Heartworms’ debut, EPA Comforting Notion, received glowing praise from the likes of DIY (“a masterclass in making an entrance”) and NME(“the next great cult band”), who both awarded it a perfect 5* stars. The EP’s pummelling singles‘Retributions Of An Awful Life’ and ‘Consistent Dedication’ led to nods in theNME 100 and Dork Hype List for 2023, while a string of further press plauditswere received elsewhere from the likes of The FADER, Dazed (On The Rise), TheSunday Times (Breaking Act), The Quietus, Loud And Quiet, The Line Of Best Fit, So Young Magazine (where she featured as cover star), CLASH, and many m0re.Both singles were added to the BBC Radio 6 Music playlist following support from Chris Hawkins, Steve Lamacq, Lauren Laverne, and Tom Ravenscroft at the station. The singles also grabbed spot plays from Radio X’s John Kennedy, BBC Radio 1’s Jack Saunders and Gemma Bradley, and Apple Music 1’s Matt Wilkinson.
Backed by a full live band, Heartworms’ performances are a masterclass in poise; she describes the theatre brought to each show, usually punctuated by her intense stare-as a kick back against preconceived notions of ‘smallness’ and fragility as a female musician. On stage, Heartworms’ projection is the very antithesis: we see an artist who is big, powerful, and in total control. Uniformity plays a huge role in all things Heartworms, too. The metronomic music and meticulous fashion of bands like Interpol and Kraftwerk greatly inspire her, as does PJ Harvey, whose dark sense of humour and lyrical dexterity permeate her songwriting. The result is a life-affirming exercise, an opportunity to expel her self and passions, which include military history(she has a volunteering role at The Royal Air Force Museum in Hendon) and the poetry of Pound, Thomas, and Keats.