Playlist: HITS magazine

To celebrate the release of our first print issues, here's a playlist featuring all artists involved.

HITS x Berlin

We hosted our very first live gig in Berlin - and this is what it looked like.

Cover The HITS

Our latest video series - covers performed by our favourite acts, exclusively for us.

Video Interview: Scenic Route To Alaska

Melting away in front of Stuttgart's castle, we had a chat about touring, band names, Toy Story and a lot more.

Find us on YouTube!

Visit us on the 'tubes for interviews, exclusive performances and outtakes.

end of the year: 2017



Hey guys!

Vanessa here.
It's the end of 2017, a turbulent year that at times felt a bit like a long-haul flight.
Every year, I sit down on the 31st to type up a post trying to sum up the year - and tradition is a fun thing, so I'm back to do it again.

So, where to start?

2017 was another full year of house in the sand existing.
That's a cool statement.
We're still here, we're still going.

And it's been alright, it's been a learning process.
Usually I can find a way to describe each year, 2016 for example was a year of figuring new things out, 2015 was one hell of a success.
But 2017 makes this tradition a little bit more difficult.

So maybe I'll stick to calling it a long-haul flight.
You know, the feeling when you're on a plane and you know you're going really fast, but it just feels very still.
It was a bit weird.

But it was definitely filled with highlights - we featured favourite acts only and our team grew.
We found our spot in the blogosphere and figured out what our part is.
We travelled, we photographed, we filmed and we made friends.

Yeah, maybe 2017 was the year of friendship.
Not the shallow, "hi, nice to meet you, let's be Facebook friends" friendship, but the "hi, you're kinda cool, I've got your back" friendship.
And that's a success.

We haven't been the most visited blog, we haven't chatted to hundreds of famous acts, but we have been able to connect with people.
And honestly, that's what blogging is about - in my opinion at least.

So yeah, 2017 happened and 2018 is about to happen and let's be honest, nobody really has a clue what it's going to be like.
But we may all kick butts (our own as well if necessary), may we all bond a little more and may we all use our brains to figure out right and wrong.

And - most importantly - may we all dance to our favourite songs more often.


Alright, that's enough with the words for today.

Go on kids, have some fun.
But come back, we'll be waiting for you.


Thank you for sticking with us for another year,
you're the fuel I need and I fucking cherish this support.


Thank you thank you!

Lots of love,







xx








Credits // Words & Photography: Vanessa Jertschewske

Best Of 2017: a video




Hey guys!

Welcome to part two of our "it's the end of the year, we're so nostalgic" crisis.

Yesterday was all about the photos (and our amazing photographers) while today we are looking back on all things video.

2017 was the year of our 5th birthday, which is something I'll chat more about tomorrow. We got to celebrate it with 25 incredible acts and also shared our rather hilarious outtakes with you.

We had chats with some talented artists and hosted our first ever living room shows - an experience we got to share with you.

This year has also seen the premiere of a new video series, Cover The HITS - personally, that's probably my highlight of the year.

Before I started writing the words you're reading this very second, I told myself to not go to crazy on the cheesy phrases and to let the video be the focus of today.

However, I just need to thank everyone who was involved with house in the sand's YouTube channel this year.
That's everyone who appeared on it - all the Birthday Countdown artists, the interesting people we had chats with, our new Cover The HITS crew and of course the fabulous acts who played their songs for us.

But also - guys, thank you for just hanging out with us and checking out the videos we share with you.
It's been fun and we're forever grateful for your interest.

So, without further ado, let me present you our Best Of 2017 video.
It's one of those videos I'm sure I'll be happy about when I'm 80 and reflect on the fun I've had with house in the sand.


I hope this is going to entertain you and I would absolutely love for you to tell me if you had any favourite videos this year.




You can find every video we've ever uploaded on our YouTube channel.

We'd love for you follow us on social media so we get to share our content with you.


Twitter | Facebook | YouTube | Instagram







Thank you for your visit!













Credits // Words, Image & Video: Vanessa Jertschewske | Audio (video): Jack Garratt (free download via Twitter)

Best Of 2017: music photography



Hey guys!

It's the end of 2017.
Well, almost.

If you've been with house in the sand for a while, you'll know that we usually lose our minds during this time of year and hang out with nostalgia 24/7.
If this is your first end of a year with us - welcome, you're in for a lot of cheese.

There will be an in-depth post about how this year felt to us and what not on December 31st, so if you're interested in that, please stick around.

