"I think music has a huge impact on life and culture. Take a look at Nirvana and the whole grunge music movement, they shaped fashion, music, and a whole lifestyle. In my experience, music can save people from horrible situations."

Eric Heideman: Third Degree Gravity

Eric Heideman is a young musician from Salt Lake City, Utah. His breakout release, Third Degree Gravity (Release Date: June 30th, 2023), was recorded with a team of Grammy nominees and Blues Music Award and International Blues Challenge winners. Producers Victor Wainwright and JW-Jones, along with master engineer Dave Gross, brought their formidable talents to the table for this record. Heideman was a featured performer at the 2022 Utah Blues Festival and has traded riffs alongside some of the top blues artists in the world including Victor Wainwright, Nick Moss, JW-Jones, Albert Castiglia, Terrie Odabi, Marquise Knox, Vanessa Collier, Laura Chavez, and Mitch Woods.

(Eric Heideman / Photo © by Keith Fearnow)

"This is my most exciting release yet, and I am thrilled to have worked with such a critically acclaimed team," says Heideman. "This is the most soulful and high-quality record I've made, and in an intimate studio (Fat Rabbit Studios) where artists like Bob Margolin, Seth Walker, Debbie Davies, Candye Kane, Bruce Katz, Victor Wainwright, Tony Holiday, and the late David Maxwell have recorded.” Eric graduated from the University of Utah with a Bachelor's Degree in Jazz Guitar Performance where he studied under and played with Grammy-nominated Artist Kris Johnson.

Interview by Michael Limnios

What do you learn about yourself from the blues and what does the blues mean to you?

Through the blues I’ve learned to express myself in ways I didn’t think were possible. I’ve always known that I could express myself musically and convey any emotion I wanted, the blues helped me take that to the next level.

Blues to me means the expression of human emotion. It isn’t just about being sad or blue. When you listen to the great blues musicians you can hear joy, sadness, love, loss, peace, turmoil, pleasure, and grief. These emotions are captured in every bend, every squeeze, every wail.

How do you describe your sound and songbook? What's the balance in music between technique and soul?

My sound is definitely leaning toward the traditional blues side with a unique modern twist. I have many influences and I love blues, funk, jazz, soul, rock, neo-soul, etc. I am a  combination of BB King, Buddy Guy, the T-Birds, Anson Funderburg, Victor Wainwright, and JW-Jones for the electric side and Eric Bibb, Keb Mo, and Myles Kennedy for the resonator/acoustic side of things.

I think the blues is a language. It is a combination of vocabulary, technique, attitude, soul, and personality. All these things have to be present in any genre but particularly blues and jazz because they are so improvisatory. You can’t have technique without soul and vice versa, they both have to be present to create the best music. I strive to do this in my own writing and playing.              (Eric Heideman / Photo © by Marilyn Stringer)

"Through the blues I’ve learned to express myself in ways I didn’t think were possible. I’ve always known that I could express myself musically and convey any emotion I wanted, the blues helped me take that to the next level. Blues to me means the expression of human emotion. It isn’t just about being sad or blue. When you listen to the great blues musicians you can hear joy, sadness, love, loss, peace, turmoil, pleasure, and grief. These emotions are captured in every bend, every squeeze, every wail."

Currently you’ve one more release with Victor Wainwright and JW-Jones. How did that relationship come about?

I started taking lessons with JW during the Pandemic. I was in college studying jazz at the time and always wanted to take lessons with a real-deal blues artist. Since it was the pandemic and most everything was already online I thought why not give this guy in Canada a try? He has turned into a great mentor and an even better friend. JW brought along Victor to produce and play keys and Dave Gross to engineer. It was the perfect team for this record and I couldn’t have imagined anyone else doing as brilliant a job as them.

What do you miss most nowadays from the blues of the past? What are your hopes and fears for the future of?

I miss musicians getting the most out of every note they play and every line they sing. I feel like nowadays it’s all about how blistering fast you can play. Some musicians today aren't pushing those creative boundaries as much as they could be. I want to hear some fresh ideas still steeped in the blues roots.

What would you say characterizes the Utah blues scene in comparison to other local US scenes and circuits?

I’m not too familiar with other blues scenes and circuits but, I would say the local music scene in Utah is very small in comparison to other music cities, such as Memphis, Austin, and Nashville. Our blues fans are very dedicated and there is a small collective of real-deal blues cats in the scene.

"I miss musicians getting the most out of every note they play and every line they sing. I feel like nowadays it’s all about how blistering fast you can play. Some musicians today aren't pushing those creative boundaries as much as they could be. I want to hear some fresh ideas still steeped in the blues roots." (Eric Heideman / Photo © by Marilyn Stringer)

What is the impact of music on the socio-cultural implications? How do you want the music to affect people?

I think music has a huge impact on life and culture. Take a look at Nirvana and the whole grunge music movement, they shaped fashion, music, and a whole lifestyle. In my experience, music can save people from horrible situations. Sometimes it’s our only escape, our hope for a better life, it helps people keep going. That’s my hope, to make someone's life better and brighter because my music touched their soul. Yes, in all honesty, it would be great to win awards and all that but, the real thing is changing people's lives even if it’s just for a moment. If I can get the grouchy person at the back of the bar to smile or dance, I have done my job for the night.

What are some of the most important lessons you have learned from your experience in the music paths?

The biggest one has been disproving the myth that if you do something you love you won’t work a day in your life. The people I surround myself with have at least one side gig so they can do music. We all are busting all the time to make our dreams a reality. I have never worked as hard for something in my life as putting this new record together, not just musically but, on the business side as well. It’s one of the hardest and most rewarding things and I wouldn’t trade anything for it. I love the grind and love working towards transcribing a new BB King solo, creating new merch, or packing up my stuff into my third-story apartment at the end of a long day and late gig. Because of the work I do, I get to play the blues and share this amazing tradition with people.

Do you think there is an audience for blues music in its current state? or at least a potential for young people to become future audiences and fans?

I think for the blues to be relevant and appeal to a younger audience, the artists need to find a fresh and unique sound. I think a lot of artists are doing a great job in this regard and I’m trying to associate myself with them. I don’t think blues will ever be the “popular” genre again in the way it was before but, that doesn't concern me. I think if artists put on a killer show, put in the time, and write unique and fresh music, then the blues will endure. I see new fans enjoying my and others' music who weren't necessarily blues fans before and it's really refreshing when those moments happen.

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(Eric Heideman / Photo © by Keith Fearnow)