Exploring the Musical Journey of Vocalist Matic Blagonič from Hei'An

Photo Credit: Matic Kutin

Welcome to Hawk-IT Interviews, the place where we highlight talented musicians, rising bands, and the creative individuals helping shape today’s evolving music scene. In this special interview feature, we are excited to welcome Matic Blagonič, the passionate and dynamic vocalist of Slovenia’s progressive metal band, Hei’An.

Over the years, Hei’An has built a strong reputation for delivering music filled with raw emotion, cinematic atmosphere, and explosive energy. Their sound blends elements of modern metal, progressive influences, melodic textures, and powerful storytelling to create songs that leave a lasting impact on listeners. Whether through crushing instrumentals, soaring vocal performances, or deeply personal lyrics, the band has continued to connect with fans around the world on a meaningful level.

With every release, Hei’An pushes creative boundaries while remaining authentic to their artistic vision. Their ability to combine intensity with vulnerability has helped them stand out within the modern metal scene, earning praise from listeners who appreciate both emotional depth and musical complexity. Their live performances are equally captivating, bringing an unmatched level of passion and energy that continues to grow their international audience.

In this exclusive conversation, Matic shares insight into his personal musical journey, the formation and evolution of Hei’An, and the experiences that have shaped him both as a vocalist and songwriter. We also dive into the creative process behind the band’s latest album, “𝐊𝐢𝐬𝐬 𝐎𝐮𝐫 𝐆𝐡𝐨𝐬𝐭𝐬 𝐆𝐨𝐨𝐝𝐛𝐲𝐞,” discussing the themes, emotions, and inspirations that influenced the record. Along the way, we talk about the challenges of being an independent band, the importance of connecting with fans through music, future goals for Hei’An, and much more.

Join us as we take a closer look into the world of Hei’An and the mind behind the voice that continues to help shape the band’s powerful and emotionally driven sound.

Let's begin the interview!!!

Amit Ahuja: To begin at the very foundation of your story, we’d love to step back into your early years. What were the environments you grew up in like—your hometown, the culture, the people, the energy, and the sense of community surrounding you during childhood and your teenage years?

Matic Blagonič: Growing up in the 2000s, one of the best eras for mankind in my opinion, and being a teen in the 2010s, was definitely something I’ll always be grateful for. I was always more of a lone wolf and didn’t feel like I was part of any “community” so to speak, but I actually always liked that, and although I have found a sense of community in some aspects now as an adult, I’m still very much like that in a lot of regards. I’d definitely say I had a happy childhood, and although I did struggle with - at the time, still undiagnosed - depression and a bunch of personal issues in my teenage years, I still wouldn’t take any of it back, and would likely redo it all again if I could turn back time. Every experience shaped me into who I am, and it’s when I really fell in love with music and decided I wanted to go down this career path.

Amit Ahjuja: Looking back now, how do you feel those formative experiences, relationships, struggles, and moments of inspiration shaped not only the person you became, but also your emotional depth, artistic perspective, and the way you approach creativity and self-expression today?

Matic Blagonič: It definitely shaped me a lot! Although I’m the kind of person that tries to constantly learn, grow, evolve and adapt, so my emotional depth, artistic perspective, creativity and self-expression are all ever-evolving concepts for me. I’d honestly say that I’ve done most of my emotional and artistic growth as a young adult rather than as a kid, I was still confused and trying to learn who I truly am - whatever that means - in those years. But every experience leads to another, and everything is built brick by brick, so those formative years definitely set me on the path I’m on today.

Amit Ahuja: Walk us through your musical journey. When did music first enter your life in a meaningful way? Was there a defining moment, memory, or experience that shifted you from being a listener to feeling compelled to create?

Matic Blagonič: Absolutely! I must have been like 7 years old when half my class in elementary school developed a sudden obsession with AC/DC. I haven’t quite fallen into that rabbit hole, but to kind of “fit in” I did search up AC/DC on YouTube to see what all the fuss is about. And don’t get me wrong, I liked what I heard, but I didn’t quite become a “super fan”. But I remember seeing a random YouTube recommendation then, and the recommended song was Iron Maiden - ‘The Trooper’. I’d never heard of Iron Maiden before, but as soon as I listened to that song, my mind was absolutely blown. It’s from that moment onwards that I started listening to music in a more serious manner, started to learn guitar, and the rest is history.

