Tall Heights @ The Garrison - New music, new cities, same talented duo
After racking up over 130 million streams worldwide and playing festivals like Glastonbury, SXSW, and touring alongside acts like Ben Folds, CAKE, Judah and the Lion and Henry Jamison, Tall Heights have no plans of slowing down. I sat down with Tim Harrington and Paul Wright before their headlining Toronto show to talk about their new album release, Pretty Colors for Your Actions.
Being the largest crowd they’ve played to outside of America as a headlining act, The Garrison in Toronto was eager and ready for them to take to the vibrantly lit stage Friday night. Being only the second show of the tour, the multi-talented duo couldn’t wait either. “This is the biggest push we’ve had as a headlining act and we haven’t done our own shows like this in a really long time”.
Frances Cone and Old Sea Brigade, two bands that have perfected their soulful indie sound, prepared fans for the passionate and versatile performance that was about to follow. The room was filled with smoke, neon blue and indigo lights, and an eager crowd. Tall Heights started off the night with a high-energy performance of a few songs from their latest album, Pretty Colors for Your Actions, featuring new songs like Not Like It Was and House on Fire. Each song on the album showcases the notoriously unique and harmonious voices that Tall Heights’ fans are accustomed to, yet explores a variety of different sounds. Being in the music industry for so long, I wanted to learn a bit more about the songwriting process for their new album. “Something that propelled us from ground zero to the finished product was this realization that we can do anything we want, so long as we have a focus on the sound and voice of the project”, Paul said. “Because this was our second album, the realization of ‘yeah, we can sing like that and it will always sound like us’ really allowed us to cut ourselves free on an artistic level and not be concerned with whether or not it sounds consistent, because we just had this new lease on trust that we would eventually make a Tall Heights record so long as we keep those fundamental focus points the same”.
Playing a medley of songs from Neptune and Pretty Colors for Your Actions, the band gave fans the opportunity to experience the raw emotion and honesty that exhibits from Tall Heights, as well as recognize the growth the band has evidently gone through. Tim admitted, “if we’re enthusiastic about what we’re creating from start to finish, then that energy will find its way onto the record, and hopefully that’s what’s compelling”. It’s safe to say that Tall Heights did just that with this new record. The energy that’s felt within the music and lyrics is prominent throughout, and the love they have for it certainly translated onto the stage. Although the duo was backed up by an incredibly talented full piece band, the connection and musical affinity that Tim and Paul held was evident the moment they hit the stage. Completely unplugged, Tall Heights covered Leonard Cohen’s infamous Bird on a Wire, to a room of mesmerized fans completely silent, as their beautifully captivating voices filled the room. Tim and Paul showcased their incredible ranges, as they seamlessly transitioned between their chest voices and falsetto, in perfect harmony.
Curious about the title of their new album, I asked about the meaning behind the mysterious and beautiful lyric. “In the context of the song Midnight Oil, ‘I’ve got pretty colors for your actions’ was meant to be this emotional gift where all the narrator had to give to his partner was emotion in exchange for his/her loyalty. We chose to apply that to the whole record because we feel that what when we’re creating in the studio, it’s just our emotions... and you can think of that as insignificant or totally huge, but it’s the thing that binds us together and connects human beings. In the context of naming the record, the latter part of the phrase ‘for your actions’ becomes a request I exchange with the listeners. They can use these songs for their small actions, like when they’re having a drink or driving in their car, but it could also be used for bigger actions or massive things that will change the world for the better.” With songs like Oslo and White Frost, Tall Heights’ new album proves to do just what it sets out to do - inspire people for the better.
Knowing the impact that Tall Heights’ music has had on some of their fans, I asked what advice Tim and Paul would give young artists/musicians who are hesitant to put themselves out there. Tim explained, “man, if you’re getting teased in middle school, it doesn’t matter. It’s probably a good sign, you know? Like keep doing the thing you get teased for, because it probably makes you really special. Every kid in middle school wants to be the same - ‘I don’t want to stick out i just want to be like everybody else’ - so the people who are getting teased are usually different in a certain way, and that’s all that matters - being different. Once you’re out there creating, especially in the artist realm, I guess I would just say to parents, try to find a place where being weird is normal”. No matter what age you are, it’s safe to say that those are some really wise words...especially in the world we live in today.
To check if Tall Heights is going to be stopping by a city near you, head to http://www.tallheights.com/tour/
Check out some images from the show below!