Today I, Vanessa, want to dedicate a post to our incredible team of photographers.
This has been the second year of working with a team and it's been such a learning curve.

We've had to let some people go but we've also welcomed a bunch of new faces.
It's shone through who is serious about this and it's been fun.

The team members who took the photos below have been such fun to work with and made my task of being the editor so much easier.
So- Saar, Gabby, Melissa, Sam, Jess, Gina & Carolyn - thank you ladies for being a part of this madness - I can't wait to see who will be in front of our lenses next year.

So in true house in the sand manner, I've gone and picked out one photo from every show we've photographed this year.

If you wish to see more photos of a certain show, all you have to do is click the photo and you'll find the full gallery.

In case you would like to support our mighty team, just click the photographers' names and you'll find their websites/social media channels.


Enjoy!!!


__________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Black Honey // 25th January // Amsterdam (NL)
- photographed by Saar

http://www.houseinthesand.com/2017/01/gig-photos-black-honey-at-paradiso.html


Colony House // 4th March // Washington (US)
- photographed by Gabby -

http://www.houseinthesand.com/2017/03/gig-photos-colony-house-at-u-street.html


Walking On Cars // 7th March // Stuttgart (GER)
- photographed by Vanessa -

http://www.houseinthesand.com/2017/03/gig-photos-walking-on-cars-at-im.html


Milky Chance // 8th March // Los Angeles (US)
- photographed by Melissa -

http://www.houseinthesand.com/2017/03/gig-photos-milky-chance-at-teragram.html


Mayday Parade // 9th May // New York City (US)
- photographed by Sam -

http://www.houseinthesand.com/2017/05/gig-photos-mayday-parade-at-webster.html


KT Tunstall // 22nd May // London (UK)
- photographed by Jess -

http://www.houseinthesand.com/2017/06/gig-photos-kt-tunstall-at-barbican.html


Josh Savage // 3rd June // Ötisheim (GER)
- photographed by Vanessa -

http://www.houseinthesand.com/2017/06/gig-impressions-josh-savage-matt.html


Charlie Hole // 1st September // Ötisheim (GER)
- photographed by Vanessa -



Mutemath // 20th September // New York City (US)
- photographed by Gina -

http://www.houseinthesand.com/2017/09/gig-photos-mutemath-at-brooklyn-steel.html


Gavin James // 6th October // Amsterdam (NL)
- photographed by Saar -

http://www.houseinthesand.com/2017/10/gig-photos-gavin-james-at-afas-live.html


The Coronas // 8th October // Stuttgart (GER)
- photographed by Vanessa -

http://www.houseinthesand.com/2017/10/gig-photos-gavin-james-at-afas-live.html


James Blunt // 12th October // Stuttgart (GER)
- photographed by Vanessa -

http://www.houseinthesand.com/2017/10/gig-photos-james-blunt-at-schleyer.html


Angus & Julia Stone // 13th October // Stuttgart (GER)
- photographed by Vanessa -

http://www.houseinthesand.com/2017/10/gig-photos-angus-julia-stone-at.html


Aquilo // 16th October // Los Angeles (US)
- photographed by Melissa -

http://www.houseinthesand.com/2017/10/gig-photos-aquilo-at-el-rey-theatre-los.html


Lewis Watson // 17th & 18th October // Richmond & Baltimore (US)
- photographed by Carolyn -

http://www.houseinthesand.com/2017/10/access-all-areas-lewis-watson-in.html


Madeline Juno // 20th October // Stuttgart (GER)
- photographed by Vanessa

http://www.houseinthesand.com/2017/10/gig-photos-madeline-juno-at-im-wizemann.html


Bad Suns // 29th October // Washington (US)
- photographed by Gabby -

http://www.houseinthesand.com/2017/11/gig-photos-bad-suns-at-930-club.html


Hippo Campus // 13th November // Washington (US)
- photographed by Gabby

http://www.houseinthesand.com/2017/11/gig-photos-hippo-campus-at-930-club.html


And that's our photo recap of 2017!

We may or may not have a few more specials coming up, so stay tuned.





Thank you for your visit!














Credits // Words: Vanessa Jertschewske | Images in this post belong to each credited photographer but were taken for houseinthesand.com

Video Of The Day: "Medicine" by Novatines



Hey guys!

The other day nostalgia called and we hung out together,
watching music videos from the early 2000s.

It was glorious.