Amit Ahuja: What made you start singing in the first place, who were the artists or musical influences that shaped you growing up, and was there a specific moment when you realized singing was something you wanted to pursue seriously rather than just as a hobby?

Matic Blagonič: How I started singing is actually a bit of a funny story.. I always kind of wanted to sing, but always felt like I didn’t have a good enough voice. Then in high school - I was studying classical guitar at the Conservatory of Music in Ljubljana at the time - my solfeggio professor, during a “sung” solfeggio exercise, pointed out that he thought I had a really good singing voice and an impressive range and immediately connected me with some singing professors there and I started taking vocal lessons as well at that point. I fell in love with singing so much that now I mostly just sing (well and produce) and play guitar very rarely to be honest. And yes, I knew right there and then that I wanted to do it professionally at some point.

Amit Ahuja: When it came to Hei’An, what initially pulled you toward the genre you work within today, and beyond just the heaviness or technical aspects of the music and, what was it about the culture, atmosphere, emotional expression, or sense of community surrounding that scene that connected with you personally?

Matic Blagonič: Honestly, I listen to an abundance of different genres and migrate from genre to genre, style to style and “favorite artist to favorite artist” a lot. I had a big metal phase, and around the time I started Hei’An I had this big post-metal / prog phase, so our first album definitely shows that a lot. When we were working on our second album, I started listening to more and more metalcore, deathcore, alt rock and pop, and a bunch of electronic music, and you can really hear that. Recently, I’ve been listening to a bunch of alt rock, Kpop and dark pop, and you can really hear that with our recently released ‘Piercing Blue’. I view Hei’An as kind of my own personal musical diary in so many ways, and I’d honestly feel trapped and hate it if I were to confine it to just one genre. I always want Hei’An to have “a uniquely distinct recognizable sound”, but not limit myself with genre or stylistic limitations in the slightest. Much like bands like Linkin Park, Bring Me The Horizon, Twenty One Pilots, Chase Atlantic etc. do it, but in a unique and genuine “Hei’An way”.

Amit Ahuja: Were there any bands or artists that inspired you to experiment with blending different genres together in order to create your band’s sound and its identity?

Matic Blagonič: Well, I’d definitely say the Hei’An identity is an ever-evolving one, and all of us listening to a bunch of different stuff, and especially me as the main songwriter migrating from genre to genre and Hei’An being my “musical diary” of sorts, really plays into that. In terms of genre-bending bands that love to fuse different elements into one like this, I’d definitely say some of our biggest influences in terms of this philosophy would be Bring Me The Horizon, Linkin Park, Sleep Token and bands like that, but as I said, we also take inspiration from super heavy artists like Humanity’s Last Breath, Lorna Shore etc., alt rock artists like Sleep Theory, Nevertel, Papa Roach etc., dark pop artists like Chase Atlantic, Artemas, David Lee etc., Kpop artists like Jennie, Blackpink, aespa, Kep1er, BTS etc., electronic artists like Skrillex, Jon Hopkins, Anyma etc., and numerous, numerous others.

Amit Ahuja: Were there any risks or challenges you faced when combining multiple influences together, especially in a scene where audiences sometimes expect artists to stay within one specific style?

Matic Blagonič: Well, I’d say that luckily there’s a huge audience, that’s still growing more and more, that’s really open to that and a lot of people are starting to see “music as music” and not worrying that much about “genre limitations” anymore, and we really, REALLY love that. My philosophy is that if a song is good, it’s good, and a song can be good within ANY genre on this Earth, and I’m happy to see more and more music listeners thinking the same way. A lot of our fans are metalheads, a lot of them are from the metalcore world, but more and more of them are from the pop world, rock world etc., and I’m happy to see this synergy of music as a whole happening globally, and within our own - still growing - fanbase as well.

Amit Ahuja: Since Hei’An has been around since 2022, was there a particular song, release, or creative turning point where you felt the band truly discovered its identity and signature sound, and did that moment also play a role in helping your music gain wider attention through platforms like TikTok and other social media spaces?

