About
“Thanks in part to “Have You Ever” becoming a minor TikTok hit last year, Urban Heat has taken Austin’s clubs and America’s goth underground in such a blitz that it feels like it suddenly arose from the ether.” - Andy O’Conner, SPIN
Austin is known as the music capital of the world — and Urban Heat is one of its greatest exports. The band, formed only five years ago as the brainchild of singer/multi-instrumentalist Jonathan Horstmann, has quickly become known for their fiery live shows and infectious darkwave anthems that harken back to the ‘80s with a modern sensibility. Powered by the magnetic Horstmann’s melodic baritone vocals & the pummeling rhythm section of Kevin Naquin and Paxel Foley, UH have won over fans show by show.
Appearances at major California festivals like Cruel World and Darker Waves saw Urban Heat play to their biggest audiences yet, with their set pointed as one of the best of the day. At home, Urban Heat has long been the talk of SXSW & graced the stage of the Austin City Limits Festival.
The band’s debut EP Wellness (Spaceflight Records, 2022) introduced their cinematic, synth-driven sound, while their 2024 full-length The Tower (Artoffact Records) cemented their reputation as one of Austin’s most compelling acts. That same year, they embarked on a European tour supporting Molchat Doma, bringing their high-voltage live show to new audiences abroad. Known for merging shadowy 80s atmospheres with modern urgency, Urban Heat has played major festivals including ACL, Cruel World, and Darker Waves. In 2025, they signed to Sumerian Records, marking the start of a new chapter that builds on their relentless touring, growing fanbase, and powerful stage presence.
With their debut single on Sumerian set to release in the fall of 2025, Urban Heat is ready to show the world what anyone who has seen them already knows: they’re a band that is going to dominate the airwaves for years to come.
“The post-punk trio confronts the pervasive bleakness of life in pandemic-era America with an Atari blast of bubbling synths laid over insistent, body-shaking beats. These are not fluffy pop songs. Vocalist Jonathan Horstmann scratches at the many shades of malaise that have emerged as side effects of late-stage capitalism. He dances with darkness. He picks scabs 'til they bleed. He breaks through the pain.” - Deborah Sengupta Stith, Austin American-Statesman