Autoheart: Finding Refuge in Heartlands

London-based queer indie pop trio Autoheart return with their fourth album Heartlands, out tomorrow via their own O/R Records through AWAL. Produced by the band and mixed by Danton Supple (Coldplay, U2, Pet Shop Boys), it’s a record that balances euphoric pop hooks with raw emotional depth — or, as the band put it, “crying at the disco – with harmonies.”

Born from the landscapes of their 2024 sold-out U.S. tour and shaped by their devoted fan community, the “Heartheads,” Heartlands is both an emotional reckoning and a love letter to those who’ve carried them this far.

Following the single “Denial” — a glittery anthem about thriving in chaos — the band will mark release week with sold-out shows in Manchester and London before embarking on a massive 36-date North American tour, their biggest to date.

We caught up with Jody, Simon, and Barney to talk contradictions, fans, and finding freedom on the road.

Q: Heartlands is described as “pop for overthinkers” and “crying at the disco – with harmonies.” How did you balance the emotional weight of the songs with the album’s campy, euphoric energy?

Jody: "Heartlands was all about embracing contradictions. We wanted to explore heavy emotional terrain — grief, longing, identity — but wrap it in something glittery and danceable. That contrast felt true to life, how we often process pain through joy, or find catharsis in movement and melody. The campiness wasn’t just aesthetic, it was a kind of emotional armor, a way to make vulnerability feel powerful. Harmonies helped too, they’re communal, uplifting, and they soften the blow of darker lyrics."

Q: “Denial” captures that paradox of thriving in a chaotic, unhealthy relationship. Was there a particular personal or observed experience that shaped the song’s narrative?

Jody: "Denial came from a mix of personal experience and observation. It’s that strange clarity you get when you look back at a relationship and realize how much of it was built on fantasy or avoidance. I’ve seen people, including myself, stay in situations that were clearly toxic, but somehow felt like home. The song tries to capture that surreal, almost cinematic quality of dysfunction. The highs are euphoric, the lows are devastating, and you’re constantly rewriting the story to make it make sense."

Q: The landscapes of your 2024 U.S. tour clearly left a mark on Heartlands. Can you share a specific roadside moment that became a song or lyric?

Simon: "We basically drove round the whole of the US over two weeks and some of the drives were epic — from Seattle to the Bay Area, from Phoenix to Dallas then Atlanta then New York. The driving, incessant rhythm at the core of 'Indigo Chateau' came during that time. There was a strange eeriness to some of the landscapes that set a tone for the track. But the biggest influence was the energy of the gigs — it was the first time we'd played live in almost a decade, and it reignited something in us."

Q: Your fans, the “Heartheads,” sound like a huge creative force in your journey. How have they influenced not just this album, but your approach to making music overall?

Jody: "The Heartheads are incredible. They’re not just listeners, they’re collaborators in spirit. Their interpretations, fan art and messages have shaped how we think about our music. With 'Heartlands,' we felt more connected to them than ever, and that pushed us to be braver and more honest. Knowing that our songs might help someone feel seen or understood means so much to us."

Q: You’ve blended indie guitars, lo-fi disco, soaring piano ballads, and electronic textures across your career. Did Heartlands push you into any new sonic territory that surprised you?

Barney: "It wasn't a surprise — more a return to what made us pick up instruments in the first place. The live band — piano, vocals, guitar, drums. This is the first time we've all sung on a record (with Simon and me doing BVs) which was fun. The three of us have quite different approaches to music, different motivations and things that move us, so there's always that tension pulling in different directions that ends up in this harmonious place... eventually."