And as cool as it was to see those videos and the way they were shot,
I really found new appreciation for today's videography and editing softwares.
Everything's just a lot cooler, although I don't want to bad mouth the past - man, it's been great.

But let's focus on the year 2017 - and it's fabulous music videos.


- Video Of The Day -
"Medicine" by Novatines


Novatines are a five piece from Bath, UK.

They are brand new, they are loud and they are ready to take over.
None of the statements above are exaggerated - and you will figure that out yourself as you get to know the band.

Novatines are:
Jamie Beale
Tom Cory
Callum Moloney
Ben Lythe
Tom Turner

So far they've played a bunch of shows, built a passionate fan base and kept us hungry for more.

Luckily we didn't have to wait long until they released their music video for their debut single, "Medicine".

Just like the song, the video is vibrant, attention-grabbing and just extremely cool.


The band just knows how to combine visuals and sounds and make them blend into one damn exciting experience.
We might've said it before, but we just have to say it again - keep an eye on this band and you'll see a band blow up.
It's just a matter of time.


Watch the video for "Medicine" right now:




- buy "Medicine" -



Novatines online: Website | Twitter | Facebook | Soundcloud | Instagram






Thank you for your visit!












Credits // Words: Vanessa Jertschewske | Image: via Novatines

Song Of The Day: "Between Fact And Fiction" by Robbert Redert



Hey guys!

What's your favourite way to discover new music?

Is it taking Spotify's recommendations?
Or talking to a friend, finding out what tunes they're loving?
Or browsing your favourite blog?

Well, we're hoping for the latter, but won't blame you if you rely on Spotify and friends.

But, really, let us be your friend.
We can't be Spotify for you, but we can be your friend.

And we'll be a good friend, starting right now - sharing great music with you.

Enjoy!


- Song Of The Day -
"Between Fact And Fiction" by Robbert Redert


Robbert Redert is a singer/songwriter from Utrecht, The Netherlands.

His sound blends Blues, Jazz and Pop elements, inspired by acts such as John Mayer, James Bay and house in the sand friend Rhys Lewis.

The personal and relatable storytelling and his warm voice make heartbreak sound better than ever.

Robbert started playing guitar the age of seven, started a cover band at age 15 whilst still being in school and has been writing his own material ever since.

In 2016 the young musician released a live EP called "Live In Kytopia" and now he's back with a brand new single called "Between Fact And Fiction".

"Between Fact And Fiction" greets you with a smoothly played electric guitar riff which has one of those magically calming effects on us listeners.

Robbert's vocals are warm and expressive, reaching hight notes effortlessly, taking you on an enjoyable ride of emotions.

The storytelling is personal, vulnerable and relatable.

"Between Fact And Fiction" makes heartbreak sound a lot more bearable.


Check out Robbert's latest single "Between Fact And Fiction" here:




- stream "Between Fact And Fiction" -



Robbert Redert online: Twitter | Facebook | Soundcloud | YouTube | Instagram





Thank you for your visit!
















Credits // Words: Vanessa Jertschewske | Image: Robbert Redert | Special thanks to Roos

Behind The Song: "Empty Blockings" by Amanda Mair



Hey guys!

Have you ever wanted to watch an artist create a song and see how it all comes together?

It's definitely a magical process and our "Behind The Song" feature allows us to learn more about how artists write their songs, what kind of gear they use, where they draw inspiration from and how their new songs compare to their older tracks.

We think it's so exciting to learn more about the tracks we have on repeat and we're glad you agree.

Today the fantastic Amanda Mair tells us the story behind her song.


- Behind The Song -
"Empty Blockings" by Amanda Mair


Amanda Mair is a singer/songwriter from Stockholm, Sweden.
In 2011 her debut single "House" gained a lot of attention from fans and music critics.
The Washington Post praised her grown up and Kate Bush-esque sound whilst the Swedish newspaper Aftonbladet called her album one of the best Swedish debuts of all time.
Ever since, Amanda kept writing and recording, honing her craft and releasing music.

Her brand new EP, "To The Moon", presents her matured and improved Pop sound.

Today we get to learn more about one of the singles on the EP, "Empty Blockings".


Check out what Amanda told us about "Empty Blockings":

"A complicated and destructive relationship inspired me to write "Empty Blockings", a hurtful and easing eye opener.

The writing and recording process went very fast with "Empty Blockings".
I had the story and ideas so fresh in my head, so I kind of wanted to write it down as quickly as possible.
Almost like when you wake up in the night from a dream you had and you want to write it down to not forget the story and the strong feelings you've had.

