Dive into the world of LUV HRTS as they unveil their debut EP, ‘Hearts Vol. 1’! In this exclusive interview, Ben and Victor discuss the inspiration behind the project, their creative process, and what listeners can expect from this emotionally charged collection of tracks.
UFO Network: Congratulations on the release of your debut EP, ‘Hearts Vol. 1’! What can listeners expect from this 4-track collection?
LUV HRTS (Ben): Thank you! With ‘Hearts Vol. 1’, it’s a good wrap up late 2024 for us. Vic went through a breakup the year before and we were both into exploring the nuances of those feelings, especially through chords – so this EP was all about that in varying degrees.
UFO Network: How did the LUV HRTS project come about, and what inspired you both to collaborate?
LUV HRTS: We’ve been friends for a long time and always had similar music taste. The timing aligned where I was going through a break up and emotive dance music was something helping me through. We shared some demos back and forth and it felt easy, so we decided to start LUV HRTS.
UFO Network: “STAY” is the lead single from the EP, and it comes with a music video filmed in Berlin. What was the concept behind the video, and how does it complement the song’s message?
LUV HRTS: The concept behind the “STAY” video was to capture the raw, intimate connection between two people navigating young love in its purest form.
We wanted the visuals to reflect the song’s message—holding onto a moment, a feeling, or a connection, even as life keeps moving. The candid, everyday moments of the couple exploring the city bring out the warmth and vulnerability in “STAY,” making it feel personal yet relatable.
UFO Network: The video captures the “essence of autumn” in Berlin. What drew you to this setting and aesthetic, and how does it connect to the overall vibe of LUV HRTS?
LUV HRTS (Victor): It all started with photos and videos we’ve taken on previous trips to Europe which ended up inspiring the visual direction. Berlin’s mix of grit and elegance felt like the perfect backdrop for something and it just happened to be this song.
UFO Network: Your music blends electronic production with indie sensibilities. How do you balance these two elements, and what unique qualities do each of you bring to the project?
LUV HRTS (Ben): I think this genre has kind of spawned from bringing the melancholic emotions you normally see in the indie songs that we like, into a dance context.. I think it’s been nice over the last few years to see depth to club genres that we make so much of. In a way you could say we’ve been waiting for this alignment for a long time. We both bring a lot of the same things to the project but generally Victor often starts the ideas and I finish them.
UFO Network: You’ve already received support from tastemakers like BBC Radio 1 and Spotify. How does it feel to have your music recognized by such influential platforms?
LUV HRTS: The feedback and support has been really special so far.
UFO Network: “U REALLY HURT ME” and “CAN WE DO BETTER?” offered a glimpse into the LUV HRTS sound. How does ‘Hearts Vol. 1’ build upon those earlier releases and showcase the evolution of your project?
LUV HRTS: I think that “STAY” is one of our favorite tunes yet, as it builds on that deeper emotion that “U REALLY HURT ME” had. It feels like the final plea in a relationship, where you’re trying to give it one last chance.
UFO Network: The EP is said to compile your journey so far while hinting at what’s next. What are your aspirations for the future of LUV HRTS?
LUV HRTS: Just trying to build our own little unique world for people to connect to. We like the concept of crying on the dance floor, that level of feeling at least. We’ve got a long history with these types of chords and it comes to us pretty naturally. So we simply want to be able to explore it as much as we can.
UFO Network: Benjamin, with your success as Mild Minds, what prompted you to explore this new creative direction with LUV HRTS?
LUV HRTS (Ben): Victor and I have collaborated on things before, and we’ve always talked about the idea of doing something together. We both became simultaneously excited as we started to see more emotion in dance music. Our other projects often took a lot of time and sometimes required waiting for label release dates. So this was partially born out wanting that freedom to have more output. I personally wanted to make something a little more fun and carefree that we could release ourselves on our own schedule.
UFO Network: Victor, how does your experience with Ruby Haunt inform your contributions to LUV HRTS?
LUV HRTS (Victor): To just be authentic and to focus on the overall essence of a world you want to create with music.
UFO Network: What are some of the key themes or emotions that you explore on ‘Hearts Vol. 1’?
LUV HRTS: In a sense it’s like a movie and captures these raw moments humans go through in life.
UFO Network: What’s the story behind the name LUV HRTS, and what does it represent for you?
LUV HRTS: The name is fun to us but also captures a raw snapshot of love and heartbreak.
UFO Network: What are you most excited about for listeners to experience with the release of ‘Hearts Vol. 1’?
LUV HRTS: I think seeing all the different visual components coming together and building the audio / visual world of LUV HRTS.
UFO Network: Where can fans connect with you and stay updated on your upcoming releases and activities?
LUV HRTS: They can keep up with us on our instagram. @luvhrts.wav
Listen to LUV HRTS on Spotify
