Urban Heat feat. Party Nails – “Have You Ever?” [Song Review]

Austin, Texas-based post-punk trio Urban Heat releases their new music video, “Have You Ever?,” a track from their latest EP, Wellness.

Released at the end of July, Wellness tackles themes of mental health, from the things that trigger us to coping mechanisms. The EP is an exploration of nostalgia, self-doubt, depression, and disenfranchisement.

Reimagined and expanded, the cutting-edge video for “Have You Ever?” features Party Nails, who infuses the original version of the track with a lustrous aspect.

Vocalist Jonathan Horstmann explains that “Have You Ever?” is an existential narrative “about questioning everything you’ve been taught.”

He adds, “We met Party Nails right before hitting the road for some regional southern dates, and she’s got such a vibe and clever sonic sense that it seemed like a no-brainer to ask her to write a verse. We worked remotely on it as she’s based in LA, but she had no problem matching the energy of the tune, and we ended up using the very first vocal she sent over.”

Heavily influenced by ’80s post-punk and dark wave, Urban Heat formed in 2019 when Horstmann recruited Kevin Naquin and Paxel Foley for a band centred around his analog sound design.

Horstmann says, “There’s not a ton of other Black musicians in Austin who play rock, and having that representation was important to me. I didn’t wanna be the only Black artist in an otherwise all-white band.”

Urban Heat

Opening on dark, throbbing synths, “Have You Ever?” flows into a new wave-flavoured tune pulsating with hints of synth-pop and Gothic rock. Horstmann’s baritone voice, vaguely reminiscent of Martin Gore, imbues the lyrics with compelling timbres, at once visceral and challenging.

“So have you ever seen the face of God? / Do you turn around and wonder what it was? / Or have you ever thought you’ve seen the light / Till you turned around and you felt the knife?”

Imaginative and potent, “Have You Ever?” seethes with primitive energy, mystery, and the haunting muscle of Jonathan Horstmann’s voice.

Run Time: 3:21
Release Date: October 21, 2022
Record Label: Self-Release