Gigslutz Interview: Grouplove

Grouplove are back with their latest single ‘Shark Attack’. Since their debut album ‘Never Trust A Happy Song’ the group have had Two Door Cinema Club, Alt-J, and MS MR for support on tour, along with appearing at various festivals including Coachella, Sasquatch!, and Bonnaroo. The group have also bonded with the Manchester Orchestra, releasing a collaboration called ‘Make it to Me’ which was available for Record Store Day 2013 (April the 20th) as well as sharing shows and members. This year we have ‘I’m With You’ the bands tour documentary, and of course the official UK release of their second album ‘Spreading Rumours’. But what more can they do? Lots it seems. 

You’ve had quite the year in 2014 already, from playing Coachella, and having a new track ‘Let Me In’ featured on upcoming film ‘The Fault in our Stars’ to releasing your second album in the UK. With all this in the bag does it feel like you’ve made it big as a band now or do you guys have bigger ambitions?

It has been a steady growth since the beginning of the band, I haven’t noticed any absurd spikes or anything. Everything makes sense, everything seems earned. We’ve never skipped a venue in any market I can think of. No one’s bathing in Evian yet, my dad still yells at me, everything seems right as rain.

On the subject of Coachella, who was the artist that you were most excited about seeing live?

Friends always. Cage the Elephant and MS MR both slayed and then we got twisted together, as friends do.

Your lead single ‘Shark Attack’ for the new album ‘Spreading Rumours’ is much jollier than what you’d get from the title. What would you say you have done differently on the second album?

There are tangents all over the place and they take you every which way. It’s a complex record and it’s a manic journey, it’s psychedelic and stark at the same time. It’s really a record that deserves at least one listen front to back, there’s a lot there. Some of my favorites are in the back half, for sure.

If you could sum up ‘Spreading Rumours’ in 3 words what would you say?

Great fucking album

Your next concert is at Heaven in London on the 29th of May – what’s your favourite part about playing over in the UK?

Playing clubs and driving around in vans again. It’s a nice dose of reality.

What artists are exciting you at the moment on the UK circuit?

Is Blur still coming up?

Record Store Day passed recently, how do you guys feel about the ongoing battle to bring vinyl back into culture today?

We’re all vinyl collectors so we are all about it. It sounds better, feels better, and the scale of the artwork takes you to a place where music is still larger than life.

It’s noticeable by name, and nature, whether seeing you rocking out in the video for ‘Shark Attack’ or running around in manic tribal fashion in the video for ‘Colours’  – you’re a wonderfully jolly bunch, how do you keep your spirits up while touring?

We’re all addicted to weed drops and 5 hour energy shots. Seems to be working fine for now.

What’s the top 5 things on your tour rider?

Chocolate, soda, crackers, boring stuff like that, I keep putting “new tour manager” but that hasn’t happened yet.

And continuing in the 5 vein, you’ve come an incredibly long way in the last 5 years as a band, so what advice would you give to bands who are starting out now?

Maybe it’s common sense, but don’t suck and write good songs. Good songs sell themselves. Maybe a hip blog will say something nice about you and help things out, probably not though.

Oliver Evans

Oliver Evans

I'm Oliver and I am currently based in Bristol. I prefer the rock genre, but I like writing about other genres like blues, jazz, reggae, pop, R&B, and hip-hop as well. Live for anything by the Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Metronomy, and Pulled Apart By Horses. Future UWE Bristol Journalism Graduate. If you wish to get in touch please email - oliverevans95@gmail.co.uk
Oliver Evans

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