How Travel Shaped The Head and the Heart’s ‘Signs of Light’

FUSE TV - How Travel Shaped The Head and the Heart’s ‘Signs of Light’

If The Head and the Heart kept track of all the ground they’ve covered in the last three years, the needle on that odometer would be worn down to a nub. It would be well-loved, well-used and well-done. It would be spent.

By the time the Head and the Heart had finished up touring behind their 2013 album Let’s Be Still, they had criss-crossed the country, played every music festival you could possibly think of and logged an absurd amount of miles. Instead of heading home to Richmond, Virginia at the end of 2014, Jonathan Russell—who stands at the head of the five-person ensemble as vocalist and guitarist—wasn't finished moving: he bought a van with a bed in the back, and he kept driving.

“I was definitely trying to make sure that I wasn’t just taking time off and just settle in—that can be dangerous," Russell explains. "I knew we were going to take 2015 off, so come January, I drove out to Los Angeles, and stayed out there for two or three months.”

Russell is on the move again; he's calling from a parking lot somewhere between Miami and the Florida Keys. He’s making the most of this calm spell before touring revs up again in support of Signs of Light, the Head and the Heart’s new album, out September 9. 

“On the way back, I visited my dad and my grandparents," he says. "All my family either lives in Mississippi—they live outside of Tupelo—or Florida, except for me and my mom in Virginia. I was going to drive around and travel and get my finger back on the pulse, you know? My band was touring so much that you’re reflecting back what you’re seeing, which is a really unrealistic bubble of the world. Unless you pop it, it’s not going to change. I’m trying to do my best at that.”

The King and Queen of  Bounce

21m

The King and Queen of Bounce

The Life and Death of Tupac Shakur

1h 2m

The Life and Death of Tupac Shakur

The Abuela and the Furious

12m

The Abuela and the Furious

The River and the Wall

1h 45m

The River and the Wall

End of the Line: The Women of Standing Rock

1h 27m

End of the Line: The Women of Standing Rock

Flesh and the City

45m

Flesh and the City

Beauty and the Bleach

56m

Beauty and the Bleach

Inside the MMA: Best of the Year

41m

Inside the MMA: Best of the Year

Keepers of the Game

1h 22m

Keepers of the Game

The Power of Weed

41m

The Power of Weed

Clash of the Corps

Clash of the Corps

Call of the Abuela

14m

Call of the Abuela

War of the Wills

44m

War of the Wills

Revenge Of The Nerfs

19m

Revenge Of The Nerfs

Art of The Azz

20m

Art of The Azz

Eye of The Beholder

20m

Eye of The Beholder

The Hilarious Reality of the American Rat Race

2m

The Hilarious Reality of the American Rat Race

Leave the Duckies and Go

21m

Leave the Duckies and Go

Porn, The Ins and Outs

21m

Porn, The Ins and Outs

Sex Life and the City

24m

Sex Life and the City

Rise of the Hot Girl

20m

Rise of the Hot Girl

Return of the Ewing 33

5m

Return of the Ewing 33

Attack Of The Tethered Strippers

8m

Attack Of The Tethered Strippers

The MisEducation of Bindu

1h 33m

The MisEducation of Bindu

DOMINO: Battle of the Bones

1h 49m

DOMINO: Battle of the Bones

Is Tossing Your Man's Salad The Way To His Heart: Dear Bambiana

2m

Is Tossing Your Man's Salad The Way To His Heart: Dear Bambiana

Inside the MMA: Ground and Pound

41m

Inside the MMA: Ground and Pound

The Fat Jewish and King Bach

20m

The Fat Jewish and King Bach

Elle and Tito: The Married Life

Elle and Tito: The Married Life

Clash of the Corps Drummers Step Up and Show Out in Rhythm

1m

Clash of the Corps Drummers Step Up and Show Out in Rhythm

The Clash of the Corps Cast Plays Would You Rather?

3m

The Clash of the Corps Cast Plays Would You Rather?

