We heart Heartworms

Croydon’s music scene and connections continue to flourish, spanning multiple genres and cultures. This week’s connection is pretty much one of the most talked about new artists on the tipping point of huge stardom. Let me introduce you to Heartworms aka singer, songwriter Jojo Orme whose latest single, ‘24 Hours’ has a Croydon link.

Watch the video below. Recognise this location?

Heartworms is signed to what is one of the UKs hottest labels, Speedy Wunderground (Lounge Society/Honey Glaze) with producer, Dan Carey at the helm. For those who don’t know, Dan Carey not only runs one of the most exciting labels out there, but is also an incredible producer having worked with artists such as Wet Leg, Sinead O’Brien, Fontaines DC and Grimes, to name but a few.

Heartworms recently paid our fair borough a visit to create her latest music video for single ‘24 hours’, directed by Gilbert Trejo and shot at none other than Stanley Arts. The single is taken from the musician’s newly-released debut EP, ‘A Comforting Notion’, which is receiving rave reviews across national and regional press and rightfully so! Another Croydon link is that Heartworms’ bass player also happens to play in Croydon band ‘Ski Lift’ – oh the connections!

The EP itself is a stunning collection of musical wonder. A Pandora’s box of emotions that encapsulates the best of dark 80s synth bands, PJ Harvey, early Interpol, a bit of Depeche Mode perhaps but certainly post-punk goth and spoken word.

The video for the latest single ‘24 Hours’ is a beautifully rich and haunting journey in black and white which reflects the everyday struggles by adolescents, something that Jojo Orme knows all too well having overcome racism and sexism in education as well as in the music industry. Orme stands tall in the face of it all and proves that she is ready to take on the world.

A poet, a skilled songwriter and musician who does not hold back in her artist expression. Whose art is powerful, intense and explosive. There is a reason this star is rising up and grabbing attention. A warrior, a rebel, a legend in the making. Heartworms is here to stay and proud we are to have her name added to Croydon’s ever increasing links to music.