LOS ANGELES — The journey from garage band to stardom can be bumpy. Still, for the band Hvnted, formed by longtime buddies Will Swanson (singer/songwriter/guitar), Seamus Neal (drummer), Jack Cotter (bassist) and Declan O'Raidy (lead guitar), their artistic journey hit a major bump when the pandemic hit.
Will Swanson said it was not just the creative toll the pandemic took but also the social isolation that was especially difficult.
"It was literally the first time that the three best guys I had, the guys that I spent all my time with, told me, 'I don't want to see you, you know?'" Swanson said. "I just felt alone, and that depression picks up because you lose all your flow. It's like all the progress we're making was like this big train, and it was stopped."
Swanson said the pandemic shutting down live performance and keeping the band apart took a major psychological toll.
"After we were able to continue working, after venues allowed us to start playing again, I felt that like, 'What's the point? You know, we've already stopped all this traction. You know, why keep going?" he said.
During the pandemic, Hvnted teamed up with legendary producer Bruce Robb at his Cherokee Studios, making Swanson realize he had a responsibility to keep going.
"I'm part of something bigger than I think it is, you know?" Swanson said. "We're working with Bruce. We're working at Cherokee. I can't just — what am I doing?"
Over the years, Robb has worked with the likes of David Bowie and Frank Sinatra. Beatles producer George Martin once called Cherokee the best recording studio in America. Robb jumped at the chance to work with Hvnted for one simple reason.
"This was a real band," Robb said. "And not all bands are real bands. A lot of bands are collections of musicians."
Although recording technology has changed over the years, Robb still works mostly with classic analog gear, which has served him well over the years.
"There are people that claim this [Trident A] is probably the finest sounding analog desk built. One of those was George Martin," Robb said.
Just before the pandemic hit, Hvnted was spotted performing live by Tiffany Downey, who co-owns Cherokee Studios with Robb, and brought them into the studio. The coming together of the band's youthful energy and Robb's experience and wisdom has been fruitful. Robb said everything hinges on one thing.
"What I really want is 'feel,'" Robb said. "And if it's not there, nothing's there. And what I try to do all the time, I try to work with people to do this, because they have to."
Hvnted recently returned to the live stage at the Canyon Club, and while the venues might be modest right now, Sampson said making music is all about the journey.
"I always try to look at the bright side of everything," Swanson said. "COVID kind of proved to us that anyone can be an artist like this, you know, anyone can do it!"
Hvnted said their songs come from a personal place, and although the last year has been tough all around, having the music and camaraderie has kept that proverbial train going.
