Alaskan Americana duo The Heists have released new track “Break & Mend” along with a video, which is the title track from their new EP, out September 24th, 2026. Based in Juneau, The Heists’ music is steeped in love for the natural world and for community.
Break & Mend refers to the role of the beautiful but unforgiving landscape of Alaska and marks the first time the husband and wife, with Erin on guitar and vocals and Andrew on vocals, mandolin, and guitar, have recorded as equal partners after 21 years together.
Produced by Patrick M’Gonigle (Bella White, The Lonely Heartstring Band), the EP was recorded at Frostline Studios in Anchorage, Alaska, in full, live takes, with everyone in a room playing together.
Both members of the duo are drawn to old-time traditions in Folk and Bluegrass, with Erin growing up in Southeast Alaska. Erin is interested by the “rural-urban divide, shaped by a life spent in isolated fishing towns”as well as being struck by “wanderlust and curiosity about the human condition.” Andrew grew up outside of Philadelphia and is now an Alaskan via Portland, Oregon.
Erin says:
Part of what I’ve always loved about Bluegrass, old-time, Country, Blues, and other American roots song styles is how the themes, characters, and stories all remind me of Alaskan life.
The six songs on Break & Mend center around the idea that “nature doesn’t care what you do; it can both heal and kill you—which feels like a very Alaskan thing.”
Erin adds about making the EP:
From the first day of rehearsal, recording Break & Mend felt like the kind of magic that can only happen in Alaska. We rehearsed around the dinner table on St. Patrick’s Day and were fed endlessly incredible food. Our friends’ house is situated in a forest of birch trees, with the cool pinks and blues that only exist in the long March light of an Anchorage winter, reflected off the trees and snow around us.
The EP will be released via Muskeg Collective, of which The Heists are founding members. The Juneau-based group of singer-songwriters includes Josh Fortenbery and Taylor Dallas Vidic. The Heists contributed to both of their recent releases, further underscoring the way collaboration lives inside of their Alaskan community.
Andrew adds about the EP:
This project came about from an unexpected change in plans, and yet I don’t think we could have planned it any better if we tried. Arrangements were made relatively quickly to make this recording happen, and the fact that we ended up with this group of musicians, engineer and producer, staying in such an unbelievably beautiful spot felt magical and perfect.
