Feature / One Question Interviews
Divided Heaven

Words: Loren • September 5, 2019

Divided Heaven
Divided Heaven

Divided Heaven

What is the strangest trend you see in modern music (music-wise or industry-wise)?

The strangest trend I see in modern music is the return of the cassette tape. Who would've thought? I know, I know...there are cassette tape purists that will claim the media format never really went away and that's true. But one cannot deny their severe decline in popularity when CDs came around. It's not that I am not into the idea of cassette tapes, I simply don't get it. I don't understand the resurgence. Personally, I am a CD guy. I love collecting CDs. I also love collecting vinyl. Side note: I find it quite annoying when I read about how popular vinyl is now because it has always been popular in punk and hardcore. It never stopped being popular in punk and hardcore and I suspect it never will.

Sonically, tapes can't compare to other formats (especially vinyl) and maintaining their quality can be difficult. How many times have you had to stop the tape deck, open it and very carefully pull out the tape while trying not to tear the delicate tape ribbon after it was half-eaten and chewed up by your increasingly insufficient (and hungry) tape deck? If you're a kid born in the ‘70s or ‘80s then you know what I'm talking about. 

Now, I should clarify that our previous album, Youngblood, was released in all formats including cassette tape. But before you rush to judgement and acuse me of eating my words please allow me to indulge you with a story.... I played the Punk Rock Bowling and Music Festival in 2013 and met a young couple, Brian and Kristen Burdzy. These two lovebirds were newlyweds, just married in Vegas that morning, and liked my music. I was the first band they saw live since tying the knot that day. We became fast friends and then they offered to put out our next record on cassette. It would be their first release as a couple on their label Music Is None Of Our Business Records and stands as a token of rememberance for their wedding day and subsequent anniversaries. Well, I'm happy to say the release came to fruition (and they've since gone out of print) and the happy couple now live in Connecticut with their daughter, Sheena. 

---

Divided Heaven has a new record, Cold War, out now on Wiretap Records/Paper+Plastick Records. Stream it via Spotify or buy it from the band.

Pictured: Sheena

 

Loren • September 5, 2019

Divided Heaven
Divided Heaven

Related features

Scene Point Blank's Favorites: The Year So Far (July 2025)

Music • July 6, 2025

We're halfway through the year: when did that happen?! Luckily for you, SPB is on hand to share the music we've enjoyed most in 2025 thus far. Read on to hear about the records that have made our top list for this year as it stands, and also some bonus … Read more

Shane Herrell: A Tribute

Music • July 6, 2025

Shane Herrell: Rest In Power(pop) (1980-2025) The Rocker I try to live my life with as few regrets as possible. Sadly I never got the chance to hear my friend Shane Herrell karaoke Thin Lizzy’s "The Rocker." As a singing bass player we don’t have enough heroes. It might just … Read more

Unseemlier

One Question Interviews • June 27, 2025

Mike Assatly (Unseemlier - guitar/vocals) SPB: Do you have a preferred model of van for touring? Assatly: Chevy G-20 Gladiator! It was my first van, I got it from my uncle with 115,000 on it. He got rid of it for a new van because it was "old" and would … Read more

Dollar Store

One Question Interviews • June 26, 2025

Dave Slaverave (Dollar Store - bass) SPB: This band hits a lot of styles, all kind of overlapping at the same time. How hard was it to find “your sound” when bringing these influences together? Slaverave: Not very hard at all actually. We're all old-ass adults who've soaked in a … Read more

Golden Shitters

One Question Interviews • June 25, 2025

Matt (Golden Shitters) How nervous were you the first time you played a show? My first show was around 2002. I was 15 years old and it was a basement house party in my hometown of Welland, Ontario. I’d just proved myself to my high school buddies by singing The … Read more

Related news

The Divided Heaven collection

Posted in Records on November 19, 2023

Cock Sparrer on ukelele

Posted in MP3s on May 6, 2023

Sam Russo joins Divided Heaven (for a song)

Posted in MP3s on January 15, 2023

More from this section

Unseemlier

One Question Interviews • June 27, 2025

Mike Assatly (Unseemlier - guitar/vocals) SPB: Do you have a preferred model of van for touring? Assatly: Chevy G-20 Gladiator! It was my first van, I got it from my uncle with 115,000 on it. He got rid of it for a new van because it was "old" and would … Read more

Dollar Store

One Question Interviews • June 26, 2025

Dave Slaverave (Dollar Store - bass) SPB: This band hits a lot of styles, all kind of overlapping at the same time. How hard was it to find “your sound” when bringing these influences together? Slaverave: Not very hard at all actually. We're all old-ass adults who've soaked in a … Read more

Golden Shitters

One Question Interviews • June 25, 2025

Matt (Golden Shitters) How nervous were you the first time you played a show? My first show was around 2002. I was 15 years old and it was a basement house party in my hometown of Welland, Ontario. I’d just proved myself to my high school buddies by singing The … Read more