Portland’s Amos Heart Talks New Album, Touring, and Sourdough

One of our very own Music Connisuers, Henry Martin sat down with Portland-based artist Amos Heart to discuss his new album, life on tour, and of course, bread.

I’m Henry, I’m with Align Magazine here at the University of Oregon and you are Amos Heart.

Yup.

You just had a show last night at the Portland Folk Festival. Congrats man, how was the vibe?

It was really fun. ‘Was a good time. The vibe was a little chaotic, but a lot of friends, ‘lotta fun, and some great music. It was a fun crowd of people, including your dad I hear.

Yeah, he’s a total music dork. He told me about you during your set and sent me a video and I was hooked. He compared you to Andrew Bird a couple times.

Ah, right on. That’s an honor to be mentioned in the same context as that man. One day I hope to make music as close to his [Bird’s] level.

You’re on your way man.

Thanks, dude.

Where did Amos Heart come from? How did that stick?

It’s a character in this musical called Chicago. Yeah, in the movie Amos Heart is just this dipshit character who’s getting cheated on the whole time and kinda had no idea what was going on behind his back. He’s so loveable and sweet and romanticizes everything going on, so I don’t know. I think it’s kinda funny to write love songs and such with this name. It’s a little bit um... clueless I guess.

Well hey, you have a new album coming out. Next Thursday right?

Yeah. Should be out on Friday, Jan. 24th.

Tell me a little bit about what we can expect. It’s called From the Perspective of a Loved One right?

You did your research man. Yeah, so I’m doing an album release show. It’s been many years in the making. My last record was in 2021 (The House on the Hill) and I recorded that in 2020. So it just feels like it’s been the last 4 years collecting and recording these songs. Then this last year and a half of recording, mixing, and making all of the visual pairings and such. I’ve really been trying to create a whole world for this record to live in. I’m incredibly stoked. My friends and I putting this project together. We’re kinda just expanding the musical world that we’ve built on. I don’t know. It feels like a step forward and growth and that’s really neat.

Yeah, I’m excited. I was checking out some of your stuff and saw you released your single, Dead Air. Amazing. That song rocks.

Thanks, Henry that means a lot.

You’re out of St. Johns in Portland, Oregon.

Yeah. Dude you’re like Nardwuar or something. Something like that. It’s funny, I was originally born in the St. John’s area.

How was it growing up in St. Johns?

Great man, I love St. Johns so much. I went to Waldorf School growing up and that was kinda a goofy experience. But also looking back on it, it definitely kinda shaped who I am and made me appreciate community a lot. St. John’s is really special to me, my brother, and my mom.

Have you ever checked out the Jazz Fest at Cathedral Park in St. John’s?

Yeah, that’s a pretty special festival for sure. Portland has so much going on. I don’t know, I think Portland is such an underrated city for creatives.

Have you ever checked out Pickathon outside of Portland? I’ve been going for the past 15 or so years.

Yeah man. I’ve probably seen you there. I’ve Been going 9 years now but yeah. My favorite place on earth,
man.

Did you catch Rhododendron’s set this past year?

Hell fuckin’ yeah dude.

They rip.

They rip so hard. They’re all so sweet.

Speaking of Pickathon frequenters, you went on a tour with Searows a couple years back. He’s great.

Yeah. That’s an old friend. We had booked a whole tour together in 2021 I think. It was right before the second massive peak of covid where it just got completely fucked. So, we were holding out so long because we put so much work into this tour and we were so excited to hit the road with Alec (Alec Duckart, Searows) and yeah we had to cancel that tour. I actually ended up learning I got COVID the same day we decided to cancel the tour.

Double whammy.

Yeah. Strange times. I’ve played with Alec many times
though. I adore that individual and his art.

You guys both make such emotional music. Where
do those emotions come from?

Umm, I just think I’m kinda a sappy fuck honestly. Maybe a little too sensitive or something like that. But I think I just look up to a lot of songwriters that are more vulnerable. I try to share the goopy underneath and the nasty stuff that lives within us. I think that pulls people in. There’s plenty of music that’s surface-level, and I’m not saying I’m any deeper than the rest of those fuckers, but I strive to be personal and genuine.

I hear it in your craft. Back to St. John’s. What music were you listening to growing up?

Early on, as most people are, I was shaped mostly by the stuff my parents were listening to because that’s what you know for the first 10 years. There were a lot of Two-Tone Ska bands like The Specials. I actually have a poster of The Specials above my bed. My dad is really into Jamaican music. It doesn’t really shape my music but it’s what I listened to a lot. I’m Canadian as well so my family definitely worships Leonard Cohen. Listened to a lot of Leonard Cohen and Joni Mitchell but Leonard Cohen is still my top dog. We have a bunch of little Lenny’s around the house.

New musicians always get compared to someone else. What is a comparison you take as a compliment and what is a comparison you hate?

Man. I wouldn’t say this about myself because I don’t think it’s a fair comparison, but I’ve heard Jeff Buckley a lot, which, I feel like people are just searching for something that’s like, “white guy on stage who has dynamic range”. We have a lot of songs that simmer down and are at a quiet level and we'll burst into this explosion of sounds and stuff. Which is really fun and Jeff Buckley did that a lot. I really don’t think it’s a fair comparison, but I very much appreciate that comparison. He’s amazing, of
course.

