Coming together across many different locations, but primarily a single timezone, the collaborative project, Central Heat Exchange, was formed by Adam Soloway, Santiago RD, and Jacob and Paul Stolltz as an opportunity for collaboration in a time of isolation. All members coming from other projects, Central Heat Exchange was an opportunity to experiment with new material, revitalize old material, and create something with this group of friends who previously had distance as a deterring factor for working together before the pandemic hit. Stuck inside, the creators began to send songs to one another piece by piece, each musician adding their element to the track before sending it along — like telephone for songwriting. The result is simultaneously deeply personal and collaborative, nostalgic and refreshing. Building most songs from the instrumentation first, the group focused on the texture of the track to guide the lyrical content, versus the other way around. Working with new collaborators, building songs in a new way, and redefining the confines of the creative process, Central Heat Exchange has created something truly special with their first few tracks which will undoubtably continue with the release of their debut record, out September 10th via Birthday Cake, Citrus City, and Sunroom.
The band’s latest video, “Directly Down”, wasn’t constructed in this back to front manner, but rather pulled from the demo pile of one of their other projects that wouldn’t have the opportunity to record it in studio anytime in the near future. The track has a sprawling, but spiraling quality to it as it takes lyrics initially about a depressive episode and transfers them to being about humanity destroying the earth at rapid speed. Appropriately as we’ve reached record high temperatures across the country, the ocean has caught on fire, and we seem to have no intention of slowing down anytime soon, the dreamy quality of guest vocalist Stephanie Smith of Varsity is fittingly chilling. To create a music video from many different locations, the band creatively utilized tv monitors as a device on which to showcase their separately gathered footage set in a CGI landscape.
To get to know the people behind this collaborative project, we asked the members of Central Heat Exchange to share a few of their favorite things with us. Check out their responses below.
Paul
Chicago Accents – midwest is best
Sichuanese Dan Dan Noodles – Chengdu spicy street noodles, best eaten on a small plastic chair according to Anthony Bourdain
Adam
Aloe vera – gooey, nutritious and delicious. equally great in a bubble tea and on a sunburn.
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Rooms with lots of windows – this is the Baldwin house in Burnaby BC. who doesn’t love a view?
Santi
Guava – the somewhat unsung hero of tropical fruits. A lovely filling in pastries
Gardening – the most rewarding hobby in the world
Jimmy Buckets – master of the court!!
Jake
Homemade ravioli
Chicken of the woods mushrooms
Video feedback – point a camera at its monitor to discover an entire world
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