Interview: Danny Nedelko of Heavy Lungs | LOUD Magazine
Posted on: 29 Apr 2020This article was first published in the second edition of LOUD Magazine, 365Bristol's dedicated music publication.
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Danny Nedelko of Heavy Lungs
Heavy Lungs frontman talks the band's latest EP, Measure; friendship and 'forest dogs'
Danny moved to Bournemouth (and later, to Bristol) from Kiev, Ukraine, aged fifteen. He’s the inspiration behind IDLES’ pro-immigration anthem, simply titled ‘Danny Nedelko’. When I meet Danny, he checks his phone to find a Facebook memory: it’s been exactly four years since he received his British passport. Danny looks back at his phone smiling. He’d applied for a British passport after losing his Ukrainian one during Russia’s military intervention of Ukraine in 2014.
In previous interviews, Danny’s talked openly about his belated introduction to “good” music – it’s something that wasn’t part of his life in Ukraine. While new peers had discovered the likes of Oasis in early adolescence, Danny was playing catch-up age nineteen. “It’s almost like a different form of appreciation - from an outsider’s point of view,” he says. “I guess I have a different love for it, as it wasn’t part of my upbringing.”
It was a process of discovery that was influenced heavily by Danny’s step-dad; a musician in his own right who also used to play in bands. Is he still a big part of Danny’s life? “Yeah, man. He’s wicked. He bought me my first bass – he’s always supported me in this pursuit. And a wicked musician himself.”
Whether or not Danny discovered LCD Soundsystem long after they’d split doesn’t matter – you wouldn’t know it now. He’s the frontman of a raw and riotous post-punk band, with fans across the world: Danny mentions Heavy Lungs are off on a Scandinavian tour in April. "Ah, so you have a lot of fans over there, then?" I ask. “I don’t know! Hopefully! But hey, even if we’re playing to a room of twenty people, it’ll still be great because-” Danny half-jokingly finishes, “Scandinavia – what a place.” If I learned one thing during this interview, it’s that Danny loves a bit of playful sarcasm.
The upcoming tour is, in part, a celebration of Heavy Lungs’ latest EP, Measure, released in October 2019 via Balley Records. The five-track record is much like the Danny I come to know during our interview: sometimes whimsical, but more often, capable of poignant insights. While ‘(A Bit of a) Birthday’ brazenly demands the cash of a birthday card, other tracks grapple with the concepts of self-worth, self-esteem and the interpersonal. The EP, Danny says, was written entirely collaboratively between himself and bandmates George, Ollie and James: “it’s like a fluid machine,” Danny remarks, describing their songwriting process.
So, what’s behind Measure? What’s the aim? “I guess It’s a reminder to myself, and hopefully others, to appreciate and to believe in themselves more, realising that they have so much – I don’t want to sound cliché - to give,” Danny explains, candidly. “I think if someone listens to it and just feels better about themselves, and it inspires them to do more in whichever area they are interested in, then that’s enough.”
Measure is a rejection of self-doubt. But, self-doubt is something Danny admits to feeling “consistently. All the time - even now.” So, how does Danny counteract self-doubt? “Listen to the EP, Measure,” he responds in an infomercial-style voice, before trundling off into a mumble. “No, I’m joking,” he resolves. “How do I counteract it? I don’t know.”
In June, it’ll be three years since Heavy Lungs performed their first gig; an intimate affair at The Crofters Rights. Last November, the band played a sold-out show aboard Thekla. It’s an impressive trajectory, in which IDLES have no doubt played a part. They’ve been loyal supporters (and close friends) of Heavy Lungs since the beginning. The friendship is no secret, either; last summer, IDLES frontman Joe Talbot brought Danny on stage at last year's Downs festival for his self-titled song, clutching him throughout. Describing the BRIT-nominated band as a key source of inspiration, Danny recalls watching IDLES’ recent gig at London’s Alexandra Palace: “watching them, every time, just pushes the rest of the band and me to be better.” And Talbot? “He has such confidence, and gravitas and control about him – and ferociousness and fragility – all at the same time.”
In three years, Heavy Lungs have curated a thrilling selection of raucous, post-punk noise; toured with IDLES and METZ, and performed at countless festivals. However, the biggest change the band has undergone appears to be much more personal. In the beginning, Danny was the group’s only common denominator. He’d known Ollie the longest, then George, and met James at work; he united the three in their first band practice, where the group hit it off. Since, Danny says, “great friendships have formed.”
“It’s been great learning about those guys,” Danny says with sincerity. “I love them; they’re amazing friends and incredible musicians. Three years in, I’m still learning great things about them.” He pauses.
“Obviously, the dream is to form a band with your best mates – and because I moved, changed friendship groups, changed jobs, changed houses – I never had a constant, specific circle. But funnily enough,” Danny continues, “being in this band has actually made up my group of best friends. So, something that I always wanted came true with this band. I’m really grateful for that; for them and for the timings.”
Soon enough, Danny returns to his old tricks, pushing the deep stuff to one side. When I ask if there’s anywhere in Bristol he gains inspiration, Danny mentions a recent walk in Ashton Court with George. “Ah, did you see any deers?” I enquire, probably foolishly. “Ah, yes.” Danny responds. “We did see – forest dogs – as they’re known.” Right.
“The new album is gonna be written right in the forest of Ashton Court, next to the forest dogs,” he jokes. I cackle back, and finish, asking: "so, can we expect any new music soon?"
“I kinda hope so. We’re working on stuff,” Danny replies. “I can’t say much at the moment...forest dogs!”
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