Hot off the heels of their latest track ‘Venus’, Bradford bunch GRDNS are back with its follow up – and fellow debut EP cut, watch this space – ‘Hydraulic Lover’. Billed as “their boldest exploration into psychedelia to date,” it’s about accepting the misadventures of youth, and precedes a support slot with PINS in Shipley on 15th November. Vocalist Jacob Lyons introduces his band.
Hey Jacob, who are you all and where did you all meet?
We are Jacob Lyons, Sam Gledhill, Cameron Harrison and John Fitzpatrick. Sam and I met on the second day of secondary school when I nearly broke his arm in PE and have been jamming together ever since. Cam lived a few doors down from Sam, and we used to chill in the same circles, he had a bass and nothing better to do like us, so naturally, he joined the band. I first met John after watching his old band ‘Born Thief’ at a gig, and we’ve all just been bumping into him at raves ever since until he joined the band.
When did you first realise you wanted to create music?
I don’t remember a time when I didn’t, my mum showed me RHCP and Nirvana when I was 6/7, and I discovered QOTSA a soon after and it’s the only thing I’ve ever wanted to do since.
Did writing songs come naturally to you?
Songs are almost easy, all I’ve ever done is wait for a riff or melody to pop into my head, learn it on guitar or whatever, then wait for the next epiphany. Now I just think up full sections and whistle them into my phone when no ones around. Everyone pitches in when I bring the song to the band. Sam tends to add most of the lead parts to the songs to give it power, Cam twists all the baselines to make them sound cooler and catchy, and John plays with songs energy and brings either movement or atmosphere to the tracks.
Tell us about your single, ‘Venus’?
‘Venus’ is about beauty and how it can debilitate you when you see it. I think a bit of ‘tomorrow never knows’ unintentionally bled its way into the track, but I’m not complaining. I liked the idea of a song that changed throughout the sections but still held a relentless energy till the end.
Is ‘Venus’ your best song so far?
All art is a snapshot in time of creative energy. I can’t bring myself to judge it against the others. Maybe it is, only a shit dad tells which kid is his favourite.
What do you do for fun?
Live.
Who’s your fave band at the mo? You’re not allowed to say GRDNS.
Collectively as a band, we all love a bit of Khruangbin.
What are you working on right now?
We’re currently working on loads of new material and trying them out at gigs just to see how they feel live. We’re always working on our live set and trying out different ways of blending two completely different songs together live. We’re also working on a video for our next single ‘hydraulic lover’ and planning to record our new material for future releases.
What’s been the highlight of your time as a musician so far?
Meeting people who genuinely enjoy your music is a massively underrated high, there’s simply nothing better than seeing people react positively to your music, especially when it’s live.
What’s on your bucket list for 2019?
Bigger stages, bigger following, bigger songs, bigger tours, bigger guitars, bigger stage setup, bigger festivals, a bigger garden. To have something on vinyl to release would be heavenly.
GRDNS release their debut EP later this year via Dance to the Radio.
Words: Sam Taylor
