The Head and the Heart

Formed in Seattle in 2009 around songwriters Josiah Johnson and Jonathan Russell, The Head and the Heart emerged on the American indie folk scene with prominent harmonized vocals, piano, and acoustic guitars. Joined by Charity Rose Thielen, Chris Zasche, Kenny Hensley, and Tyler Williams, the band first honed its songs in Ballard neighborhood bars before self-releasing a self-titled debut, later re-recorded and reissued by Sub Pop in 2011. The Head and the Heart then steered its writing toward a broader, more arranged folk on Let’s Be Still (2013), which heightened the role of keyboards and strings, and later toward a more rhythm-forward indie pop and rock sound with Signs of Light (2016) and Living Mirage (2019), released through Warner Music Group. The internal dynamics shifted gradually, with Josiah Johnson leaving the active lineup in the mid-2010s, while The Head and the Heart maintained a steady live presence, alternating headlining tours and festival appearances across North America and Europe. The band further refines its blend of melodic folk, Americana influences, and contemporary pop on Every Shade of Blue (2022), affirming a direction in which vocal writing remains central despite the widening of its sonic textures.