“I wanna live on the wings of desire,” are the opening lines of Hemi Hemingway’s latest album Wings of Desire, a title that references Wim Wender’s 1987 film of the same name which tells the tale of an angel who trades his wings to become human and experience love.
There’s something about the album that evokes it being performed in a club that is just the right side of disreputable; all red velvet, a slowly rotating glitterball, and the kind of low lighting that is perfect for lovers in corner booths and dealers swapping dollars for drugs under the table. Waiting staff bring you hard liquor as you watch Hemingway crooning from the stage, ruched dress shirt unbuttoned, bowtie hanging loose, moustache bristling and cowboy hat resplendent. There are times, like the title track or ‘Desiree’, when Hemingway’s voice can be low and resonant like Scott Walker or Leonard Cohen before soaring with emotion like Marc Almond on ‘Something’s Gotten Hold of my Heart’.
Hemi Hemingway’s debut album for PNKSLM, Strangers Again, was largely self-recorded but on Wings of Desire he worked with James Goldsmith building the demos into full-blown productions adding drums, sax (wonderfully evocative on ‘Promises’), and backing vocals. The overall effect is a heady combination of torch song, ballad, 70’s pop, and 80’s new romantic. The album is often massive and bursting with quixotic melancholy in part inspired by the end of his long-term relationship and a move from London to New Zealand. All this bravery and angst has been distilled into Wings of Desire and you can imagine Hemingway standing in the single spotlight to utilise his baritone to power-emote one minute then dropping to his knees to show his vulnerability with a tremulous whisper. Heady stuff.
So, what were some of the musical influences that brought Hemi Hemingway to Wings of Desire. Hemi was kind enough to oblige us with our feature My Life In 10 Songs.
1) What is your earliest music-related memory? What do you remember being played at home when you were a child?
Sometimes I have these really physical responses to songs, like I must’ve heard them before I can even remember; Celine Dion’s ‘Because You Loved Me’, Wet Wet Wet’s ‘Love Is All Around’. But as for an actual memory, the earliest I can think of right now is when my older brother made a marionette of a pink bird at school. My mum had Queen’s Greatest Hits on CD and he used to make it dance to ‘Radio Ga Ga’ in the lounge on a regular basis. Got to the point that we’d request it quite often. Then the strings got all tangled and that poor bird never moved quite the same way again. RIP.
2) What was the first record that you ever bought? Where did you get it and do you have any recollection of the experience?
This probably doesn’t count, but the first record I ever wanted and owned (with the exception of the Baha Men cassingle for ‘Who Let the Dogs Out’) was Pennybridge Pioneers by Millencolin. I say it might not count because it was bought for me. When I was Year 8 (12 years old I believe?) a girl in my class one day just asked me what CD I wanted. It felt like she was challenging me, and I never thought in a million years she’d ever get it for me. So I said my favourite band at the time (Millencolin), and lo and behold a few days later she showed up at school with Pennybridge Pioneers. I thrashed that album for so long. Thanks Sequoia, I owe you one!
3) When did you really start to develop a passion for listening to music? How did that come about and what were you into at the time?
I think around the time I was 13 I started to develop what felt like my own likes and dislikes. I’d been into skater punk for a little while, but I got really into Alexisonfire, Underoath and bands like that. Another brother and I wanted to start a Ramones-style band, and when we were playing around on instruments at a friend’s house one day we were all trying to scream. Turns out I could scream pretty well, so we started a screamo band, and from that I ended up joining another band which took me touring all over New Zealand between the ages of 13-16. I’m not so into screamo anymore, but always have a soft spot for those memories.
4) What was the first gig that you went to? Where was it and what was it like?
My dad won tickets on the radio to go see Tim Finn, Dave Dobbyn and Bic Runga in concert together. I’d been listening to a Split Enz cassette at my mum’s house already, and he took me along. If you’re unfamiliar with these three people, they’re total musical legends in NZ. The gig was at the Hastings Municipal Theatre. Dad says I couldn’t sit still. I don’t remember too much (it was 26 years ago now!), but I do have a distinct memory of them performing Split Enz’s ‘I See Red’ all together.