I recorded it in a studio in Stockholm, where I've recorded all my songs on the EP.
I love that there's a very old upright piano from London, it sounds amazing so we used that to get the old not so perfect sound.
We recorded strings and organ on a Nord Electro 4D and sampled drums through a Korg Volca Beats, and recorded percussion and toms in the studio.
The whole process of "Empty Blockings" went very smooth.
I called my bass player and he recorded some bass and the song was almost finished.

For me, "To The Moon" has a more mature sound than my first album.
I guess me and my sound have grown together during the years.
My EP is more driving and the focus is on a big soundscape with sweeping vocals.

And of course that I've written all the songs together with amazing songwriters is the biggest difference for me, top open my book and create music to my stories."


Listen to "Empty Blockings" below:




- buy or stream "Empty Blockings" -



Amanda Mair online: Website | Twitter | Facebook | Soundcloud | Instagram





Thank you for your visit!














 Credits // Words (Intro + Outro): Vanessa Jertschewske | Image & Words (About Song): Amanda Mair | special thanks to Mystic Sons

7 songs: Violetta Zironi




Hey guys!

I'm so happy to share another "7 songs" feature with you today.

I love how quickly we've all found the beauty and excitement in this feature and it actually became one of our most popular segments within just a few months of existing.

So, thank you for that.
It's so much fun getting to create posts that not only I enjoy, but also you and apparently the artists and labels and PRs as well.
It feels good knowing everyone is going to have fun with these.

I'm very excited to introduce you to today's DJane, Violetta Zironi.

Violetta Zironi is musician from Italy.

She started writing music at the age of 16 and spent time gigging around the North of Italy with a country and blues trio.
Her gigs and festival appearances led to Violetta making a new for herself and soon sign a deal with a label, whose plan it was to turn her into the next Italian pop star.

After a few single releases, Violetta realised the songs didn't represent who she really was, so she turned her back to the label and went back to being an independent musician.
She spent time crafting her skill set and finding her own sound, which is inspired by Folk, Americana and Country and still allows her European and Mediterranean roots to shine through.

In 2014 she opened for Soul legend Ben E. King, who invited her on stage for a duet of "Stand By Me".
In 2015 she met singer/songwriter Jack Savoretti and followed him as the special guest on tour.

The following year Violetta left her hometown in Italy to live in London and Berlin, travelling back and forth.
Later on that Summer, she went on another journey through Texas, Louisiana, Alabama, Tennessee and Arkansas, meeting many talented musicians with whom she started writing songs.

She recorded her debut EP, "Half Moon Lane", in Berlin and so far released three singles, "Toast" being the latest track.


Listen to Violetta's brand new single, "Toast":




Violetta Zironi online: Website | Twitter | Facebook | YouTube | Instagram



Let's check out Violetta's 7 songs, shall we?

________________________________________________________________________________________________________

1) a song which makes you dance
"Blame It On The Boogie" by The Jacksons

It just feels like a cheeky song with the purpose of making you dance!
I can't resist it. :)


________________________________________________________________________________________________________

2) a song that calms you down
"Don't Know Why" by Norah Jones

The jazzy chords and her velvety voice just pull the relax cords in my body and mind.
It kinds of makes me feel that everything is alirght and the feeling is really comforting.


________________________________________________________________________________________________________

3) a song with a deep meaning
"Le Tasche Piene Di Sassi" by Jovanotti

This song was written by this Italian songwriter about his mum passing away.
The chorus says "I'm alone tonight without you, you left me alone in front of the school, you left me alone in front of the sky".
It just makes me cry every time, so I just avoid listening to it! ;)


________________________________________________________________________________________________________

4) a song that makes you feel nostalgic
"Azzurro" by Adriano Celentano

A song I used to sing with my dad as a little girl.
It might have been one of the first songs he's ever taught me, and I remember at first I thought he had written it for my mum!
But in the end I realized it was from one of the best Italian songwriters ever, Paolo Conte.


________________________________________________________________________________________________________

5) a song which has accompanied you for a while
"Let's Get Lost" by Chet Baker

I discovered this song and chet baker four years ago and from that moment on it became one of my favourite songs. It's got every element I think is important in a song.
It's basically perfect to me!


________________________________________________________________________________________________________

6) a song from your favourite genre
"Bridge Over Troubled Water" by Simon and Garfunkel

It's one of my favourite folk songs.
The progression of the chords gives me goosebumps, as well as the honesty of the voice.