The Unfortunate Mishap of A Sneakerhead

2m

The Unfortunate Mishap of A Sneakerhead

Bob Marley: Roots of the Man

42m

Bob Marley: Roots of the Man

In Search of the Elusive Orgasm

43m

In Search of the Elusive Orgasm

Love In The Time Of Pandademic

20m

Love In The Time Of Pandademic

The Making of Amber Rose's Puppet

3m

The Making of Amber Rose's Puppet

The Missy Elliott Hall of Fame

2m

The Missy Elliott Hall of Fame

Inside the MMA: Rise of Copa

41m

Inside the MMA: Rise of Copa

Amy Winehouse: The Price of Fame

1h 1m

Amy Winehouse: The Price of Fame

The Legend of Baron To'a

1h 39m

The Legend of Baron To'a

Plenty Of Fish In The Street

20m

Plenty Of Fish In The Street

The Fighter and The Kid Podcast Stars Take A Lie Detector Test

6m

The Fighter and The Kid Podcast Stars Take A Lie Detector Test

The Read With Kid Fury and Crissle

The Read With Kid Fury and Crissle

The Cadets and Their Spankin New Toys

43s

The Cadets and Their Spankin New Toys

Peder Cho Shows How to DIY A Pair of Jeans into the Ultimate Y2K Mini Skirt

10m

Peder Cho Shows How to DIY A Pair of Jeans into the Ultimate Y2K Mini Skirt

Flabby Night Lights

44m

Flabby Night Lights

Lights, Camera, Dance

20m

Lights, Camera, Dance

Clash of the Corps Cast Share Which Amenities They Miss The Most

1m

Clash of the Corps Cast Share Which Amenities They Miss The Most

History of the Reebok Pump Part 1

5m

History of the Reebok Pump Part 1

Big Bear 2: The Wrath of Tito

23m

Big Bear 2: The Wrath of Tito

The Ladies of 'Transcendent' Share Beauty Tips

2m

The Ladies of 'Transcendent' Share Beauty Tips

Heads Will Roll

21m

Heads Will Roll

Rico and Xristina vs. The High-Tech Toilet

1m

Rico and Xristina vs. The High-Tech Toilet

Monalisa Discusses The Nostalgic Appeal of Vinyl Records

1m

Monalisa Discusses The Nostalgic Appeal of Vinyl Records

King Keraun Steps Into the World of Goth

2m

King Keraun Steps Into the World of Goth

King Keruan Steps Into the World of Ghosting

1m

King Keruan Steps Into the World of Ghosting

What To Expect On Clash of the Corps

1m

What To Expect On Clash of the Corps

The Hottest Music x Sneaker Collabs of 2016

2m

The Hottest Music x Sneaker Collabs of 2016

Don't Swear In Front of The Song

21m

Don't Swear In Front of The Song

The DCI Struggles of Starting A New Summer

46s

The DCI Struggles of Starting A New Summer

A Sign From Above

22m

A Sign From Above

Big Freedia’s Twerk of Art

20m

Big Freedia’s Twerk of Art

The Beatles: In the Life

1h 2m

The Beatles: In the Life

The Fat Jewish Plays 2 Truths and a Lie

1m

The Fat Jewish Plays 2 Truths and a Lie

Inside the MMA: Fear and Loathing in La Jaula

41m

Inside the MMA: Fear and Loathing in La Jaula

Odalys and Jamie Discuss Career Over Smoothies: The 212

1m

Odalys and Jamie Discuss Career Over Smoothies: The 212

King Keraun Learns How To Make The Perfect At Home Pillow Fort

6m

King Keraun Learns How To Make The Perfect At Home Pillow Fort

Stevie Nicks: Wild at Heart

3644s

Stevie Nicks: Wild at Heart

The Blue Devils Bring The Parade

1m

The Blue Devils Bring The Parade

Inside the MMA: Release the Kraken

41m

Inside the MMA: Release the Kraken

Triple the Pleasure, Triple the Fun

43m

Triple the Pleasure, Triple the Fun

T-Pain’s School of Business: Teaser

30s

T-Pain’s School of Business: Teaser

How to make Dave East's Steak and Eggs

49s

How to make Dave East's Steak and Eggs

The FP

1h 20m

The FP

The Exchange

1h 27m

The Exchange

The Canvas

The Canvas

The 212

The 212

The Runway

1h 33m

The Runway

The Luau

1h 30m

The Luau

The Feels

1h 21m

The Feels

The Pilot

21m

The Pilot

The Hustle

20m

The Hustle

The Decision

44m

The Decision

The Reunion

45m

The Reunion

The Citizen

1h 34m

The Citizen

The Motorcycle

23m

The Motorcycle

Beyoncé and A$AP Rocky Bring Back The Satin Jacket

5m

Beyoncé and A$AP Rocky Bring Back The Satin Jacket

All the Focus is on the Diamonds

21m

All the Focus is on the Diamonds

The Abuela Test for Leaving the Nest

15m

The Abuela Test for Leaving the Nest

The Ladies Play "Fill In The Blanks"

1m

The Ladies Play "Fill In The Blanks"

Yesenia Gives Financial Advice To Mia | Clash of The Corps

2m

Yesenia Gives Financial Advice To Mia | Clash of The Corps

Young M.A On The Struggle of Giving Up Meat

9m

Young M.A On The Struggle of Giving Up Meat

Clash of The Corps Is Putting DCI Stereotypes To Rest

1m

Clash of The Corps Is Putting DCI Stereotypes To Rest

G Fella Gives A Tour of The Bronx's Arthur Avenue

5m

G Fella Gives A Tour of The Bronx's Arthur Avenue

The Canvas LA: Spotlight Fern Shares How Starting On Tumblr Turned Into Inspiring People

9m

The Canvas LA: Spotlight Fern Shares How Starting On Tumblr Turned Into Inspiring People

Dwayne Johnson and The Blue Devils Break It Down In Hawaii

3m

Dwayne Johnson and The Blue Devils Break It Down In Hawaii

The Canvas LA: Spotlight Buchie Shares How His Passion Turned Into His Clothing Brand

14m

The Canvas LA: Spotlight Buchie Shares How His Passion Turned Into His Clothing Brand

Women's Rights & Strengths Coming To Light

8m

Women's Rights & Strengths Coming To Light

Out With The Old, In With The New

20m

Out With The Old, In With The New

Anjelah Johnson and Damon Wayan’s Jr. Sh!tshow

20m

Anjelah Johnson and Damon Wayan’s Jr. Sh!tshow

Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information