When you hear James Veck-Gilodi talk about his time with Deaf Havana, you quickly forget that the guy is only 23. His band has already sold out the Shepherd’s Bush Empire, and the crowds at Sonisphere, Slam Dunk, and Reading & Leeds festivals have also been captivated by Deaf Havana. Speaking of Reading: In the history of the renowned festival, there has never been such a large audience in front of the main stage as during the performance of Deaf Havana's openers. In June, the sextet supported Bruce Springsteen at his show in London’s Olympic Park.
It looks like Deaf Havana has evolved from a fun school band into one of the brightest lights in the English rock underground – all while never losing sight of the charts.
On September 20, the band's second album will be released. “Old Souls” is a manifesto of pop and rock. A work where strings are as welcome as electric and Hawaiian guitars, mandolins, or banjos. The band even managed to enlist a gospel singer for “Old Souls.”
Anyone who thinks Deaf Havana has lost their edge is mistaken. In the course of their rapid growth, the band has not only expanded musically but also in terms of personnel. With the two new members, the band's sound has reached new heights. The first single from “Old Souls,” the track “Boston Square,” which will be released on September 13, blasts the speakers with pounding drums and a riff that deeply bows to The Who. When James Veck-Gilodi raises his voice afterward, you can already envision the sea of bouncing bodies and fist-raising fans. The music of Deaf Havana is infused with a new optimism. This is not least a result of Youth's meticulous production and the band's certainty that they are ready for the big stages. Of course, the fans from the very beginning need not worry that James has completely shed his melancholy. On the contrary. He is still subtly unhappy and sorrowful, but much more direct and clever in expressing his despondency. His humor remains as dark as ever, as can be heard in the song “Subterranean Bullshit Blues.” According to Veck-Gilodi, the title of the piece is "the shortest possible summary of its shitty content."
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