“Challenging yet innovative… a sound that feels equally nostalgic yet future-facing.”
—Clash Magazine
“Striking. Cinematic. [The Heroic Enthusiasts’] creative collaborations deftly merge the intellectual and emotional.”
—Post Punk
“A rich and textured soundscape…with layers of synths and driving drum beats that toe the line between classic and refreshing.”
—Earmilk
The Heroic Enthusiasts’ second single, “Wake Me When It’s Over,” from their forthcoming record arrives September 17th, and with this new track, the duo’s partnership with legendary producer Stephen Hague takes a deeper course.
The New York duo—comprised of James Tabbi and Thomas Ferrara—was initially born from a shared love of Brit-pop, New Wave, and Post-Punk, following solo efforts and as founding members of bands Eleven Pond (Tabbi) and Bullseye (Ferrara). The pair’s ascent over the past two years is as remarkable as it is refreshing—evidence that musicianship, songwriting, and studio expertise still matter in today’s all-too-often jaded music world. Furthermore, their almost two-year working relationship with Hague has now grown into one of mutual respect and friendship, and the duo now finds themselves collaborating with the visionary music maker whose sound defines not only the duo’s own influences, but pop music’s past five decades.
“As we began working on this new record and sharing our ideas and sketches, Stephen began to rifle through some song seeds of his own, and before we knew it, we were in a deep and wonderful dive of co-writing,” says Tabbi. “One track he sent consisted of a simple, stuttered drum pattern, a driving bass line, and an ethereal synth pad,” adds Ferrara. “It came with Stephen’s caveat: ‘Speaking of Depeche … did I send you this? Might be a bit too NIN, but it does have something.’ Well, it certainly did.”
Tabbi and Ferrara started to sketch out the next set of ideas for the song—Tabbi with initial lyrics and melody, and Ferrara composing his signature guitar touches and counter melodies that moved the song into a brighter and hookier lane. Hague loved the additions, and the “Wake Me When It’s Over” collaboration was in full swing.
This second single from the duo’s new album Illuminate (out in early 2025) continues an astonishing arc for The Heroic Enthusiasts—their band has amassed a fanbase on four continents and half-a-million streams across the release of two critically acclaimed EPs, two groundbreaking covers of 80s classics, and two stunning remixes of Lesley Gore’s classic “You Don’t Own Me.”
Clash Magazine hails The Heroic Enthusiasts as “Challenging yet innovative … a sound that feels equally nostalgic yet future-facing.” Post Punk calls the duo’s work “Striking, cinematic … creative collaborations [that] deftly merge the intellectual and emotional.” Plastic Magazine adds, “A stunning synth pop sound full of pulsing rhythms, vibrant synth tones, and delicate guitar flourishes, all capped by [James Tabbi’s] rich vocal leads.”
The Heroic Enthusiasts’ “Wake Me When It’s Over,” co-written and produced by Stephen Hague, is out September 17th on Meridian (ECR Music Group).