On this episode of The Bandwich Tapes, I sit down with Sarah Anderson and Paul DeHaven of Heavy Diamond Ring for a conversation about a musical partnership that has lasted more than two decades, the evolution of their approach to making records, and the band’s new EP, Let Love Be Enough.
Sarah and Paul first met when they were young musicians in Colorado and quickly began making music together. Their partnership eventually led to more than a decade in Paper Bird and, later, Heavy Diamond Ring. We talk about what allows a musical relationship to survive that long, why friendship and humor matter as much as musicianship, and how Heavy Diamond Ring developed into a band where listening to one another is more important than filling every available space.
That idea of space becomes a big part of our conversation. Paul talks about moving away from a more cerebral approach to playing and becoming increasingly interested in restraint, feel, and music that creates a place for the listener to inhabit. Sarah describes a similar evolution, from wanting to fill every space and make everything perfect to realizing that sometimes the most powerful thing a band can do is simply let a song breathe.
We also dig into the making of Let Love Be Enough, which began when the band took advantage of some extra time on tour in Minnesota and decided to experiment with recording away from their usual environment. That experience eventually brought them back to Minnesota to finish the EP, giving the band a chance to rethink some of its usual studio habits. Sarah talks about gaining confidence as a singer in a different recording environment, while Paul discusses the creative value of limitations and treating each record as a snapshot of who the band is at that particular moment.
Throughout the conversation, we keep returning to the idea of capturing something human. Sarah and Paul talk about imperfection, live performance, musical communication, and why a record doesn’t have to be polished into perfection to be right. We also discuss Sarah’s vocal influences, including Dolly Parton, Joni Mitchell, Fleetwood Mac, and Courtney Marie Andrews, the band’s connection to the sounds of the 1970s, and why Heavy Diamond Ring ultimately wants its records to sound and feel like people making music together.
Key Takeaways
• Sarah Anderson and Paul DeHaven have been making music together for more than two decades, beginning when they were young musicians in Colorado and continuing through Paper Bird and Heavy Diamond Ring.
• Friendship, communication, and humor have been essential to their musical partnership and to the chemistry of Heavy Diamond Ring.
• The band has gradually moved toward a more spacious approach to arranging, where restraint, listening, and knowing when not to play are as important as the notes themselves.
• Let Love Be Enough began during a tour stop in Minnesota, giving Heavy Diamond Ring an opportunity to experiment with recording away from its usual studio environment.
• Sarah found that working in a different studio and without the familiarity of recording with her brother helped build her confidence as a vocalist.
• The band increasingly views recording as capturing a moment rather than creating a definitive, perfect version of a song. Imperfection can preserve the humanity and communication of musicians playing together.
• Heavy Diamond Ring draws inspiration from the feel and sound of classic recordings while keeping the focus on songs, dynamics, collaboration, and the musical relationship between the players.
Music from the Episode
The One You Use - Heavy Diamond Ring
Problems Got Problems - Heavy Diamond Ring
Whatever You Need - Heavy Diamond Ring
About the Podcast
The Bandwich Tapes is a podcast about music, the people who make it, and the experiences that shape their creative lives. I sit down with musicians, songwriters, producers, and other artists for thoughtful conversations about craft, collaboration, careers, influences, and the stories behind the music.
Connect with the Show
contact@thebandwichtapes.com
