SPIRIT ANIMAL CHANGES BAND NAME TO RECORD HEAT
BAND TO RELEASE NEW SINGLE THIS SEPTEMBER
Brooklyn based alt-pop band Spirit Animal changes its name to Record Heat. The band states, "When this band was named a decade or so ago, it was done from a place of love and inclusiveness. The two words "spirit animal," without any context, had so much power and felt so uplifting that everyone who heard the name would interpret it uniquely for themselves. With every conversation, release, and performance we found new people who the name excited and drew in, and we fed this open-endedness by laying strict ground rules for how we applied it. Namely, we never used animal-related art or themes and, most importantly, we never used cultural imagery that wasn't our own.
The ubiquity of the term "spirit animal" in society made its use feel ok. The debate about its appropriateness was almost non-existent online or off. Even as you read this in 2020, many of you may be confused or surprised that we're couching our decision to change our name in these terms. But a few times now we have been asked about the name. "Are you Native American?," someone messaged us on social media. On a couple occasions, someone has called us out in the comments. These instances were so infrequent that it was difficult to justify taking action. But today we are here to say something we think everyone should aim to internalize and live up to: it doesn't matter how many people are hurt by something you're doing; one person should be enough to make you stop, if not stop and think.
If you're familiar with this band and the people in it, you know how committed we have been privately and publicly to advancing the interests of the underserved, the vulnerable, the marginalized, and the oppressed. We have done this with our voices, our platforms, our feet, and our wallets. But on this score, we all can and should do more. So that's what we're doing. We're retiring the Spirit Animal name in favor of Record Heat, in solidarity with the indigenous people whose lives and histories have been overturned and undermined by a brutally unjust system and a cultural blindspot as big as the sun itself.
Record Heat isn't a new project, it's a new leaf. Our songs and albums will be right where you found them before, but they'll be there with the veil of insensitivity lifted. We hope you not only understand, but take time to reflect on the ways in which you might be able to take your commitment to change to the next level, too. Thank you for the support all of these years. Our new shit's gonna fuck you up." For more details and the full statement from the band about the name change, please visit their Facebook page HERE.
Record Heat have also just announced their new single, which is set for release late September. The band has been busy working and recording new music while in quarantine. Stay tuned by following the band on socials. In the meantime, fans can get their Record Heat fix by streaming and purchasing the band's recent release REBORN YESTERDAY HERE. The deluxe album features three new tracks, including "Arm Candy", "YEAH!" (acoustic!), and "HYDR8".
2019 found Record Heat (aka Spirit Animal) earning fans so rabid that many got tattoos of the band's lyrics. Their debut album Born Yesterday had struck a chord and they toured relentlessly behind it, supporting bands as diverse as Fitz & the Tantrums, Incubus, The Struts, and White Reaper. As the record continued to gain traction, the opportunity for a deluxe edition arose, hence REBORN YESTERDAY. All of the other original tracks remained, but two new songs-"HYRD8" and "Arm Candy"-were added, plus a stripped-down acoustic take on the first single "YEAH!" Record Heat has received major attention from a variety of high profile media outlets, including Consequence of Sound, Entertainment Weekly, The Washington Post, Billboard, Alternative Press, Ones To Watch and Pop Dust.
Upcoming Shows:
October 1 - New York, New York - Sony Hall