In Conversation With #112 - Van Houten
Leeds based Van Houten have just released their new EP ‘Home Alone’ via Clue Records. Having earned praise from BBC6 Music, this collection of tracks sees them recording with Martin Smith, who has worked with the likes of Bombay Bicycle Club and Richard Hawley. They took a moment to talk to us about the release.
Hey there Van Houten, how are you? How does it feel to be releasing music during this troubled time for the creative industry?
We are all fab considering the circumstances, most of us are just sitting back reeling in that sweet sweet furlough pay provided by Big Boris and the crew! We are very excited to be releasing during the pandemic. It's such a tricky time not only for the music industry but for everyone, though it's also a great chance for us to be creative and continue writing and releasing music.
Your EP is called ‘Home Alone’ - does that hold any meaning for you?
No points for guessing the name behind our EP! It was written and recorded by our starman Louis alone at home in his bedroom! You could say (if you're feeling ever so deep) that 'Home Alone' channels an exploration of feelings that come through being solitary, and of course, it's not a VH EP without touching on feelings of Love, loss and longing.
Where was the EP recorded? Any behind the scenes stories from the recording process?
The EP was recorded by Louis in his bedroom over lockdown - the majority of the EP was tracked to an old fostex 8 track reel to reel, using only a couple of Shure sm57s, and a large diaphragm condenser - the limitations in terms of gear forced me to be creative with what I had available, and also helped sculpt the intimate aesthetic that I was trying to create - using only 8 tracks meant I had to be decisive and really narrow down the instrumentation to the essentials while embracing imperfections for the sake of the songs.
Along with the EP, you have released your single ‘Not Me’ - which deals the topic of mental health and how it shouldn't define us. Can you tell us more about the track?
‘Not Me' is really about acknowledging my own issues that I have had with mental health, and how doing so has allowed me to seperate myself from these issues in order to find the real me that was overshadowed by these issues. The line "I'm not that shadow that you mistake for me" is explicitly referring to not wanting to be the person that my mental health problems had turned me into - A person who would indirectly cause problems for my loved ones because they were so caught up in feelings of anxiety, self doubt and depression. I felt like I needed to make this song as a way of articulating my thoughts and getting them out of my head.
What are the key themes and influences on the EP?
I guess I would say the key themes present on the EP are loneliness, isolation and overall the battles I have faced with mental health problems, getting lost in them, finding relief, and in part overcoming them.
How does this EP differ from your debut release?
Our sound is constantly leaning towards new influences, we feel as if this latest EP is venturing into more of a dirty 90s rock feel to it then anything we've released so far. The production is less clean cut, and we've even whipped out ye olde distortion pedal to make things sound nice and mucky for ya. Louis has tried to tackle things from a more excitable view point, and I think we're starting to convey more energy and excitement into our music than we have before.
Do you have a favorite lyric on the EP? If so, which one and why?
My favourite lyric of Louis’ is the line ‘I’ll reach for anyone to pull me out’ from the tune ‘Not Me’. This is the only line in the EP that every single band member sings in unison during live performances. When we sing it together there is a genuine feeling that each and every band member would reach and pull me out; be it mentally from a state of uncertainty, or from a deep dark well as the result of a booby trap protecting precious loot.
Now this EP is out there, what next for Van Houten?
Where to start? We’ve already started working on the follow up to our debut album. We’re still in the writing process of this album but we’re moving along quite quickly, the second lockdown has slowed us down a bit as we can’t get into the rehearsal room but will be back in there rocking out hard ASAP! Other than that we have two sold out hometown headline shows in February which should be very fun, we’re looking forward to playing the new EP live for y’all!