Raised up in Possum Kingdom, South Carolina, the sons of an Assembly of God pastor, brothers Bear and Bo Rinehart developed an early enthusiasm for music, learning piano from their mom, then moving on to guitar in their teens. As they grew older, the brothers walked different paths – Bear pursued college football, earning several all-time Furman University records and winning the 2002 Banks McFadden trophy, while Bo studied architecture at Clemson (though he too excelled on the gridiron, appearing in a supporting role in the 2003 football drama, Radio).
Despite their respective successes, the Rineharts still dreamt of making music. After graduation, Bear and Bo returned home to Seneca, South Carolina and, with drummer Joe Stillwell and bassist Seth Bolt completing the quartet, devoted their considerable energies to NEEDTOBREATHE. The band’s expressive songwriting and aggressive regional touring saw an ardent fan following – known as “the Breathers” – rise up around the band in ever-increasing numbers.
Upon signing to Atlantic, NEEDTOBREATHE headed to the UK to record their debut album, “DAYLIGHT,” with British producer Andy Green (Keane, KT Tunstall). The band toured nearly non-stop following the album’s 2006 release, criss-crossing America as headliners as well as supporting such artists as Train, Jars of Clay, Edwin McCain, and Collective Soul.
“I feel like we haven’t been home since we first got signed,” Rinehart laughs, but the constant touring proved productive in many ways, helping NEEDTOBREATHE define its sound while also inspiring a ream of new songs. In the fall of 2006, the band began work on “THE HEAT,” initiating pre-production at Old Plantation, the studio that Bolt – who has a degree in record engineering – opened when he was just 16. Over the next six months, NEEDTOBREATHE divided their time between Seneca and Atlanta, recording at both Rick Beato’s Black Dog Studio and Ed Roland’s Tree Sounds. Having recorded their debut in England, NEEDTOBREATHE found that working nearer to home allowed them to be more at ease, with their lighter spirit having its effect on the album’s overall tone.
In addition to the partnership with Beato and Roland, the sessions also saw the band taking the reins by producing a number of tracks on their own. For all involved, the process of recording “THE HEAT” was a remarkably relaxed and collaborative effort.
“We felt like we could be more ourselves,” Rinehart explains. “When we were in places like San Francisco and played a song with a southern vibe, people still got it. It gave us a confidence that those things have a universal appeal. So making the record, if we wanted to use harmonica or slide guitar, things that are more southern, we went for it.”
“Our music is supposed to reflect who we are,” Rinehart says. “From what we’ve seen, people respond to you caring about something, singing passionately about whatever it is you’re passionate about. If your subject matter is something that’s important to you, whatever it is, that comes across to the audience.”
“We’re interested in building a career in music,” Rinehart says, “and playing live lets you develop the fan base that allows you to do that. I tell people all the time, ‘Oh, to be Wilco.’ That to me is a great career model. Bands that have a close, ongoing relationship with their fans are able to do more because it allows them to change and grow and make better and better music.”
