Brighton duo The Heavy Heavy build songs that feel like classic rock’s most sunlit corners, but with the focus and practicality of a modern touring act. Their sound is rooted in late-60s reference points and a nostalgic rock-key repertoire - a formula that has carried them from hit-TV soundtracks to sharing stages with The Black Keys.
We joined Will and Georgie in their home studio along the British south coast to see how that balance plays out in real time, and how AstroLab 37 expands a live setup dependent on a range of bread-and-butter rock sounds.
“It’s like classic rock and roll but up to date but with all of the glorious golden sound of those old records.”
From Brighton beginnings
The Heavy Heavy didn’t spend years refining a slow rollout. After starting to play together in 2019, they shared songs online with low expectations. A chain reaction followed, from soundtracking hit US TV shows to fast-moving touring opportunities and now warming up for The Black Keys. This has been helped by a live setup that can easily adapt to the demands of each gig.
That pace has sharpened what they value most. The goal is still a classic-feeling record, but the day-to-day needs are very current: quick demos, portable rigs, and a stage workflow that reduces the stress load.
1968 reimagined
Will describes their aesthetic as a collision of places and eras, Laurel Canyon sensitivity, Muscle Shoals grit, and a distinctly British edge. The point isn’t to recreate the past but to honour it and reanimate its warmth and character for today’s audiences.
Keys are central to that identity. Organ tones and electric pianos are not decorative layers in their world; they’re stylistic anchors that define the atmosphere of a song from the first bar.
I like to describe it as a mix between Laurel Canyon, Muscle Shaws, and London in 1968, but in 2025.
No-laptop, surely
For Will and Georgie, live performance needs to feel direct and human. A laptop-led approach may offer flexibility, but it comes with certain risks and limitations. Their live identity depends on confidence and immediacy, a setup that feels like part of the band rather than something on the side.
That philosophy makes AstroLab a natural fit. The 61-key version is already a mainstay on the road, and the 37-key model brings the same engine into a compact form that can serve as an auxiliary keyboard, a travel-ready writing tool, and a lightweight option for remote recording. The ability to turn recorded sounds into setlist-ready playlists also removes the cognitive load of hunting patches mid-set.
The idea of having a laptop on stage and doing it with MIDI is nauseating. No real rock and roll band should have a laptop on stage.
It all started with a Vox Continental
Will’s path into the Arturia ecosystem began with a practical search for a specific cornerstone sound. He was looking for the best emulation of a Vox Continental, cut through a few options and then found Arturia’s version. The discovery widened quickly. Realising that the Farfisa was also on offer made Arturia an intuitive choice for the band’s core keyboard sounds.
The final shift happened when it became possible to house these classic instruments in one integrated instrument. With AstroLab, the sounds could move into a dedicated stage instrument that matched the band’s values and needs, hands-on, dependable, and ready for the road.
I’ve got two of the biggest things that make up the sound I’m trying to make…Then I discovered that you could have this on a stage keyboard.
All about the keys
During our session, their approach came into focus through a fast-building sketch anchored by some V Collection cornerstones that sit at the heart of The Heavy Heavy’s sonic DNA.
Vox Continental V sets the foundation, shaped into a low, mellow bed by pulling back the drawbars. Wurli V follows with a familiar preset at the core, then placed into the track with added reverb. For lift and atmosphere, Mellotron V completes the world with understated strings chosen for their classic, restrained character.
It’s a no-frills approach and makes their psych-rock workflow instantly accessible and crucially, sounding like the real thing.
I’ll normally look for a world. I’m not really looking for songs to start with — I’m looking for a soundscape.
From demos to live shows
Will and Goergie’s home setup in Brighton is built for fast capture. The point isn’t to create a precious studio version and then reinvent it for live performance. It’s to establish a sound world early, refine it, and preserve that identity when going live.
This is where AstroLab’s ecosystem becomes central. They can begin with a familiar V Collection preset, make small adjustments, and then move that version straight onto AstroLab for stage use. Instead of chasing a “close enough” patch later, they’re carrying the original sound and intention forward - organised into a quick-access playlist.
For a duo whose sound relies on recognizable keys, that continuity matters. It reduces stress and keeps their sound original by leaving space for new ideas and custom patch settings.
A personal connection
The Heavy Heavy keep the soul alive of some of the world’s most beloved rock sounds and motifs, but in a way that is uniquely theirs. The pace of their career has sharpened what they value most: a setup that protects the spirit of their influences while staying light, dependable, and ready for the realities of travel.
The AstroLab range fits in perfectly. It lets them treat classic keys as living ingredients and allows them to be carried between sessions and stages - so they can share the inexhaustibly uplifting, incandescent glow of their sound with freedom and confidence.
