The Heartbroken never thought the music resulting from a group of friends strumming acoustic guitars over a bottle of wine, would resonate with so many people. The first single “Seventeen” from their independently released debut CD “Tonight, Tonight” is about to enter the Top 40 on the Canadian Country music charts. And they are beginning a busy summer at the Dauphin Country Music Festival.
“Not really. I guess there are enough country elements to it. This week the we’re in the Top 40 and we’re the only independent album there. CMT has really got behind us,” said drummer/ vocalist Blake Manning, who along with bassist Peter Fusco, Guitarist / vocalist Damhnait Doyle and lead guitarist Stuart Cameron, make up the Heartbroken.
They return to the Slice, July 6.
“We’ve been friends for 20 years and we usually work for other people usually on major labels” he said.
“We have a lot of influences in country, especially traditional country and we use traditional instruments like banjo and mandolin.”
The band has country in their roots, listening to a lot of George Jones, Willie Nelson and Patsy Cline.
They are pleased with how well “Seventeen,” has been received.
“It feels really good and people have embraced it. So to that I say ‘thumbs up,’ that people are liking it,” he said.
“When we went in, we didn’t expect to make any particular type of album. The first time we sat down together, we cracked a bottle of wine with the four of us strumming acoustic instruments and the next thing we knew we had our first song within two hours,” he continued.
Everyone contributed whatever they felt was needed during the writing process.
“That’s the great thing about this band being a democracy. I’m a drummer, but I picked up the banjo for one song and I’m no banjo player. It was just the four of us strumming acoustic instruments. It’s all very traditional,” he said.
They didn’t do a lot of promotion for the album or the new single, just releasing it through iTunes and their own website. They are glad they decided going down the independent route with it.
“We don’t have to pay 50 per cent to a record company now, so all of our hard work comes back to us. We own everything and we like it that way,” he said.
They are going to be busy until October, touring in support of the CD and are already considering “The Truth” as the next single from the CD. They may release a different single to pop and rock radio.
“ We want to make sure we give this record the attention it deserves.
They didn’t have a lot of people at many of the shows for their last tour, but are hoping for more this time.
“We didn’t give our agent or promotions people a lot of notice, but we had really good crowds at some shows. And the five or 10 people at the other shows were really enjoying it. It’s been interesting building this from the grass roots up. We’ve enjoyed watching the progress,” he continued.
“And with more radio spins now, we’re hoping more people will come,” he said.