________________________________________________________________________________________________________

7) a song by an artist / a band which has surprised you
 "This Town" by Niall Horan

This song has surprised me because I would have never expected a nice folky song from a former One Direction member.
And I have to say, I enjoy listening to it and mumbling it every now and then. :)


________________________________________________________________________________________________________


What did you think of Violetta's playlist?

We would love to know!



Previous "7 songs" features: Saint Alto | Chris Stringer | Savannah Outen | Vanessa from HITS





Thank you for your visit!













Credits // Words (Intro & Outro): Vanessa Jertschewske | Image & Answers: Violetta Zironi | special thanks to Pon't Danic Music

Video Of The Day: "Whiskey" by Keeva



Hey guys!

It's December.
The last month of the year and we are thrilled to see you spending some time with us this Winter.

 We have a lot of cool features planned and can't wait to share them with you.

It's an exciting time and we're ready to end the year with a bang.
2017 has seen so many great releases and even in the next/the last few weeks of the year, there's so much greatness approaching us.

So, read on and discover your new favourite musicians. 
(We've got loads of them!)


- Video Of The Day -
"Whiskey" by Keeva


Keeva is a singer/songwriter based in London, UK.

The half-Jordanian, half-Irish musician grew up with Soul and Country classics around her and has managed to soak up all the great elements, honed her craft and found her bluesy signature sound.

In the past Keeva wrote, recorded and played multiple shows and festivals.
Her hauntingly beautiful melodies, expressive vocals and relatable lyrics have enough power to grab your attention for good.

With a solid online following and support from music critics, her first release "Whiskey" was well received.

"Whiskey" is a heartbreakingly beautiful ballad which will tug on your heartstrings for sure.
The emotion and realness of the track highlight Keeva's talent for writing personal, yet relatable songs.
The simple instrumentation is anything but shallow; it supports the track with such grace and allows you to feel all the feels.


Check out Keeva's music video for "Whiskey" here:




- buy or stream "Whiskey -



Keeva online: Website | Twitter | Facebook | YouTube | Instagram





Thank you for your visit!














Credits // Words: Vanessa Jertschewske | Image: Keeva

Song Of The Day: "Reason To Hate You" by Rhys Lewis



Hey guys!

Over here at house in the sand, we love getting to know artists through their music.

You know, just by listening to an album, you get to hear multiple sides of an artists - maybe you'll hear how they sound when they're sad, or when they're happy, or in love.
It's super interesting and exciting to learn all of that just through music.

With the amount of versatile singles Rhys Lewis has released over the course of the past year, we've heard a lot of his musical sides - and not a single one has been a let down.

Today we're hear to share Rhys' latest single with you and we hope you are ready to cry.


- Song Of The Day -
"Reason To Hate You" by Rhys Lewis


Rhys Lewis is a singer/songwriter based in London, UK.

His sound is going to make every classic Soul lover's heart beat - combining Soul with elements of Folk, Rock and Blues, Rhys has quickly created a signature sound which will draw your attention to his work.

Spending most of the past year in studios in London, Nashville, Stockholm, Los Angeles, Berlin and Isle Of Wight, the young musician has been writing and recording songs for his upcoming debut album.
His debut single "Waking Up Without You" hit #1 on Spotify's Viral Chart and reached 170 000 streams within two weeks.

Follow-up single "Living In The City" was just as strong and has now been streamed over 1.3 million times - a statement which probably speaks for itself.

His third single "I Know The Feeling" was written for a friend who was going through a tough time. The song and its music video adddress the importance of men's mental health.

Followed by "Be Your Man", a heartbreakingly beautiful ballad that won us all over with it's simplicity and straight-forward attitude.

He got us up on our feet, dancing to his upbeat track "Wish I Was Sober" in September.  

To catch one of his upcoming Europe and UK shows, make sure to click here for the dates.


And just last week he released his brand new single "Reason To Hate You", a heartbreaking ballad.


Throughout the entire song, all we hear is Rhys' voice and the electric guitar.
This simplicity could be tragically monotonous to listen to, but it isn't.

In fact, it soaks you in and grabs you.
Maybe it's Rhys' confidence in his writing, maybe it's the universal and relatable heartbreak he's singing about, maybe it's magic.

But it grabs your attention.
With vivid storytelling, highlighting the vulnerable side of love and - of course, expressive vocals, it's no surprise that we found our eyes watering and our hearts breaking a little.



