With their raw energy, catchy hooks, and sharp irony, Hearts Apart have carved out a distinct space in the punk rock scene. Their latest release, Summer Bummer, is a rollercoaster of emotions—equal parts nostalgic, defiant, and existentially chaotic. We caught up with the band to discuss their love-hate relationship with summer, the beauty of imperfection in punk rock, and their wildest live show experiences.
“I Hate The Summer” feels like an anthem for those who see beyond the sun-soaked Instagram perfection of the season. What’s the weirdest or most unexpected summer experience that directly or indirectly influenced this track?
“Well, it all started with a sort of summer affair that quickly evolved into love and then, all of a sudden, brutally fell apart. This managed to turn a lot of nice summer things into heavy and painful memories. Plus, we all agree that packed Italian beaches from mid-June to mid-August are straight out of a John Carpenter movie—hell on earth.”
You recorded “Summer Bummer” in a raw and instinctive way, almost like a live session. Do you feel that capturing imperfection makes a record more authentic, especially in a genre like punk rock?
“IMPERFECTIONS? WHERE?? OMG, paranoia is kicking in—just kidding. But yes, we agree! We focused on the energy, the overall vibe and sound, and the all-around grit. We’re not big fans of super-polished, crispy-clean records—unless we’re talking about The Dwarves Come Clean, of course. And YES, all the instrumental tracks were actually recorded live!”
Your music has a strong international appeal, both in sound and aesthetics. Do you feel like outsiders in the Italian scene, or do you see a new wave of bands with a similar worldwide punk rock attitude?
“No, we don’t feel like outsiders. There’s actually a good bunch of musicians here who sound pretty international, and in a way, they actually are. Maybe not all of them are strictly part of the punk rock scene, but yeah, we’re definitely not alone.”
The Marked Men have been a clear influence, but what’s an unexpected band or artist that shaped your sound—something that might surprise even your most dedicated fans?
“Oof, tough one. We all listen to a lot of different music, from country to electro. So I’d say The War On Drugs, Toots and the Maytals, Zeke, Laura Marling, Tool, Bon Scott-era AC/DC, Lola Young, Moderat, Low, Nick Cave—just to name a few.”
From playing on a pickup truck in the mountains to sharing stages across Europe, your live history is already full of wild stories. What’s the most surreal or absurd gig you’ve ever played?
“Oh, I don’t know if there’s a single gig that stands out above the rest. But we can tell you this: once, we had to climb a mountain to reach the venue; once, they offered us almost no money but pushed us to drink heavily—it ended with Silva writing stuff with a broken glass on the bar counter and nearly getting arrested; once, our accommodation was a construction site for a future hotel; once, we played in a cowshed.”
There’s a certain irony in turning the ‘approaching-40 existential crisis’ into high-energy punk rock. Do you see your music as a way to process life’s chaos, or is it more about embracing it head-on?
“Well, it’s basically both. Sometimes you fight and find a way to solve some issues; sometimes you realize you have to accept things and make other changes—you have to let some things go. Our music is definitely a kind of therapy, a fun way to react to daily struggles, a release, and a tool for connecting with our fans.”
If “Summer Bummer” were a movie, what would the opening scene look like? Give us the full cinematic intro.
“The camera rolls over a damn crowded beach—oily, tanned bodies, sodas, kids playing ball, and balls annoying fat old men drooling over bikinis. Awful pop-dance music plays in the background. The camera zooms in on the shoreline, the tiny waves, the wet sand. Then—a pair of black leather shoes. Black trousers. A black tie over a white shirt, black jacket. It’s John Belushi, smoking, spreading hate all around with his grin. Lovely.”
Summer Bummer is now available digitally and on limited edition colored vinyl via Epidemic Records.