Matic Blagonič: I view life as a continuous journey, continuous learning experience and continuous evolution, and I view our musical career pretty much the same way. Luckily, I seem to have a fairly distinct songwriting style and very unique voice - at least so I keep being told - so anything I write, regardless of particular stylistic choices, ends up sounding genuine and “very much Hei’An”, which I’m very happy about. But that being said, the Hei’An artistic identity really IS an ever-evolving one, and I could name each release and milestone as its own little turning point in a way. Slowly gaining more attention on socials, and especially TikTok in particular, definitely plays into that as well, especially because it really made me see just how open audiences are to pretty much ANYTHING, as long as the songwriting is good and the song is catchy, and it’s been a delight seeing people on there listening to a variety of different stuff, just like I do.

Amit Ahuja: What inspired the band name “Hei’An”? It’s a very unique and intriguing name, and I’d love to know more about its origin. Does the name have a specific meaning, cultural reference, or story

behind it? How did the band come up with it, and what does it represent to you or the music you create?

Matic Blagonič: It comes from the Chinese language and it means “darkness”, and can also be translated as “peaceful darkness”, “ominous darkness”, “sleepy darkness” etc., and I honestly love all these translations. I feel like it encapsulates my songwriting approach perfectly, as my songwriting always does come from a dark place, although it does also give off a sense of peace and hopefulness at the same time. Plus, it’s distinct and unique, especially since it’s not coming from Anglo-Saxon linguistic roots like most band names on the planet seem to (nothing wrong with that of course!), and I’ve always been a big fan of Asian cultures myself. Aljaž, our screaming/backing vocalist is the one who actually came up with the name - before he was even affiliated with the band! - as he studied synology so he’s fluent in Chinese and knows a great deal about their culture, history etc.

Amit Ahuja: Let’s dive deeper into your music and creative journey for a moment. I’d love to hear more about the story, emotions, and inspiration behind your brand-new single, “Piercing Blue.” What message or feeling were you hoping to capture with this track, and how does it reflectwhere the band is creatively right now? Was there a particular experience, theme, or personal moment that influenced the writing and sound of the song?

Matic Blagonič: ‘Piercing Blue’ marks a significant step forward in the band’s evolution in every conceivable way - conceptually, sonically, lyrically, everything really. In terms of the lyrics, I was always writing lyrics 100% from my own point of view, and I started feeling like if I kept doing that in the exact same way over and over again, I’d end up being repetitive and “boring” for both myself and the listener. And then I saw an old interview with Billie Eilish where she was talking about how she sometimes likes to write lyrics from the point of view of a fictional lyrical subjects, so a character, and that allows her to express herself in ways that writing strictly from her own perspective at all times would have never allowed her. Of course, she puts different parts of herself into the song as well so that it’s still 100% genuine and emotionally honest, but it allows her to explore different subjects in different creative ways.

Matic Blagonič: You can see a very similar thing with Twenty One Pilots and characters like “Blurryface”, “Clancy” etc. And in that kind of regard, I’ve started writing songs from the point of view of the manifestation of my dark alter ego, so to speak, and ‘Piercing Blue’ is the first song that’s being written in that kind of way. Lyrically, it’s about the feeling of romantic/sexual temptation and the urge to fight it when you know it would have been wrong. I firmly believe we all get dark thoughts in our heads on a regular basis but what differentiates “a good person” from “a bad one” is the conscious decision to NOT act on those thoughts, and that’s kind of the message of the song. Sonically speaking, it’s a much more dark pop leaning song than anything we’ve ever released before, and it’s definitely a sign of what’s to come, because we are definitely leaning into that kind of sound more and more at the moment.

Amit Ahuja: I’d also love to talk about your album from last year, Kiss Our Ghosts Goodbye. The title itself feels very emotional and cinematic, so I’m curious about the overall concept and meaning behind the record. What themes connect the album together, and what kind of journey did you want listeners to experience from beginning to end?