Listen to "Reason To Hate You" here:




- buy or stream "Reason To Hate You" -



Rhys Lewis online: Website | Twitter | Facebook | Soundcloud | YouTube | Instagram



More of Rhys Lewis on house in the sand:
Video Interview | Song Title Challenge





Thank you for your visit!













Credits // Words: Vanessa Jertschewske | Image: Rhys Lewis via Universal UK

songs for days: #1



Hey guys!

Welcome to "songs for days", episode one.

We're constantly thinking of new ways to share brilliant music with you.

The amount of songs we find in our inbox is impossible to share one piece at a time - 
so we thought we might show you seven songs at once - but taking it one day at a time.

Basically, we're inviting you to spend the week with us.
We'll bring the tunes, you'll just bring yourself and we're ready to take off.

Below you'll find a selection of songs, tailored for the average week.
We tried figuring out what kind of mood you might be in and how music could help to improve your day.

So... let's do this!




Monday // "Storm" by Mighty Oaks

Mondays can be so tough, we all know that.
So, we should start the week with some melow sounds to ease us into the working week.
Mighty Oaks have released a beautiful new EP (read our review here) and we can't get enough of the calm beauty that is "Storm".
Let those soothing harmonies guide you through the process of unwinding.




Tuesday // "Reflection" by Louis Samson

I don't know about you, but as soon as Tuesday hits us - I need some colourful tunes to keep me going.
Nothing too upbeat, because I'm still adjusting to the hectic of the week - but some groovy and smooth to accompany me.
Louis Samson must've heard my prayers and just released "Reflection" - a perfect track to keep the spirits high. It's groovy, has great R'n'B vibes and will definitely help you through the day.




Wednesday // "I Want You To Know" by Rökkva

Do you know those typical Wednesdays? When you're not sure if you're enjoying the week or if you actually need a break?
Yeah.. in case you're having one of those days, let Rökkva take away your worries with "I Want You To Know", a stunning ballad which has a beautiful, slightly nostalgic twist to it.
Get yourself a cup of tea, sit down, breathe and listen. Thursday is coming




Thursday // "Like A Leaf" by Nicolai

Thursdays are great. Thursdays are close to the weekend, which means we can get our groove on.
Let Nicolai's "Like A Leaf" take over your day and get ready to shake like a leaf because the beat is just great for that.
You'll dig this one.




Friday // "Fake Happy" by Paramore

By the time Friday finally rolls around, we all need to get away from work and just dance.
If "Fake Happy" and Paramore don't get you moving, I'm afraid you've worked too much, buddy.
Take a break and embrace the (fake) happiness.




Saturday // "Paranoia" by Liza Anne

It's Saturday! Yes! Yes! Yes!
If you've listened to our "female equals future" playlist, you'll already know this one.
"Paranoia" by Liza Anne is a fabulous track to just sing along as you're forgetting about the work worries of the week.
(Unless you're a freelancer. In that case you might relate to the video.)




Sunday // "Mess" by Tuvaband

Let's collect our strength to get ready to repeat the madness on Monday morning.
Let's all sit down and relax as we're listening to Tuvaband's "Mess", which couldn't be more beautiful if it tried.
It's as calming as the ocean and as warm as a campfire.
It's exactly what we deserve after this long week.





And that's it for the week!

Please let us know what you think of this new feature, we'd love to hear your thoughts.





Thank you for your visit!
















Credits // Words & Image: Vanessa Jertschewske

Playlist: female equals future



Hey guys!

I grew up surrounded by women who taught me that hard work gets you places,
that loving unconditionally is the only way to love truly,
and who taught me that women are capable of literally everything. 

My first favourite band was a fieve piece girl band.
They were the first band I saw live when I was six years old and I wanted to be as expressive with my life is they were with theirs. 

In kindergarten, I hung out with boys and was never excluded from any games. They treated me like one of them. 

When I first started out in the music industry at 16, I was guided by some of the most supportive men I've ever met.

Once I decided to turn photography into a serious part of my job, I found so much support and help from a female collective.

Why am I telling you this?
Well, to show you that I grew up, thinking there was no such thing as inequity between men and women.

But - spoiler alert: there is.

I could write a million and one posts about this topic (and I have written one, click here),
but instead I've decided to turn my frustration into something joyful.

And so I've created a "female equals future" playlist for myself and everyone else to enjoy.

