HOKO Release New Single ‘Back Into Your Heart’, Announce Headline New York & Los Angeles Shows

Photo Credit: Mama Hot Dog – (L to R: Nathaniel Hoho & Jesse Kotansky)

One of the hottest alternative bands out of New York HOKO returns with a bright and buoyant new single entitled “Back Into Your Heart” out now via EQT Recordings/Republic Records. Listen to “Back Into Your Heart” HERE.

The track layers neon synths over a danceable guitar groove. As keys shimmer, an instantly chantable chorus rings out, “When will I ever find my way back into your heart?” A surge of energy culminates on a hummable and hypnotic solo. Right out of the gate, it immediately transfixes, highlighting HOKO’s uncanny knack for a hook.

On the new music the band said: “‘Back Into Your Heart’ is a song reminiscing on a distant past, wondering how things may have been different, had we acted differently. Setting – NY, NY. Experience – life changing.”

Stay tuned for the premiere of a cinematic music video to accompany the track.

Next up, HOKO will headline intimate shows on both coasts. They perform at Mercury Lounge in New York, NY on February 19 and 28^th and at Moroccan Lounge in Los Angeles, CA on March 5th.

Get tickets HERE.

They capped off 2023 with “Higher.” Beyond plugs from East Portland Blog and more, it has begun to gain traction on streaming platforms.

It followed on the heels of “Ephemera.” Of the latter, Melodic Magazine raved, “The chorus is an immediate sing-a-long and “Ephemera” will surely be a fixture in anyone’s “Moving On” mixtape,” and Kings of A&R praised, “HOKO creates a unique style that mixes alternative and experimental pop music. Their music has elements of psychedelia and rock.” Pop Passion proclaimed, “It’s a much more upbeat and fun take on a breakup song—so much so that you can’t help but bob your head and sing along to its excellent lyrics.” Not to mention, CBS’ “Music Minute” notably featured the band too!

The band has consistently unveiled critically acclaimed tracks. Of “Pretender,” MUD Magazine praised, “The song, written in collaboration with renowned musicians Mikey Shoes (Queens of the Stone Age) and Zackary Dawes (Lana Del Rey, Last Shadow Puppets), showcases HOKO’s unique sound and their ability to craft captivating melodies.”

Excitement continues to grow for more from the band…

The group has quietly emerged as an outlier presence with its enticing and entrancing hybrid of danceable grooves, artful instrumentation, and universally powerful pop hooks. They have generated over 50 million cumulative streams and dropped their independent debut Heathen EP in 2021. At the same time, they’ve also packed houses coast-to-coast on tour.

Be on the lookout for more.

Like a wild flickering image projected in widescreen, HOKO stretch alternative into 360-degree pop. The New York band—Nathaniel Hoho [vocals] and Jesse Kotansky [guitar]—invite immersion into layers of rich soundscape architecture and hypnotically hummable hooks. Painting in broad strokes of psychedelia and rock, they unearth an uncategorizable and undeniable sound equally malleable and magnificent in its execution. Making a choice to pursue his passion full-time, Central Pennsylvania native Nathaniel honed his chops on the streets, traveling from one college and beach to another, busking to survive, and sleeping in the car. Eventually, he settled in Brooklyn where he first crossed paths with Jesse at a barbecue. A world-class musician, Jesse shined as a Balkan violinist throughout his childhood, traveling to Turkey at six-years-old to perform and, eventually, playing with a myriad of artists. Inspired by David Bowie, Queen, The Smashing Pumpkins, Tame Impala, The Strokes, The Beatles, and The Beach Boys, the pair hit it off and “started experimenting with new sounds in a pop space.” The guys caught the attention of EQT and signed in 2020 as “OK OK” impacted radio and reeled in over 4.9 million Spotify streams, paving the way for their independent EP Heathen. Highlighted by fan favorites “Candy Eyes” and “Hellogoodbye” (which fellow alternative maverick PVRIS officially remixed), the band continued to gain traction in between performing with X Ambassadors and more. Generating streams in the tens of millions, this vision comes into focus like never before on a series of 2023 singles for EQT Recordings/Republic Records introduced by “Hazy.”