Dabbling with elements of 70’s R&B soul, grunge, electropop, and rock since high school in his home town of Washington, D.C., relocated Los Angeles songwriter and musician Taiwo Heard knew since he was a young teen that making music was going to be his future. One of the most important milestones in pursuit of that dream happened last February when Heard released his debut solo record, Frontier To Eternity. The EP is a five-song celebration of indie rock and electro-pop, featuring infusions of new wave and dance beats, as songs like “Eternal Night” and “Front Page” demonstrate. Heard weaves together experimental and traditional compositions that draw from a remarkably diverse repertoire of his musical heroes like David Bowie, The Rolling Stones, Queen, Muse, Bjork and the Yeah Yeah Yeahs and The xx, among others.
After graduating from the respected Berklee College of Music in 2005, Heard immediately moved to LA to pursue his musical ambitions. Right away he reconnected with long-time friend and collaborator Eddie Robinson to form the electro pop band, Swivel. In addition to performing and laying down the vocals, Heard wrote and produced the band’s first album, Landing. The reception by the music press, fans and bloggers was immediate, which led to numerous domestic and international festival tour dates and a nationally televised music video. However, for a variety of reasons, Swivel disbanded two years later, but not without first providing Heard with the all important credibility and contacts in the upper tiers of the fiercely competitive, nearly impregnable L.A. music business.
Less than a year after Swivel’s break up, Heard joined forces with Los Angeles rock band Surface To Air as lead vocalist and guitarist. Not long after that, the trio were performing regular gigs at some of L.A.’s most famed Sunset Strip music venues, like the Viper Room, The Rainbow Room, and the legendary House of Blues.
Heard’s latest EP, Frontier To Eternity, is available as a free download via Noisetrade; however, tips via Noisetrade are encouraged for such a talented artist.
“Eternal Night” – Taiwo Heard from Frontier To Eternity
“Front Page” – Taiwo Heard from Frontier To Eternity
“Indie Rock is any guitar based music that doesn’t strive to become part of the mainstream sound. It is the sonic representation of free thought and free will.” – Taiwo Heard