5) What are your memories of starting out making music? What was the first song that you learned to play?
I remember asking for guitar lessons at the start of Year 6, after my twin brother and my older brother had both already been playing for a year. I went to group lessons at school taught by my friend’s mum, and the first day she taught us ‘Michael Finnegan’. I spent all night playing those two chords back to back until I could change them without stopping strumming. And then we started learning stuff like ‘Get Back’ by The Beatles, and ‘Heart of Gold’ by Neil Young. But my favourite party trick song to play at the time was ‘Adam’s Song’ by Blink-182, cause it was picking and it sounded cool, and it was a little more relevant to my age range at the time.
6) What was your first band/musical project? What music was influencing you at that time? What are your memories of playing your first gig and are there any recordings out there?
This is a tricky one, cause I was playing music in bands before I began being part of the writing process. But the first musical project that I contributed songwriting to was an emo/screamo band called Symphony Skies (lol!). A bunch of friends and I wanted to make a band together, and that was what we came away with. We were really influenced by bands like Thrice, Emery, Chiodos, Taking Back Sunday; bands like that. I just remember having a really great time playing, and feeling really confident onstage cause I was surrounded by my closest friends. We recorded an EP in 2005, but I have no idea where I might find that!!
7) What are your memories of starting Hemi Hemingway? What was your first release and what do you think now when you listen back to it?
It was early on during the first Covid lockdown in London. I’d been playing heavier, darker post-punk up until then, and had been trying to find an avenue for feelings other than rage and anger (no shade to post-punk music at all!! I know many post-punk artists who portray many other emotions through their music, I just couldn’t manage to figure out how to do it). I found an old demo of a random ‘doowop’ idea, and that became the first song ‘Burnin’ Blue’ on my debut EP The Lonely Hunter. I just got really enamoured with 50s and 60s pop, and was feeling really connected to the music that I was making as Hemi Hemingway. I remember really wanting to make it as “me” as possible. When I listen now I have fond memories of discovering this new avenue while writing it, but I also really hear such a rawness and naivety in those songs.
8) Which band/artist do you think has had the biggest influence on your music over the years? What is it about them that inspires you?
Hmm, it’s hard to pick just one, but I always come back to Songs: Ohia. Jason Molina. The album ‘Magnolia Electric Co.’ is just a perfect album. I think cause it just feels so realised, and so personal. I also like that it’s not compressed to fuck the whole time. It has such good dynamic range, so that when it’s loud it feels LOUD, and when it’s quiet you shut up and listen. Anyone reading this who likes MJ Lenderman should go pay your respects to Jason Molina.
Also ‘Pop Crimes’ by Rowland S. Howard is another perfect album.
9) Who are some of your favourite current artists? What do you like about them?
Currently I’m big into SiR, Cassandra Jenkins, Alabaster DePlume, Fat White Family. I just like anything that feels new and/or innovative.
10) If you could cover any song, what would it be and why?
Hmmmmm, another hard question. It’s so hard to pick just one! But right now, probably ‘Reports from the Heart’ by Winston Tong, or ‘The Downtown Lights’ by The Blue Nile. I love the synthy Bad Seeds vibe to ‘Reports from the Heart’. And ‘The Downtown Lights’ would feel so epic and cathartic to belt out live.
Huge thanks to Hemi and PR Rachel Silver for making this MLI10S’s happen.
Hemi Hemingway: Bandcamp | Instagram | Facebook | YouTube
Hemi Hemingway has two live dates coming up:
Saturday 25th April – Manchester, YES (Basement)
Tuesday 28th April – London, Hope and Anchor
At the Great Escape
13 May @ 8:45pm, Patterns Downstairs
14 May @ 1:15pm, Patterns Downstairs
16 May @ 1:15pm, Komedia Basement
Cover photo of Hemi Hemingway by Nicola Sandford
Introduction by Paul F Cook
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