Female artists struggle in many ways and so this playlist is dedicated to all of them.

I want to comment on every single track, so I'll try to write a little summary of the playlist.

So my idea is for you to hit play and read along to my commentary as you're listening to the tracks.
If you don't want to do that, that's fine - but please check out these talented musicians.

Every artist/band name is linked to their website, so if you like something - make sure to visit their pages and support them.


Enjoy "female equals future"!



Of course I had to start off with some Paramore.
Yes, they're not all women in the band - but front lady Hayley Williams was one of the first women I've looked up to for her creativity and her ability to turn emotions into music.
"Hard Times" is yet another masterpiece.

Dagny's "Love You Like That" is one of the loveliest love songs on the playlist and it's so refreshing, so energising and just a beautiful pop song.

I first listened to Liza Anne about four years ago and have been in love with her sound ever since. She's evolving so much and "Paranoia" might just be my favourite track of hers.

Black Honey is another female fronted rock band that you need in your life, so start with "Hello Today", if you don't know them yet.

Laurel's voice is so expressive and so hypnotizing, "San Francisco" will soak you in and not let go. You'll love it.


"Used To Do" by Gabrielle Aplin is yet another proof that she can pull off any change of style - whether it's Folk or Pop or Rock, she's got it. 

Anne-Marie is one of those exciting acts who still has plenty of surprises coming up for us, "Heavy" showcasing her melancholic and soft side.

Kat Frankie is my latest discovery - and holy moly, I'm so glad I found her music. "Bad Behaviour" speaks for itself, so give it a listen and you won't be disappointed.

Lissie is a remarkable lady who has written multiple stunning albums and has found a sound that couldn't work better for her. "When I'm Alone" is just genius.

If you haven't heard of Bryde before - you're gonna thank me for adding "Desire" to the list. It's her latest track and it's mysterious and badass and overall brilliant.

Fenne Lily's "Top To Toe" is one of the most calming tracks you'll find on this playlist. I fell in love with this song when it randomly played on Soundcloud and I haven't been able to stop listening to it since.

Keeva has been featured on HITS a couple of times before and it's such a joy to finally have another track to share with you. Warning - "Whiskey" might make you cry. Her voice is pure gold.

You're already crying? Let me add fuel to the fire with The Lunar Year's "Porcelain". Another female fronted band that has touched our hearts with this stunning track.

Sigrid had a big year and if you listen to "Dynamite", you'll know why. I can't help but get Adele-like wow-vibes from her extremely expressive voice.

Every lady featured on this list blows us away with her voice - and Hannah Grace is no exception. Keep your love is firey, souly and just fabulous.

Kid Wave combines moody beats with sunny riffs and give us magical vintage vibes with "Everything Changes".

Say what you want, I like Taylor Swift and thing her evolution sound wise is nothing but fascinating. "...Ready For It?" is exciting and futuristic.

If "Woman (Oh Mama)" by Joy Williams doesn't get you stomping your foot, please see a doctor. It's infectious and such a perfect anthem.

To give you a moment of peace, I had to add Rachel Sermanni's "Breathe Easy" to the mix. It's so calming and so comforting, you might shed a tear or two. (I shed three.)

Nina Luna is a HITS favourite and her creative approach to music is so fulfilling, you don't want to miss out on "Hope Run Wild".

I have to admit, I don't know many Lady Gaga songs, but I wanted to end this playlist with her piano ballad "A Million Reasons" because it left me speechless.


And that's it for the playlist.

I really hope you've enjoyed it - thank you for checking it out.


If you know any female musicians you'd like us to feature in the future, please get in touch!


house in the sand online: twitter | facebook | soundcloud | youtube | instagram


Vanessa online: twitter | instagram




Thank you for your visit!















Credits // Words & Image: Vanessa Jertschewske

Behind The Song: "Five Years Time" by ONR



Hey guys!

Have you ever noticed how out of everything a person could possibly collect, music is the one thing you could never have enough of?

I mean, think about it - have you ever felt like it was a bad thing to have a full music library?
I definitely haven't.

I think you can't possibly know too many songs - there's something new to discover in every track you'll come across - at least the ones we share on house in the sand.

So let's get acquainted with a very excting track by ONR who chats us through the song.


- Behind The Song -
"Five Years Time" by ONR


ONR is an indie/electronic artist from Scotland.

Previously releasing demos via the indie label Leftwing, ONR is now signed to Capitol Records in the US.

