# Artist of the Week – Los Angeles Songwriter, Producer, Vocalist and Multi-Instrumentalist Taiwo Heard

- Link: https://indierockcafe.com/2013/07/artist-of-the-week-los-angeles-songwriter-producer-vocalist-and-multi-instrumentalist-taiwo-heard/
- Published: 2013-07-17T10:04:17-04:00
- Author: Max Hammer

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.

Related Post:  Artist of the Week - Baltimore's Joy Classic

![original-frontiertoeternitycover](https://indierockcafe.com/wp-content/uploads/
2013/07/original-frontiertoeternitycover1400.jpg "original-frontiertoeternitycover")

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**.

“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