You may know Heal to see them act in festivals like spring Sound. The Barcelona quartet formed by Laia Vehí, Dani Ambrosí, Edu Mató and Raúl Pérez – before groups such as Wind Atlas, North State, Wann or Glitterhouse – has published an album called ‘The Shiver’. In it we find indie-rock novelty, some folk and slowcore line.
In their presentation they talked about building music from a pseudo-improvision, which has a lot to do with the theme that Laia wanted to talk to us. Invited to Meister of the Week, our section curated by Jägermusic, Jägermeister’s musical program, wanted to talk about exactly composition habits. We also leave you with your upcoming live dates:
September 19, 2025 – San Agustín – Azpeitia
December 5, 2025 – Upload w/ waterc
December 6, 2025 – Sala El Sol W/ Water from Your Eyes – Madrid
Why have you chosen to talk about “creativity habits”? What are the different creativity habits that you have worked?
Laia: I have chosen it. It is an issue that I like and I consider importance within a life of writing songs, and creative in general. I do not see that you speak much, and I would like to find it in the interviews of artists that I like. I’m interested. In Heal as a band we have the habit of whether at any time someone starts playing something new, we all follow. Without questioning, judging, saying or waiting for anything. We accommodate you. We follow the game to the other. We recorded it and upload it to the drive. It is like an unwritten rule. You Never Know.
Is it an issue that has been the subject of debate among you? Have you considered different formulas?
Laia: It is an issue that has ever left in the van, since it is linked to the composition of the issues. Creative habits are personal. Each@ seeks and finds its way of relating to creativity. Everything is fine and it is something alive, which is changing and evolving with you. In my case now, I got in Heal, band which we make up live in the place together, there is not much time, and I write the lyrics, my creative habits have changed a lot and have addressed something concrete, which is: to be able to reach the premises and connect with the present in a comprehensive way and give my best. In order to get to that moment, there are several things to do them frequently, such as writing without having an end of producing anything, running, reducing or removing alcohol, or not entering bedroom screens. And of all of them there is one, which is working a lot (and with the hitch to the screens more) and it is before starting or writing, I prepare the space, I make breaths and stretches until I feel absolute calm and connected with curiosity. From there, without intermediaries, I begin to create.
But come on, Edu (bassist), for example touches a lot at home and when he arrives at the premises, three new tracks are taken by XD trial. o Dani (guitar) is a tennis geek and works to play non -stop and have energy up here and get riffs at home; And Raúl (drums) listen to a lot of music and has a bookstore in his mind that allows him to create with a huge perspective.
Don’t you believe in band, all together in the studio? Do you think that formula gives more entity as a group, which makes it more united?
Laia: Yes, 90% is created together in the premises. In our case, this is our seal, since we are all contributing our vision, which is often born and comes from different places. And 100% yes, composing together always joins because we enjoy doing it a lot. Those moments are the main reason why we make music. And we share that. Besides, we have magnetism, we understand each other well there.
We listen to a lot of the 90s, with his parents’ garage, in Heal’s music. What do you think of the curious form creation of Radiohead? They can have a song that does not convince them, they play it live, and at 20 years they finish rounding and editing it.
Laia: Radiohead is one of my pedestal bands so this question is happy! The songs are alive and when you play in band every time they sound different. For the team, for the energy you have and have that day, etc. Some songs when you record them in studio are fresh, green, or directly you have composed them there.
So over time they are vaining like wine. In some you are polishing and generating dynamics and/or in others simply take another direction. I think that 100% support everything that they want to do radiohead (laughs)
Is there an artist or group whose way of creating attracts you? Maybe these types of groups that make very long jams in the studio and then select parts for songs?
Laia: hmm … good question. I suppose that any artist and group that continues to enjoy and find their way of expressing, and strives a little to evolve and deliver something a bit different in each job. Thus, Big Thief occurs to me. For me they are a benchmark for taking many years and continuing to enjoy creating together from an honest and personal place. Always testing new ways to compose, record, evolve as musicians and as a band. And you hear that when you listen to them. This last album, for example, ‘Double Infinity’, notice the live, notes that left the songs open and that let third parties pass in the studio and let the music go wherever he wanted. They risk, they look.
Do you have people like Sonic Youth and I have it among your referents, or rather today’s artists, such as Phoebe Bridgers or Porridge Radio or Sprints?
Laia: We all like 80, 90 and 2025’s! In every decade there are amazing things.
As for the composition process, there are a couple of artists who have said interesting things. Nick Cave tells that he spends hours and hours to the piano, that inspiration does not come from heaven. Is there a lot of myth about that “illuminated” moment and what counts is work-work?
Laia: It is clear that in most cases, who is very good in something has invested a lot of time in it. And he is very good. It is also clear that within the composition, those “enlightened” moments exist, and to access them you must have the channel between you and creativity. From there, each one is a world and we get in different ways. And in the equation you will also influence your vital moment and what project you are. There are people for example with a capacity to connect with the present and their very high inner world and work differently. They may not need so many hours. Now, repetition, habits, help you keep that in time. Life is not always exciting. So my answer would be that those enlightened moments are
sporadic, and that if you want to feed them and/or compose all your life, work and habits are your amichis.
Along the same lines, Christina Rosenvinge speaks, which has her book of rhymes to consult, her methodology, thinks the right word a lot … are you in that line or are you more spontaneous?
Laia: in Heal so far I have written the lyrics, and usually, I am 100% spontaneous in the creation of vocal melodies, and then I write the lyrics from those sounds. So many times, those sounds condition the words. Christina writes in Spanish, and I am sure if I did too, she would be obsessed as she with the right word. English and also my style writing, allows me a certain distance between what I feel and say. And that leaves me a little with the words I choose. Anyway, I throw myself quite a while with the lyrics, I like them.
What song your song has benefited from a rapid and express creative process?
Laia: ‘Closer’, we were in full creation of the album ‘The Shiver’, I arrived at the premises and were Edu and Dani playing the riff that Edu had just left, I sat in front of him leaving the bag and put to record, and sang the entire melody of the pull.
Which one has been longer and have you turned more?
Laia: ‘The Mystery’ needed his time.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DBZB7S6T_pu
