An Introduction to Othello Tunnels

It is so refreshing to receive a new recording by a rock band in 2025 that is neither in the post-punk vein nor dripping with shoe-gaze reverb. That is not to say that either of those genres or the bands continuing to carry the torch are bad, it is just nice to hear something swimming upstream every now and then. Othello Tunnels could care less about musical trends and of-the-moment fads, and that is why they are a band to keep an eye on. Their style-blending sound - part glam, part psychedelic rock, a sprinkling of indie-pop and a whole lot of futuristic space blues - may just be the foreshadowing of what the next fad is. Someone’s got to get the ball rolling or turn the corner for another movement, right? 

Formerly known as Linus Haze, a solo project originally created to bring to life the music of singer/guitarist Linus Heyes, until drummer Jophiel Paquet-Marsolais and bassist Gabriel Payeur came along. 

“I knew within the first five minutes of us practicing, this was it,” said Heyes. 

“It just came about naturally,” said Paquet-Marsolais. “Even now that’s what it is. Each session we practice the songs that we have, but we evolve them and something new comes from that.” 

“We never try to force it,” said Payeur. “It’s crazy to me how much we are linked subconsciously. We’re gonna end the same part at the same time without even looking at each other, and that’s chemistry, you know. That’s why I like playing music with these guys.” 

It was easy to see that this was no longer a solo project, it had suddenly forged into a fully formed band. Realizing this, Heyes convinced the other two for a name change. Thus Othello Tunnels was born. 

“It’s a rebranding of something new, that we are all creating together,” said Heyes. “As opposed to what it was before when I was writing everything and bringing it to the guys and saying ‘Hey this is what we're gonna play.’ I want all of us to feel that it is our band equally.” 

“That’s what I love about us, there is never any ‘We have to do this’ or ‘We have to do that’ it just comes about, and it’s been like that since the beginning,” said Paquet-Marsolais. 

The name Othello Tunnels is taken from a series of decommissioned train tunnels through the Cascades mountain range in British Columbia, that are now part of the Coquihalla Canyon Trail system. 

“It’s a park in BC, which I visited many, many times growing up as a kid and it always holds a certain place in my heart,” said Heyes. “In the next few years we’re all gonna go there, so we can all experience what it’s like.” 

As the growing bond between bandmates evolved into a brotherhood, the music continued to flow out of all three. With this new cross-pollination to the songwriting, they knew they had to get these first songs out into the world.

“It’s all flowing in together,” said Heyes. “I want to write new stuff and I’m privileged to write it with these guys. We write it together and I’m happy with how it is sounding.” 

Anyone who has had the pleasure of seeing Othello Tunnels live will tell you that the four songs on Tunnel Rock are merely scratching at the surface of what this band has to offer, but it is the perfect place to start. 

“Easy 2 Love” gets things going and in just over four minutes will have all listeners swooning with the ethereal beauty of this guitar-driven ballad. Think of it as Heyes’ way to get you a slow dance with whoever you brought to the show. 

“Highway” comes next with its hypnotic desert blues riffs and yearning for freedom. There is a long line, stretching back through the annals of rock and roll, that connects this song with the hazy bliss found in songs like Jimi Hendrix’s “Stone Free”, J.J. Cale’s lost masterpiece “Durango” or Kelley Stoltz’s “Put That In Your Pipe”. You can almost see the shimmering distortion waves rising from the road ahead of you. 

“Tomorrows Time” with its shuffling rhythm section underneath Heyes’ soaring, psychedelic guitar work, might be the best example of what this early incarnation of Othello Tunnels is - a futuristic blues band, with one foot covered in the mud of the Delta Blues and one foot floating in space. 

“White Roses”, the debut single that came out last year, is a glittering indie pop song, which rounds out the EP and shows a little more of what is possible from this three-piece. At the 1:47 mark, Heyes jumps into a solo that shows just how talented he is playing his guitar, without ever getting overbearing or obnoxious with it. The line, “I can’t help falling in love with you,” just might be a little foreshadowing for the listeners, who might not be able to keep themselves from falling for this band. 

This might be where there should be a disclaimer made to protect the band from any litigation down the road, brought on by some unintentioned broken hearts. If you are planning to bring your significant other to bear witness to this exciting new power trio, be forewarned that before strutting his stuff on stage with his guitar, Heyes spent a few years strutting up and down the runway as a much in-demand model. It does not matter what your partner’s orientation is either, they are gonna notice those cheekbones. 

Superficialities aside, Othello Tunnels is ready to take flight, and it would do you some good to get on board.

Listen to Othello Tunnels debut single, "White Roses", here