creation, we joined forces and realized we make better art when we do it together. We just started writing songs and posting them on the internet until someone was interested enough in getting them fully made. Eventually, some really handsome “LA boys” got a hold of it and we’ve been working with them ever since on making this band heard and loved by as many people as possible.
LUNA: Are there any particular moments throughout the EP that stuck out the most to you? This could be either lyrics or production styles.
HEY, NOTHING: “Barn Nursery” is the most intimately-recorded thing we’ve ever made and we really love that. In the title track, there are a few screeches, drone notes, and even some guttural screaming that really makes your stomach hurt in a good and sad way.
LUNA: Diving into your track with lighthearted, how did that collab come to be as your first released collab?
HEY, NOTHING: We were lucky enough to meet them through our friends in Athens and then play some shows with them. After one of the shows we played together, we sat on a back porch and started writing together. “If It’s Not” was the first thing that came out. We get so nervous around them because they're just so good at everything they do. Their voices are incredible, their guitar playing and compositions, their lyricism. We are so humbled by them and incredibly grateful that they want to share their talent with us.
LUNA: Can you share the story you briefly mentioned earlier behind 33°?
HEY, NOTHING: A young boy in the midst of a depressive episode, walks out onto a barely frozen lake. When the ice melts and he falls in, his brother swiftly tries to save him but ends up going under as well. 33° tells not only the tragic death of two young boys but also their mother's experience with grief and the way she both rationally and irrationally attempts to preserve her memories of them and rid [herself] of the pain she’s in.
LUNA: What does your creative process look like between the two of you?
HEY, NOTHING: It’s a little bit different every time, but usually one of us will bring a tiny little root for a song or a lyric or a musical idea. If we’re both excited about it we’ll sit and spend about 6 hours writing it together. We usually write in our living room but we find it easier and better to be in as many different locations as possible.
LUNA: You blend folk and Midwest emo so beautifully; who are some of your musical inspirations as a band?
HEY, NOTHING: Big Thief (and their respective solo projects) are huge inspirations for both of us. We’ve always loved The Front Bottoms too.
LUNA: Lastly, what are some goals of yours for the new year?
HEY, NOTHING: Get better at pickleball. Get absolutely shredded. Write some songs. Play some music with our friends. And eat less ham (current ham consumption: 0).
