Aree & The Pure Heart – The Heart Sounds of Punk

If things went according to plan, the world of punk rock may have never been introduced to Atlanta songwriter Aree Ogir.

 

In 2009, while teaching full-time, Aree’s hip hop group caught the attention of people at Atlantic Records and they eventually brought him on board to produce and write for their Top Forty roster. While juggling days in the classroom and long nights in the studio, Aree’s wife became pregnant with their daughter that would eventually become the inspiration for Aree’s band name. Their daugter was born with a congenital heart defect that required open heart surgery. After being denied insurance for their daughter due to a “pre-existing condition,” Aree left Atlantic to start a second job and get the medical insurance necessary to continue care for his daughter.

 

Fast forward 6 years and Aree has found the motivation, and made the time to start contributing to the world of music once again. The band just self-released their debut EP, Heartsongs. The 5-song EP is full of punk rock anthems that immediately bring to mind Against Me! and The Gaslight Anthem, while repeat listens allow you to hear the melodies of the best tracks from The Loved Ones and the hooks and pop sensibility of The Exploding Hearts.

 

Self-described as “rock n roll dog-toothed snarl, reckless, romantic, drunken, streetlight punk rock poetry from Atlanta, Georgia”, Aree found himself writing these songs in the early morning hours on the streets and in parking lots while his family slept until he’d come home just before sunrise.

 

Aree & The Pure Heart are already hard at work on the first full length and Aree is excited to share more of his story with the world.