Quick-fire Questions: 10 minutes with Van Houten
Leeds has always been a fertile breeding ground for the arts. Regarding music, whether it be the likes of Gang of Four or Alt-J, the bustling West Yorkshire hub has played a significant part in the cultural life force of this tiny island. The past few years have also seen a plethora of acts emerge and assert once more why the conversation should be less laser-focused on the capital than it traditionally is. Over the past few years, one group that has had a hand in this shift is Van Houten.
Ostensibly a shoegaze outfit, but pulling from various areas to establish their sound, in doing so, Van Houten weaves a distinctive and mesmeric sonic tapestry underpinned by a clear artistic vision and a palpable sense of unyielding friendship. After an extensive period refining their sound, earning new followers, and members coming and going, they have entered 2024 on the precipice of a major milestone. On March 22nd, they release their long-awaited debut album, The Tallest Room.
Following the release of the single ‘Coming of Age’ late last year, the group celebrated the announcement of their debut album with the release of the single ‘Never Did Come Back’. It has resoundingly piqued interest for their hotly-anticipated debut, featuring arresting guitars and an immense general atmosphere. Produced by the influential Alex Greaves, a key part in the success of Yorkshire shoegaze contemporaries Bdrmm, The Tallest Room stands out from the extensive list of 2024 releases. It only takes one listen of their latest single and its churning climax to understand why.
Given that this year is such a significant one for Van Houten, we took the opportunity to get to know them a little bit better. Answering our quick-fire questions are members Louis Sadler, Henry Beaumont, Lachlan Banner and Jake Ribton. Together, they’ve assembled one of the more amusing sets of answers we’ve had so far. Giving you a flavour of what’s to come, outlining his excitement for the arrival of The Tallest Room, frontman Sadler says: “It’s like Christmas, my birthday, and the first Friday pint rolled all into one.”
Quick-fire Questions with Van Houten:
1. What song would you want played at your funeral?
Henry: “‘Clementine’ by Elliot Smith.”
Louis: “‘Sugar, We’re Goin Down’ by Fall Out Boy.”
2. What was the best album of 2023?
Henry: “That’s a hard one as I had a lot of faves from last year, but I’m gonna go with Rat Saw God by Wednesday as I think it’s just mind-blowing.”
Lachlan: “Hometown to Come by Minhwi Lee is up there. Been spinning that and their debut Borrowed Tongue on repeat.”
Louis: “Niall Summerton – What Am I Made Of?“
3. Do you believe in UFOs?
Henry: “Yeah, I think there’s probably something out there.”
Lachlan: “You never know. I feel like there must be better places out there than Earth, so I’d be surprised if we ever see them, but the Yorkshire Dales are always calling.”
Louis: “I’m a very firm believer in UFOs. I think my cat might be an alien, to be honest.”
4. What’s your favourite comfort movie?
Henry: “Howl’s Moving Castle.“
Lachlan: “Any of the first three Jason Bourne films.”
Louis: “The Christmas Prince 2.”
5. Where’s the weirdest place you woke up?
Henry: “On the sofa, probably. I wake up there most nights.”
Lachlan: “Underneath Henry on his sofa.”
Jake: “On a pebble beach surrounded by questionable men.”
6. What’s one gig in history you’d time travel to be at?
Henry: “Slint at The Brudenell in 2014 would be amazing.”
Louis: “Nirvana at Reading.”
7. Where’s the best pub in the world?
Henry: “Brudenell Social Club all the way!”
Lachlan: “Any pub with one choice of beer and a good view.”
Louis: “The Golden Beam.”
8. What was the first song you learnt to play?
Henry: “Pretty sure it was ‘Smoke on the Water’, isn’t that everyone’s?”
Lachlan: “I believe one of the first songs I learnt in a band was ‘If The Kids Are United’ by Sham 69.”
Louis: “‘Hard Days Night’ by The Beatles.”
9. What track features the greatest vocal performance?
Henry: “‘Bull Believer’ by Wednesday! The scream at the end gives me goosebumps every time.”
Lachlan: “Puddle of Mudd’s cover of ‘About A Girl’.”
Louis: “Chocolate Rain.”
10. What venue do you dream of playing? And who’s your support act?
Henry: “I really wanna play Baby’s All Right in New York, and for support, I’d want our best pals, Treeboy & Arc, to be there with us.”
Lachlan: “Paradiso would be ace – it always sounds mega. For support, I’d have Fehlt.”
Louis: “Anywhere as long as long as I can get some more goddamn vocals in my goddamn wedge.”
11. Have you ever had a weird celebrity encounter?
Henry: “I met Stu from King Gizzard on the high street in Leeds as I was walking home from uni. He was so lovely!”
Lachlan: “I saw Chris Kamara chasing after his grandson, who was going hell for leather down a hill on a bike in Leeds. Also met GeoWizard at Primavera but got a bit star-struck and didn’t know what to say. Still haunts me to this day.”
Louis: “I met Tyler Roberts once in Roundhay Park; he was not happy to meet me, unfortunately.”
12. What song do you hate most in the world?
Henry: “I dunno, but it’s probably by Ed Sheeran…”
13. What’s your most controversial cultural opinion?
Henry: “Mayo or hot sauce on everything.”
Lachlan: “Bands with three guitarists and a keys player is not overkill.”
14. Who the fuck is Mark E. Smith?
Henry: “Some geezer.”
Lachlan: “Left back for Barnsley?”
Louis: “A national treasure.”
15. Are The Beatles overrated?
Henry: “Definitely not! But I do like Wings a tad more.”
Lachlan: “I like dung beetles even if they roll around in shit all day.”