Matic Blagonič: Kiss Our Ghosts Goodbye’ started off as an album that was not intended to be a concept album, like our first record was, but in the end the songs did start naturally forming a very obvious common thread. Each song on the album tackles a different aspect of my own personal issues, past trauma etc., “ghosts that were haunting me” if you will - from my fight with MS and clinical depression, to my sexuality (I’m openly bisexual and openly in a relationship with Aljaž, our screaming/backing vocalist) and the personal and societal issues that this coming out has caused, to broader dissatisfaction with society and the way the world seems to be headed. Writing is always a cathartic experience for me, as it is for many artists, and I wanted the album to feel cathartic for the listener as well - so that through me processing my own “ghosts” and “kissing them goodbye”, they would hopefully also find inspiration and strength to do so with their own “ghosts”.

Amit Ahuja: Additionally, I’d love for you to break down a few standout tracks from the album, including “What Do You to Save,” “Beneath the Sinking Moon,” “Liberated,” and “Make Me Want to Leave.” What inspired each of these songs lyrically and musically? Are there any hidden meanings, personal stories, or emotional layers behind them that fans may not immediately notice on first listen? And looking back now, how do these songs represent the band’s growth and evolution both musically and personally?

Matic Blagonič: ‘Make Me Want to Leave You’ was the first song we had written for this record and it already marked a distinct evolution from the sound of our first record. Sonically, we started experimenting with electronic elements much more, and more polished production, “poppier” production if you will, because it’s a sound aesthetic we all really, really love. Lyrically, the song is an “anti-homophobic” song, it was co-written by me and Aljaž, expressing how no amount of hate or bigotry will change who we are.

Matic Blagonič: “Beneath the Sinking Moon” actually has a very similar message, but it tackles it from a different point of view, a much more “broken” and “distraught” one, but definitely still very much an “anti-homophobic” song. Sonically, it really showcases our love for darkwave (so artists like Perturbator, Carpenter Brut etc.), and I’m really happy we got to make a sort of a “darkwave metal” song in that regard.

Matic Blagonič: “Liberated” is about the feeling of catharsis and liberation an artist gets while writing music, processing trauma through creation of art, and leaving past “chains” behind like that. Sonically, it’s both one of the poppiest songs on the record, but in a lot of ways - especially with that long post-metal-esque outro - one of the most reminiscent of our “imago” sound.

Matic Blagonič: And “What Do You Have to Save?” was actually the last song we wrote for the album, and as such it really showcases our tendency to move in a poppier, catchier direction, and we’re also all MASSIVE fans of the 2000s pop punk sound, so bands like A Day to Remember, Sum 41, All Time Low etc., and we really wanted to channel a bit of that vibe in this one, but fused it with math rock, emo rock and metalcore influences as well. Lyrically, it’s probably the most “outward-looking” song on the album, as it expresses my deep disappointment in a lot of current sociopolitical affairs going on in the world and how society seems to be generally less and less empathetic, and I wanted to sort of ask the listener if they think the world is still worth saving, or even possible to save, or are we, as humanity, too far gone. I don’t provide an “answer” in the song, as I don’t really have one..

Matic Blagonič: Looking back, all of these tracks show our desire to experiment with different sounds and combining them into a cohesive “distinct Hei’An sound”, and they also show great growth in songwriting and arrangement maturity in my opinion - super happy with how they turned out, and super happy they sort of paved the way for ‘Piercing Blue’ and future songs.

Amit Ahuja: When it comes to songwriting, can you walk us through your lyrical inspiration? Whether it stems from personal experiences, relationships, internal struggles, stories you’ve encountered, or more abstract ideas—how do those influences shape your writing and creative process?

Matic Blagonič: Well, as I explained in some of the questions above - I’m not gonna repeat myself because I feel like my answers have already been somewhat long and I don’t want to hit you with a Homer-esque text length here haha ;) - it really stems from everything you mentioned. Personal experiences, relationships, internal struggles, other people, world events, and now more and more abstract ideas like fictional lyrical subjects, temptation, internal division, philosophy, you name it. I don’t write "because I want to”, I write because “I NEED to”, I can’t help it so to speak - and inspiration comes from every single thing I feel, see, here, encounter, think about.. It’s just who I am.

