The Heart Collectors, an Australian-based folk music group, will be stopping in Carbondale on July 12 as part of a tour promoting the release of their fifth album, “The Space Between.”
The band consists of Kymrie Henge, Reuben Loire, Mobius ‘Mo’ Barnaby and Tristan DaFoe. They have performed together for seven years and are managed by lead singer Kymrie’s mother, Drew Porter, who the band affectionately nicknamed “Mummager,” under their own record label, Spins The Gold Records.
All four bandmates sing alongside each other, combining their musical talents on the mandolin, electric guitar, banjo, cello and bodhran to create a whimsical, nostalgic and thought-provoking sound that is uniquely their own. If there were any comparison to make for this dynamic group, it would be akin to combining the sound of Fleetwood Mac, Enya and Celtic-inspired music in a cauldron located in the middle of a forest under a bright moon.
“We’re very harmony-driven, as far as the vocal side of the band goes,” Barnaby stated. “We are always going to feel passionate about harmony and that we can turn up anywhere with our instruments and play.”
His sentiments were echoed by Loire who expressed that their harmony as a band has created a unity that keeps them strong. “Our different influences all combine into this one feeling and one current. That’s the unity of our sound and I feel that’s a special thing,” he stated.
One example of this sound comes from the song “Evergreen” from the newest album. The opening lines of the track — “Seasons come, seasons go, life moves like a traveling show, not long now we’ll be back on the road” — lay the groundwork for the rest of the song, which delves into the joys and sorrows that come with living. This album perfectly encapsulates the quartet’s goals of emoting inspiration, positivity, connection and humanity for their listeners.
This will be The Heart Collectors’ first time performing in Colorado, which they say they’re feeling excited about. Asked how they hope to connect with the audience, DaFoe expressed the band is looking forward to finding commonalities within the crowd.
“The main thing we appreciate in performing is connecting with the audience,” he said. “We’ve played in many places throughout the world, and no matter who, where, or when, you can always find a level of common ground with people. Once that’s established, there’s this hard connection where every sort of notion falls away. We’re trying to communicate love and humanity.”
The group began creating together after Henge stepped away from her dream of being a professional ballet dancer after sustaining injuries to her feet during the Youth America Grand Prix in her teens.
“I took some time to rehabilitate, but my body and the feet could not hold up. It was a loss, and at the time, I wasn’t aware of how I was processing it,” Henge told The Sopris Sun. “What I came to know was poetry and writing out what I needed to hear to get me through what I was going through,” Henge told The Sopris Sun.
These motivational words then informed the band’s first album. “That is where the band’s beginning happened,” Henge continued, “and from that point, it’s grown, flowered, changed and shape-shifted.”
Discussing what drives their creative process, The Heart Collectors credit nature and connection as two pillars of inspiration, both of which they are excited to be immersed in while bouncing around the state.
“When we perform, we love telling the story about where we come from, our lives and the nature of where we are on the east coast of Australia. We have beautiful, big storms there that inspire some of the songs on the album. We like writing and sharing our journey with people and where we come from through our songs,” Barnaby stated.
To keep up with The Heart Collectors, visit www.theheartcollectors.com or follow them on Instagram @theheartcollectors. The band’s music is also available on Spotify.
In a nutshell
Who: The Heart Collectors
Where: Steve’s Guitars
When: July 12, 8pm
Tickets: $30-$40 at www.stevesguitars.net