His debut single "Jericho" received support from Spotify, as well as US stations such as KCRW, KCSN and Live 105.

December will see ONR touring the UK, including playing three sold out shows in Scotland.
He is also set to perform at SXSW in 2018.


Today ONR is here to chat us through the writing and recording process of his brand new single, "Five Years Time".

We hope you enjoy the exclusive insight - now let's let ONR take over the post:


"'Five Years Time' is probably lyrically one of the darkest songs I have.

I was trying to promote two intersecting ideas: firstly, this idea of balancing your past with your present, and in particular, this common feeling that in some way you haven't atoned for the sins of your past or your subconscious; that your happiness is, at present, underserved.
Secondly, I wanted to set that against this current backdrop of dark, dark politics, and the increasingly common frustration and helplessness that this generation is feeling - the attitude of 'grin and bear it, just get through it, let's see where we end up'.

I'm usually someone who spends an awful long time writing songs - particularly lyrics.
Very rarely will I committo something in less than a month. I'm always tweaking, replacing, re-writing. I remember watching Wings For Wheels, seeing Springsteen with pages upon pages of rewritten lyrics for "Thunder Road" and "Born To Run"... that's the kind of writer I want to be.

But "Five Years Time" wasn't that. It took no time at all. No countless rewrites, no endless editing.
It just came very easily. You get a few like that, and I'm always suspicious of them for some reason... but it works. I think it's probably one of the truest examples that I have of the subconscious feeling I had at the time just spilling straight in to the melody without much necessity for translation.

The band and I gigged this along with some of the other tracks in the very early days, and it always got a huge response live. It's a simple song - probably the simplest I have - and I'd maybe not given it due credence because of that, but it reacts in that environment. The more we played it, the more everyone began to believe: 'there's something about this track.'

I took this song to James Flannigan, a producer based in LA. I played him three tracks, and he picked out "Five Years Time" immediately as the track he was most excited about working on. James also produced our first release, "Jericho".
We worked out of his studio in Silverlake for a week. I really loved working with James, and felt a real kinship with him straight away. I think we both come from similar worlds, and were looking to build these big, bold American productions, but retaining those technical aspirations and delicacies of classic UK songwriting.

I'd just finished watching Stranger Things, and loved it - particularly the soundtrack. I still feel like it was written for me. It's so perfect.
We had it playing in the studio the entire time, along with The Day The Earth Stood Still. Listening to the track, I think you can tell.

Gear-wise, we used a lot of tape methods to get that feel  - we ran pretty much everything through a TEAC reel-to-reel, again and again, sometimes deliberately messing the reels around during playback to get those strange clips, pop and sweeps you hear throughout the track - really fun.
We used a range of synth, both hard and soft (classic trio of Juno/Voyager/Prophet that are my go-tos).
My Martin D15-M acoustic guitar is on there, as well as some Nord stuff for the keys, and a bunch of amazing drum samples and loops that James cut up and worked in to the track.

The response to "Jericho" was so incredible, and "Five Years Time" feels like the next stage of projection to where the music will end up.
I hope people like it."


Listen to "Five Years Time" below:




- buy or stream "Five Years Time" -


ONR online: Website | Twitter | Facebook | Soundcloud | YouTube | Instagram




Thank you for your visit!















Credits // Words (Intro): Vanessa Jertschewske | Image & Words "About Song": ONR

Gig Photos: Hippo Campus at 9:30 Club, Washington




Hey guys!

Which shows have you seen recently?

Team HITS is enjoying the busy gig season and we're all having a great time at our local venues.
By sharing all these photos on house in the sand, it feels like we all ge tto watch the same shows - even if it means in photo form.

Our Washington based photographer Gabby Ames went out to photograph Hippo Campus and their support act Remo Drive at 9:30 Club - and today we get to share the photos with you.


You can learn more about Gabby here, please also make sure to follow her online:
website | twitter | instagram

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Date: 13th November 2017
Venue: 9:30 Club, Washington (US)

Support Act: Remo Drive





Remo Drive online: Website | Twitter | Facebook | YouTube | Instagram















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Headliner: Hippo Campus





Hippo Campus online: Website | Twitter | Facebook | YouTube | Instagram

























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We hope you enjoyed the photos!

In case you'd like to see more of house in the sand - follow us on Instagram.




Thank you for your visit!









&






Credits // Words: Vanessa Jertschewske | Photography: Gabby Ames | **a ticket & photo pass have kindly been provided**