Amit Ahuja: Since your band comes from Slovenia, I’d love to know more about the metal scene there. Does Slovenia have a strong and supportive metal community, and how has growing up in that environment influenced the band’s sound and identity? Are there many local venues, festivals, or underground bands that helped shape your journey as musicians?

Matic Blagonič: Absolutely, the metal community in Slovenia is surprisingly big and strong for such a small country! We have a bunch of local venues where bands of all sizes, from super small to super big, both local and foreign, play all year round, and especially in Ljubljana, the capital, there are metal and alternative gigs happening almost every given week, if not truly every single week. And other cities / towns have a lot going on too! We also have an abundance of local festivals, and right now even an internationally recognized one - Tolminator - that’s getting bigger and bigger every year. So you can imagine, there are A LOT of metal, rock and alternative bands around here, we like to joke that “every other person is in a band of some sorts”, but honestly that statement is not extremely far from the truth. In terms of influences, it definitely influenced us in the sense that we got into more intimate contact with this whole community from a very young age, which we will all be forever grateful for. But that being said, most of the “metal” in Slovenia is more leaning towards “traditional metal” and “extreme metal” sub-genres, and our particular style is not listened to nearly as much.. Like, we’ve had Iron Maiden and Pantera play in Slovenia recently, but we have yet to see a band like Bring Me The Horizon here, if you know what I mean. So I wouldn’t say we were ever “directly stylistically influenced” by any Slovenian bands, but we were MOST DEFINITELY inspired by the sense of community the alt scene has going on here, and feel very lucky and thankful that we have that here. :)

Amit Ahuja: Looking ahead to your upcoming project, can you share more about the creative direction you’re taking and what makes this release stand apart from your previous work, and are there any upcoming tours, local shows, or even international performances that you’re especially excited to share with fans?

Matic Blagonič: We are releasing a new single in June, titled ‘Mind in Paradise’, which will be a direct successor to ‘Piercing Blue’ in so many ways, but this time around we’re taking it in a very hyperpoppy / DnB-ish direction, with and even more polished and electronic production style, but still very much alt rock and metalcore influenced. Super excited for people to hear it! And we are preparing several more singles for both this year and beyond, with very different and diverse sonic influences, from SUPER poppy to SUPER heavy, and we’re really excited about that! Thematically, we’ll be expanding the “dark alter ego” story I mentioned above!

Matic Blagonič: In terms of shows, we do have a few standalone shows - both local and international - happening this year, but they’re all in the second half of the year and weren’t announced by the promoters yet, so I can’t announce them quite yet. But they ARE happening! No “full blown tours” in 2026, though.

Matic Blagonič: One thing that interestingly enough IS already announced is our first-ever performance in Australia in January 2027 at the Hellbound Cruise festival, alongside names like Parkway Drive, The Amity Affliction, Alpha Wolf and many, many others, making it our biggest booking to date, and we are incredibly honored to be able to take part in it, and are extremely excited for that! And - that’s something I can’t exactly announce yet either - but there may or may not be an actual “full blown tour” in the works for 2027, fingers crossed it works out well! :)

Amit Ahuja: Who are three individuals who have had a profound impact on your life—artistically or personally? What lessons did they teach you, and how do those lessons continue to influence you today?

Matic Blagonič: One would definitely be my late grandpa, he passed several years ago but I still think about him very regularly. We spent a lot of time together when I was a kid, and he really sparked a sense of curiosity in me - we were watching documentaries, reading books about space, nature, science etc. together, building bird houses, went on trips in natural parks, caves and whatnot, you name it. That sense of purity, ingenuity, creativity and overall curiosity definitely stayed with me and no doubt forever will. One would definitely be my solfeggio professor from the Conservatory of Music, that I attended and graduated from years ago. He’s the reason I even started to sing, like I explained above, so in a way, without him Hei’An - or my life - would have never been what it is today, or what it might someday become.

Matic Blagonič: And in terms of pure artistry, I’d definitely cite Oli Sykes here. Obviously, I don’t know him personally (would love to meet him some day though, at least to say “thank you”!), as his relentless and endless pursuit of creativity and exploring new sonic worlds, while keeping the raw emotion always present and pure in his art, is something that inspires and drives me a lot as an artist. He’s definitely a genius in my eyes.

