The power of social media in music is imminent in the formation of British group London Grammar. Guitarist Dan Rothman spotted a photo of schoolmate (and future vocalist) Hannah Reid with a guitar on Facebook, and messaged her about a possible collaboration. Fast forward a few years through the addition of multi-talented Dot Major, and the trio’s effortless blend of ethereal instrumentation and spine-tingling vocals skyrocketed their debut album If You Wait up the charts. Adding a full length debut to their belt alongside an EP and Disclosure feature, the trio plans to set sail on their first US Tour next week. We had the chance to catch up with Dan in the midst of preparation.
EARMILK: Congrats on the release of If You Wait! I understand the process took over 18 months. Who/What were your major influences?
London Grammar: Thanks! We tried to take our favorite bands and incorporate their sounds in our work as best we could, while maintaining a level of authenticity that set us apart from other acts.
EM:What inspired you to cover Kavinsky’s “Nightcall” and take it in such a different direction than the original?
LG: We love the track and are big fans of the film Drive, where we first heard it. Once we came up with the idea to cover it, we started toying with the sounds and it fit really well. We knew in the very early stages of the track that it would work seamlessly, and it fit Hannah’s voice perfectly.
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EM: Before the album’s release, you featured on Disclosure’s standout album Settle. What was that experience like?
LG: It was such a great experience. It was a particularly fast process, which is something we wanted. When we work on our own tracks, it can take months to finish, whereas Hannah went in and the vocals were produced in only a matter of days. It was a much different experience than we were accustomed to.
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EM: Would you consider going down that path with any other electronic acts in the future?
LG: I’d never say never, but we won’t rush to go down that path again. It’s not something we want to become synonymous with, but if the right opportunity came along and Hannah would sound great on it, it could potentially work.
EM: You kick off the US tour September 25th in LA. What are you most looking forward to about America?
LG: It’s a new experience for all of us. None of us have really been to America. The ability to travel around the states and experience the different landscapes and scenery while playing fantastic venues and different crowds will be a massive learning experience for us.
EM: It is astonishing to think you formed just two years ago. What was the key to such great success in such short time?
LG: Before we put our first song up online, we sent it to the guys at the studio who helped get our name out at a very early stage. Thanks to our record label, we had no rush to put anything out and sufficient time to write. I think young bands suffer when they aren’t given proper time to prepare a record, and we were given the opportunity to fully polish our work before it being released.
EM: Where did you picture yourself now 5 years ago?
LG: *laughs* Blimey, I don’t know. I’d hope I would be a musician but I have a suspicion that I’d be working in some office somewhere. Somewhere really sad.
EM: As you transitioned from the Metal & Dust EP to the recent release, was there ever a temptation or pressure to sacrifice your originality to move toward a more mainstream sound?
LG: Yeah, I think it’s definitely something we all worry about. After our EP release, we picked up a certain kind of audience, so with the record we were worried about making [the album] for a certain group of people. With that said, we tried to maintain a consistent sound and I think we managed to keep everyone interested and enjoying it.
EM: Lastly, what one word would you use to describe yourself to someone entirely unfamiliar with your music?
LG: Oh wow. Just one word?
EM: One word.
LG: I can’t help but sound cheezy when I say it, but I’m going to go with atmospheric.
EM: I love it. Thanks for taking the time to catch up with us. We wish you the best of luck on tour.
LG: Cheers.
Stream the standout track “Strong,” and don’t miss out as they hit the road across North America, dates shown below.
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September 25 – Los Angeles, CA
September 27 – San Francisco, CA
September 28 – Portland, OR
September 30 – Seattle, WA
October 1 – Vancouver, BC
October 3 – Chicago, IL
October 4 – Toronto, ON
October 6 – Washington D.C.
October 7 – Philadelphia, PA
October 8 – New York, NY
October 10 – Boston, MA
London Grammar
If You Wait
- Columbia Records
- September 10, 2013