Behind the Beat: Giant Rooks Share Secrets of "How Have You Been?”
By Olivia Click
Giant Rooks, the dynamic quintet hailing from Hamm, Germany, hosted an insightful press conference today, delving into the making of their highly anticipated second album, "How Have You Been?". The band, composed of Frederik Rabe (vocals), Finn Schwieters (guitar), Luca Göttner (bass), Jonathan Wischniowski (keyboard), and Finn Thomas (drums), opened up about their creative journey, the pressures of sophomore albums, and their evolving perspectives as artists.
The press conference, held by the 1824 division of Universal Music Group, offered a candid look into the band's mindset during the creation of "How Have You Been?" With 14 tracks, including hits like "Somebody Like You" and "Morning Blue," the album balances familiar sounds with experimental elements, offering a timeless listening experience. The band's upcoming "How Have You Been? - The Tour" will kick off in February, with stops across Europe, the UK, and North America.
Fred, the band's vocalist, shared the internal struggle they faced after their debut album, "Rookery." Initially feeling pressured to reinvent their sound, they ultimately chose authenticity over conformity, embracing their classic band dynamic and steering clear of forced experimentation.
"I always feel more attracted to do the opposite of what is going on in the moment with the trendy stuff, but at the same time, of course, we definitely think about it when there are so many songs in let's say the biggest playlist on Spotify, the biggest hits at the moment are just 2-minute songs, you think about it but then again I feel like it's so nice to just write a 7-minute song so we just do that. It is kind of similar to what we always said. You can't control anything like that, so it's not in your hands."
Reflecting on their growth both personally and artistically, Fred emphasized the band's newfound confidence and their ability to learn from past mistakes, particularly in managing their hectic touring schedule. "I would say especially in the last two years, we got more confident with stuff, and we got more relaxed, and chill and we learned from our mistakes. We learned quite a lot from our mistakes. We took way too much without any breaks and without any free time in between the tour legs." He highlighted the importance of saying "no" and prioritizing self-care, a valuable lesson learned over years of relentless touring. "We always used to say yes to everything. We never said no in the last six years. We started to learn to say no. It can be very difficult. Of course, we are talking about it in theory, but it still can be very difficult to say no, I feel like it's the most important thing. It doesn't necessarily mean that you become more successful or a big artist or a better songwriter when you say yes all the time."
During the Q&A session, the band discussed their favorite venues, memorable moments on tour, and their aspirations for the future. Guitarist Finn Schwieters feels a particular connection to every place he has stopped on tour. "There are moments that feel very special. For example, the other night in Montreal was such an amazing show, and the audience was so lovely, attentive and enthusiastic it's just surreal to see all these people in this wonderful room singing along to your songs, it makes you feel very special and it's crazy to see where this little band that we started in this small town in the Western part of Germany took us and how people are singing along to our songs on the other side of the world it's very crazy to wrap your head around that."
As they approach their 10th year as a band, Giant Rooks remains grounded in their goal of creating music that resonates with both them and their audience. Finn explained, "It may sound a little cliche but I think the most important thing is that the 5 of us are happy and able to write music we like and be on tour and have a great time. So, if we can keep that I think that's the biggest goal and my aim for the future." Their dedication to authenticity and self-expression continues to drive their artistic journey, promising an exciting future filled with creativity and growth. All tour dates can be found at www.giant-rooks.com.