Amit Ahuja: On a deeper level, what does creating music represent for you personally? Does it feel like catharsis, self-discovery, confrontation, healing—or some combination of all of those? How do those emotional states influence what ultimately makes it into your songs?

Matic Blagonič: All of the above! I process my thoughts - good and bad - through my writing, and definitely both learn more about myself and grow as an individual with each and every song. I always want to write songs in a way so that the listener will hopefully feel the same emotion I felt while writing it when they’re listening to it.

Amit Ahuja: The creative journey is often filled with rejection, setbacks, and moments of self-doubt. What advice would you give to emerging artists navigating those challenges? How can they turn those experiences into motivation and long-term growth?

Matic Blagonič: Absolutely it is, very much so! I’d say they should be consistent, persistent, keep finding joy in it and never let it become a chore, keep it pure, keep it honest and stay 100% true to themselves at all times regardless of what anybody else thinks. And to work hard, but also be willing to learn new things, adapt, evolve, and listen to their audience - it’s the audience that chooses the artist and NOT the other way around. :)

Amit Ahuja: If you could place your music in any film—classic or modern—which would you choose, and what kind of moment or scene do you imagine your songs soundtracking?

Matic Blagonič: It’s actually a dream of mine to some day write a song or even an album for a movie or a TV show! Now, this is a tough question and my answer might change the next time you ask me.. But maybe ‘The Fall of the House of Usher’, the series by Mike Flanagan. It’s just wonderfully dark, wonderfully complex and deeply emotional, which I feel like our music is as well. It’d definitely be a big emotional scene, but honestly almost any scene from that show could work haha ;)

Amit Ahuja: Outside of music, what are some of the hobbies or interests that really inspire you? Whether it’s films you love, books you get lost in, or any kind of art you connect with, what naturally draws your attention—and how do those interests influence you creatively, if at all?

Matic Blagonič: I LOVE cooking, I love watching movies and TV shows of all kinds (especially horror though), I love reading books (I’m a HUGE Stephen King fan for instance), I also love following news from the worlds of quantum physics, astrophysics and science in general as I find that crazy fascinating.. I’m not sure if any of that ever influenced my art “directly” (yet!), but every single experience influences a person in some way, even if a very minor one, so they must have had at least some influences at least on a subconscious level already.

Amit Ahuja: If you could go back and show one of your current tracks to your younger self, how would you react?

Matic Blagonič: Probably shocked at the evolution, but also proud for having “the balls” to keep evolving that much ;)

Amit Ahuja: There’s often a strong connection between creativity and mental health. How have you navigated that balance throughout your journey? What practices or support systems have helped you maintain your well-being while pursuing something so emotionally demanding?

Matic Blagonič: Absolutely! I’ve actually had severe issues with mental health in the past, with a very bad depressive episode not super long ago, and honestly what helps me the most - as cliche as it sounds - is therapy. Also slight lifestyle changes of course, but first and foremost therapy. It DOES work. :)

Amit Ahuja: As we wrap up, what would you like to leave your fans—and readers—with? For anyone out there chasing a dream or still trying to find their voice, what message feels most important for you to share right now?

Matic Blagonič: It might sound cliche as well, but it’s 100% true: believe in yourself, never give up, keep working hard, keep learning and keep finding joy in what you do in any way you can! When you chase a dream, you always have a chance at reaching it - unless you give up, so don’t! <3

Amit Ahuja: Thank You So Much to Matic Blagonič of Hei'An for sharing your story and more about your band.

Photo Credit: Grega Stamenovic

Please check out Hei’An’s Linktree below to explore their incredible music, latest releases, and all the ways you can support the band:

https://linktr.ee/heianofficial?utm_source=ig&utm_medium=social&utm_content=link_in_bio&fbclid=PAZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAc3J0YwZhcHBfaWQPOTM2NjE5NzQzMzkyNDU5AAGnUEpNDedaQSx2XwGcIaGG_lGNl120uQrN8Bb4skC17-26Ir8At2ixtVQkpNI_aem_Hk1xaaiavv6p0aFMFv2aSA

*** Photo credit goes to Matic Kutin & Grega Stamenovic, unless otherwise noted***