I think anyone getting compared to Mr. Buckley is feeling pretty good.

I’m not gonna lie, I’ll take it. I don’t know if I can think of any that I don’t appreciate. I think the biggest compliment is when people tell you your music doesn’t sound like anything they’ve heard. Even if they hate it.

What about Kenny Chesney?

I don’t know who Kenny Chesney is.

You’re doing fine then. It’s 2025. You have an album coming out soon. You’re already making a buzz in the PNW music scene. What are some goals you’re trying to achieve in 2025?

Woah, this is awesome. Because I haven’t thought about this. You’re like life-coaching me right now and I appreciate it.

That’s why I’m here.

Let’s just call once a week and check in on my goals.

Sorta like Therapy sessions.

Exactly. 2025, quit smoking cigarettes. I’d love to go on tour, possibly somewhere other than the West Coast, because we have done the West Coast every year for like the past four years, which has been great. I’d love to expand my wine knowledge– although we should probably talk about music.

Wine knowledge is always a valid 2025 resolution.

It’s kinda a pretentious world, but I’m a server at an Italian restaurant.

Gino’s right? In Sellwood?

Dude, you’re Nardwuar, brother. Holy shit. Shout out Gino’s. I’ll pair the right wine with your meal, man. You’re a part of the family when you come to Gino’s.

Kinda like if Olive Garden was pretentious with a little mob feel.

Exactly. No, but I’d also love to print some vinyl this year too. That’s definitely a big goal of mine. I’d like to learn how to support myself financially with music and I wanna play as many shows as possible. I want to record another record too, I don’t wanna wait another four years. I’m ready, I already have songs
in the bucket. I don’t know if “in the bucket” is the right phrase. In the microwave? In the noggin’? I don’t know dude.

You lived in Eugene for a little bit. How was that? How long were you here for?

Yeah, I lived in Eugene from 2019 to 2022. I was going to school for a little bit and then the Pandemic hit and I just worked at Hideaway Bakery, baking bread for two years. I loved baking bread so much. Sourdough is so special.

Do you still bake?

I wish man, I would like to get a starter going again.

2025 goals.

There we go. That’s it, man. Eugene treated me very well though. All my favorite people lived there at the time. It was a very special time of my life. We all lived like five blocks away from each other.

Do you still ever come down to Eugene?

Nah, my brother was living down there, so I would go down to visit him occasionally. Tour would be really the only reason I go down at this point.

When we were discussing 2025 goals, you mentioned you wanted to tour more. If you could dream big, what’s a band or artist you’d love to open for?

That’s a great question. Andy Shauf’s audiences are always so intent on listening so hard and, I don’t know, I’ve just noticed every time I’ve seen Andy Shauf. I’ve seen him probably five times and every time I’m in that audience, it’s like just a bunch of lyric-dorks that are so into this world he’s creating. It’d be really fun to play for that audience since they’re just super down to listen.

Travis Scott would be pretty badass too.

I was gonna say dude, I’m so down.

You’d be a gnarly ass opener.

Hit me up, Travis. I’d like Flo Rida to hit me up too. That would be tight as fuck.

I see the vision. What are some Eugene or Portland artists you think everyone should listen to in 2025?

Dude. There are so many good ones. I just listened to Mary Eliza’s debut album Spider. I think it’s their debut album. It might be their sophomore effort. Amazing record. Kendall Lujan is releasing a record in February. She’s probably the most exciting talent coming out of Portland that I know. Her shows are always super dynamic. The Macks are sick too.

They came to Picakthon right?

Yeah, they did. Their moshpit was insane.

They were fun.

They’re old buddies as well, they’re super fun. Tispur is fucking great too. We talk about this new genre coming out of the Pacific Northwest. My friend Nick coined this specific term, but it was basically “fairytale music”. Tispur is so fucking cool though. They just released a record as well. There’s a lot.

About your show, my dad sent a video of your performance and I was blown away. He sees a lot of shows, and he said you put on one of the best sets he’s seen in a while.

That’s so cool. I’m glad he enjoyed it.

Yeah, he was ecstatic. Anyway, I’d love to do what I can to get out to your 1/30 show in Portland and see your stuff and hopefully catch up in person after your set.

It’d be great to meet you in person, brother. Just let me know
man, if you end up making it down, you’re a journalist so I could definitely get you on the list, so just let me know.

Well, my dad will definitely be there too, so I’ll give you a heads-up.

Hell yeah, tell him to come say what’s up again. Should be a really fun show. Everyone is welcome.

Sick. Well, this has been great Avery, I’ll definitely keep in contact and do what I can to get out to your show.

Yeah dude, thanks for reaching out, Henry. It’s always a funny thing digging into other people’s lives but you’re killing it dude, this has been super fun.

That means a lot dude, it’s been great chatting.

It’s an honor.

Good luck with everything and I’ll see you soon.

You as well my friend.

Listen to Amos Heart’s latest album, From the Perspective of a Loved One today!

Cover Photo by: @cbruyac