Quick-Fire Questions: 15 minutes with The Howl and The Hum
The Howl & The Hum aren’t new at all. In fact, they’ve been buzzing around since 2017 as a cultishly beloved act hailing from York. But as ‘they’ become ‘he’, and songwriter Sam Griffiths takes over the reins and transforms the project into a solo mission, the music only expands to something bigger and bolder.
Announcing their sophomore release, Same Mistakes Twice is dubbed “Death Bed Songwriting” by Griffiths. The morbid descriptor is perfectly apt, though, as he dedicates himself to simply saying it all and leaving nothing behind as if there would be no other chance. In the opening title track, he’s glaring directly at himself but not shying away from stating exactly the type of person he is. “I never make the same mistake twice / I always aim for a third time,” he sings as the first lyric of the new era.
He’ll hold his hands up, Griffiths is messy. But perhaps a chaotic inner world and a somewhat self-sabotaging dedication to chaos is what makes great and honest art. Now, taking full control of the project, as well as writing with plenty of other names, the musician is reemerging at his professional best. But don’t expect that to change his personality.
As he continues to stay in “Yorkshire avoiding success”, as he says on the track, we attempted to coax him out. Sending up some quick-fire questions to get to know the artist at his bluntest and most sarcastic, it seems speed is key to getting to the heart.
From favourite pubs to thoughts of death, get to know Howl & The Hum.
Quick-Fire Questions with The Howl & The Hum:
1. Where did the name ‘The Howl & The Hum’ come from?
“We tried to call ourselves The Towel & The Cum, but they wouldn’t play us on the radio.”
2. What’s the best thing about going solo?
“All the money.”
3. What’s the worst thing about going solo?
“All the haters.”
4. If you could have written any song in the world, which would it be?
“Apparently ‘Happy Birthday’ brings in around $5000 a day, so let’s say I wrote that one.”
5. If you could wipe one song from the face of the world, what’s going?
“Nah, I’m not into that. Even bad songs deserve their place in the world. Our albums are full of them.”
6. You called your new record a project of “deathbed songwriting”, so how often do you reckon you think about death?
“I think about death non-stop, dear; it’s all we have to look forward to.”
7. What song do you want played at your funeral? And does everyone have to sing along?
“Okay, serious answer here, but I’ve requested my friend Elanor Moss to sing ‘Who Knows Where the Time Goes’ at my funeral, as it’s assumed I’ll be dead long before her.”
8. What’s the best pub in the world?
“The Cardigan Arms, Burley, Leeds. Fight me.”
9. What’re you gonna have for dinner tonight?
“55 burgers, 55 fries, 55 tacos, 55 pies, 55 cokes, 100 tater tots, 100 pizzas, 100 tenders, 100 meatballs, 100 coffees, 55 wings, 55 shakes, 55 pancakes, 55 pastas and 155 taters.”
10. Tell me about your all-time, ultimate dream gig. Where are you playing, and who’s supporting you?
“Arenas and stadiums are pretty cringe, aren’t they? And they sound like wet farts. So let’s just say Mount Olympus, and we’re supported by Dingus Khan from Manningtree.”
11. What is the ideal situation to write a great song in?
“Right after a big billy bifta.”
12. Who was on the playlist to inspire the new album?
“Frightened Rabbit, CMAT, Phoebe Bridgers, Katy J Pearson, Lucinda Williams, Big Thief, Alex G, Lucy Dacus. I could go on. I will. Arthur Russell, Fiona Apple, Elliott Smith, The Mountain Goats, Neutral Milk Hotel. There are lots more I’m forgetting, but yeah, it’s a big mess.”
13. If you weren’t a musician, what would you be doing instead?
“I work for the NHS, babe; every musician I know either has a real job or rich parents.”
14. Tell us a fun fact…
“Cows moos have accents.”
15. Are The Beatles overrated?
“No, babe.”
