Howard Healy on his new solo project

Rares is a project from the mind of Howard Healy, previously on bass, guitars and vocals of Bluetile Lounge.

Amongst the grunge fuelled music scene of the 90s, Bluetile Lounge were a band that slowed down and played quiet, subverting many of the shoegaze genre tropes.

Their debut LP Lowercase released in 1995 championed by Guy Blackman of Chapter Music, Alan Sparhawk of the band Low and Steve Shelley from Sonic Youth, Half Cut followed in 1998, there’s a compilation appearance, then they were gone – a cult-like following to develop in their absence. 

Rares is a reflection of the timeless, intimate sound that Bluetile Lounge were known for. Howard Healy’s vision comes together perfectly with dreamy guitars, moody vocals and atmospheric drums, with the help of collaborator Pat Thomson.

After 30 years, Howard Healy returns solo with a new EP, Idols to Time Unkind and joins Breakfast’s Pam Boland to talk about it.