Our friend Kyle Kerley of The Hemlocks (whom played the second ever I AM TUNED UP sponsored concert) tipped us off on this movement, based in Georgia. What started as a virtual collaboration between friends from afar evolved into a project meant to raise awareness of mental health issues, as well as push creative boundaries within the group itself.

The unity in The Sheffield EP lies more in its cause than in the actual music. Unsurprisingly, emotion permeates the overarching indie sound, peaking in the song “Remember These Words (Get Over It).” The four songs are full of twists and turns though – most noticeable in the transition (or lack thereof) from “Arcs of Our Garden” to “Lost Dreams Fade.” A dreamy, mysterious vibe in the former is driven by soothing female vocals backed by a slightly eerie theme in the melody. The New Wave vibes of “Lost Dreams Fade” piggy back on the trends set by modern powerhouses such as CHVRCHES, and indie bands like PacificUV. “Sheffield (You’re Gone)” is the easiest track to get into on first listen, with nothing too weird or passionate sticking out yet still making use of that dreamy, indie sound that’s becoming increasingly popular these days.

If you check out the Emergent Heart project seeking some sort of unifying sound you’ll be disappointed. Celebrate the myriad of contributors that result in a myriad of sounds. Who would have thought that a long distance marriage of two friends passionate about music would result in something so diverse and interesting? Obviously, the aim of Emergent Heart is to corral the intrigue built by the variety in their music toward a good cause, and likewise use the general unity in raising mental health awareness to draw attention to the music. They lean more toward the former strategy though, for sure!

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Check out Emergent Heart on Facebook, and buy the EP on iTunes.