Julie Edwards and Marc Smollin recently formed the avant-rock duo Heads Are Heavy. Formerly known as The Pity Party, they show no signs of slowing down. Having met in eighth grade, Smollin and Edwards have gone through life on the same wavelength, even when they’re continents apart. Edwards is also part of the globally successful female blues-rock duo Deap Vally and was recently involved in a collaboration with The Flaming Lips known as Deap Lips. Creatively joined at the hip, Julie and Marc dusted off forgotten demos they made together years ago and decided they should do something with them. That’s how they came to form Heads Are Heavy. They talk about their propulsive debut single “That Sounds Okay,” as well as coping mechanisms for dealing with physical pain, alternative forms of self-care, and their adventures touring around Europe. TOPICS DISCUSSED · The formation and evolution of Heads Are Heavy and Pity Party · The process of recording new music · Julie’s other bands Deap Vally and Deap Lips, a collaboration with The Flaming Lips · How one’s demeanour can affect your body over time · Techniques for managing chronic back pain · Why it’s never too late to practice wellness · The importance of accepting help from others · Minimalist goal setting and the value of setting a schedule · Learning to be mindful of how your physical and mental state are linked · Smollin’s experience with the Feldenkrais Method · How to relax and not resist physical pain · Giving birth during a global pandemic · Harnessing a mutual love of knitting to stay grounded · European tour stories RESOURCES · Heads Are Heavy debut single “That Sounds Okay” · The Pity Party · Deap Vally · Deap Lips · The Feldenkrais Method · Pony Sweat Aerobics