Meeting Grass House: London’s rising underground band
Our editor Lee Thomas sits down with Grass House to discuss their origins, influences, and plans for the future.
Grass House, the London-based band known for their blend of indie rock, folk influences, and atmospheric soundscapes, have been building a strong reputation for their captivating live performances. Translating intricate studio work into dynamic shows, they have steadily earned a loyal fan base across the UK.
Following our recent review of their EP Plough More Sky, we sat down with guitarist Steven Dove and frontman Liam Palmer to discuss everything from poetry to the precarious state of the music industry.
Hello, Grass House. Could you explain where you’re from, how long the band have been friends, and how you met?
Steven: “Well, I’ve known Liam for years; we’re both from the same town (Driffield), and both went to the same school, although he is notably a year older! We met Nick and Ross during our university years in Leeds, but we formed once we’d all moved to London. I think it’s important for the band that, first and foremost, we’re a group of friends making music rather than just a group of ‘musicians’.”
Why the name Grass House?
Liam: “It took us a while to get there, but we wanted to choose something with longevity, not to rely on current trends and to have something that we can relate to. Grass House was something one of us came across, and it felt suited to us.”
You’re often compared to the likes of Nick Cave and Tom Waits. How do you feel about these comparisons? Is it flattering, or something you’re keen to move away from?
Steven: “When we first started making music, we were heavily into Nick Cave and Tom Waits; this came through quite clearly and took us a while to shake off the immediate referencing. I think any band starting out has these transparent influences, and over time you can hopefully become unique, or at least make steps forward.”
Liam: “I guess our ideal is to sound like Grass House.”
What new music are you currently enjoying? Any recommendations?
Liam: “It’s difficult to keep up with what seems like a fickle music world. Everything moves so fast, and people tend to change their opinions rather quickly. However, we’ve been enjoying White Fence and Sharon Van Etten.”
Steven: “Azealia Banks, Atlas Sound, Toy, and Still Corners are good too.”
Your lyrics are often unpredictable and leave a lot open to interpretation. What inspires your songwriting?
Steven: “Poetry mainly, art partially, and film occasionally. Off the top of my head I’d say Osip Mandelstam, Paul Celan, Karel Appel, Mayakovsky, Adrienne Rich, E.E Cummings, the abstract expressionists, Roger De La Fresnaye, Francis Horovitz, Béla Tarr, Ernst Haas… I could keep going.”
Liam: “Basically, the motive behind the lyrics is to set a mood that allows enough light for the listener to create their own picture. We want the songs to be personal to whatever background you come at them from. There are fundamental feelings that all humans share, and from them, our personalities are built. If you can tap into the core of a person, you can relate to them in so many ways.”
What was the idea behind Holiday Club?
Steven: “Holiday Club was initially a way to get our music out; we needed a platform to release stuff, and we didn’t want to tout ourselves out to the labels. It’s evolved since then. We’re all big fans of film, art, and such, so it now hones our influences—a place of homage where we can post stuff that we like, with the hope that others enjoy it too. We’ve left it open to submissions, so if people want to share things they like, they can drop us an email and we’ll post it for them. Hopefully, we can create a sense of community.”
You offered ‘The Faun’ and ‘The Breeze’ as downloads via Holiday Club, letting fans pay what they wanted. What prompted that decision?
Steven: “It was more so we could just get it out there, really. We’re a new band and relatively unknown at the moment, so it’s difficult to start charging people five pounds for two songs. Also, the music industry is pretty buggered anyway, and it’s even hard for the big guns to shift records these days.”
Liam: “People can listen to the music and make their own mind up. If they like it, I’d hope they would help the cause and pay whatever they can.”
You’ve announced a few gigs this summer—Beacons, Secret Garden Party, and a return to Leeds. What are you most looking forward to?
Steven: “It’s always nice going back up North and playing to friends, so we’re excited for Beacons and Live at Leeds. I’m excited about getting our live show out there again, too, as we’ve taken a month or so off to really hone our sound. Hopefully, people will get it”.
Plough More Sky is out now with three singles. Are there plans for a full album?
Steven: “In the past, we felt our music was changing too rapidly to create an album, which is why we have only released EPs or singles. We feel comfortable in our sound now and ready to concentrate on a full-length record.”
Liam: “It’s something we’ve always intended to do, but only now does it seem like the next step. Plus, we’ve been writing with the album in mind since November, so we’ve got a load of songs demoed; it’s just a case of getting together 10 or 12 that work and recording them. It’s something we’re all very much looking forward to.”
Finally, what are your ambitions for the future?
Steven: “Obviously, the album is the number one priority and will take up most of the next few months. Once that’s complete, we’ll be looking to release it and hopefully tour across the UK and possibly overseas. It’s difficult to look further ahead than that; it’s an unpredictable industry to be in. Let’s hope it’s an accepting one.”
