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.

Video Interview: Alex Francis

16th August 2019 //

Hey everyone!

Sometimes you need to step back to find your focus.

After releasing our first print issue last month, things felt a little uncertain over here.
Turns out that after spending months and months working on a different kind of medium, you feel a little lost and overwhelmed the moment you step back into what you've been doing before tackling the new adventure.

We'll admit, it took a little bit of time to adjust to the fast paced online world again,
but thankfully with a little help from our super wonderful and talented friends, we made it back.

All we really needed was to be reminded that our main goal has always been to connect music fans and musicians on a more personal level.

So here we are, doing just that by sharing something with you we actually have never shared before - a Skype interview recording.


It's slightly old school but we think you'll really enjoy our conversation with Alex Francis.


Alex Francis is a singer/songwriter originally from Hitchin, UK, currently based in London.
His sound combines the classical singer/songwriter elements with sprinkles of folk and soul, creating a unique listening experience for his fans.

Alex first introduced himself to the music world with his single "Make Believe" back in 2017.
Ever since he has gone from strength to strength, convincing not just the British airplay DJs, the Spotify Germany playlist makers but also acts such as Kelly Jones who invited Alex and his band to support the Stereophonics on tour.

Besides touring with Stereophonics, Alex has also supported Sting, Melanie C - on whose single "Hold On" he also features - and most recently, James Bay. 

His music has allowed Alex to travel a lot, appearing on SXSW, performing at Mad Cool Festival in Madrid, playing The Isle Of Wight Festival, Live At Leeds, Liverpool Sound City and more.

To catch Alex live, head over to his website (linked below), German fans will be the first ones to see him live next month.


During our conversation, Alex told us more about his latest single, "Desire", experiencing music as a musican and music fan, how he evolves as a musician and a lot more.


Watch the interview right here:



We'd like to say a massive thank you for Alex for taking the time to have this wonderful chat
& to AK for setting this up for us.


Listen to Alex's latest single "Desire" right here:




Alex Francis online: Website | Twitter | Facebook | Spotify | YouTube | Instagram





Thank you for your visit!















Credits // Words & Video: Vanessa Jetwash | Image: via Alex Francis 

Behind The Song: "Slip Of The Heart" by Freddie Dickson

15th August 2019

Hey everyone!

The music industry, much like any other industry, can be a very confusing place at times.
It can be difficult to navigate through the daily hurdles and to keep track of the little wins.

And we truly think that the daily, little wins are what make this chaotic ride so much fun.
Being able to connect over music, whether that's by learning more about it from the artists themselves - or it's hearing your thoughts on the music we share with you.

Those moments are what keep us excited to continue and we truly hope no matter in which industry you work, you'll celebrate your little wins as well.

Today we're super excited to learn more about a song we think a lot of you will fall in love with quickly.


- Behind The Song -
"Slip Of The Heart" by Freddie Dickson


Freddie Dickson is a singer/songwriter from London, UK.
His atmospheric, at times mysterious sound is one that just soaks you in and keeps your attention throughout.
Freddie grew up listening to the greats such as Bob Dylan, Neil Young and other geniuses of that era.

His debut LP, "Panic Town" (2017), has been compared to the likes of Sharon van Etten, The National and Nick Cave. The album was his return to being an independent artist and going back to his roots after being signed to Columbia Records in 2014. Freddie decided to cut ties when the demand for pop music didn't aling with his vision and signature sound.

The routine of being in London started to slow the musician down and he found himself craving a change, and so Freddie went on a new adventure and moved to Berlin, Germany in 2018.

His upcoming album, "Blood Street", was recorded in his old flat in North London and is set to be released in October 2019.
"Slip Of The Heart" is one of the track fans will find on the his forthcoming album.


This is what Freddie told us about the song:

"This was actually the first song I wrote for the album.
I was in London at the time and it was shortly after I had split from my label and I was feeling quite lost in terms of the direction I was heading musically.
I knew that I had to start from scratch in order to figure out what I really wanted to achieve. The song is about how sometimes you have to fall down in order to come back up again.

I wrote this song in my flat in North London and recorded it myself in a little home studio.
After I had recorded my vocals and guitars, I took it to an amazing drummer called Alex Reeves (Elbow, Bat for Lashes) who really brought the whole thing to life.
We messed about with a bunch of old drums he had lying around and one of the cymbals even had a huge chunk missing but it sounded great!

I then asked my friend Oh Sister to sing backing alongside Amber Lane-Mcivor who is a singer from Manchester I had seen playing in a pub randomly a couple of years before, who really blew me away. Their voices blended so beautifully together.

Once I was happy with all the recording, I took the track to my friend John Davies, who produced my previous record "Panic Town" and he played bass and mixed and mastered the track. This song really helped set the tone for the whole record sonically.

I really wanted the sound of this record to be as raw as possible compared to my previous album which was perhaps a bit bigger production-wise.
I didn't want to try and disguise the fact that I was basically recording it all at home with a bunch of friends and just having fun. I was listening to a lot of early Neil Young records at the time and something about the harmonies and the feel he captured on his albums really had an impact on me. I wanted to keep everything super simple and tried to capture the atmosphere and enjoyment of the whole process."


Listen to "Slip Of The Heart" right here:




- stream "Slip Of The Heart" here -



Freddie Dickson online: Twitter | Facebook | Spotify | YouTube | Instagram






Thank you for your visit!
















Credits // Words (intro): Vanessa Jetwash | Words (about song): Freddie Dickson | Artwork: Lucas Mattine Carmel | Image received via Pon't Danic Music

Song Of The Day: "Dream, Girl" by Little Hours



Hey everyone!

We don't have too many rules over here at house in the sand,
however one - and we really focus on this one - is to always go and see the support act at a gig.

Whether we are at a show to photograph and review it or attend gigs in our free time, 
we always try to watch the support acts.

We've quickly learned that if you show up early, you might just find your next favourite artist - and if that isn't motivation enough to go, we don't know what is.

Showing up early to a Hudson Taylor gig last year was exactly how we got to meet Little Hours in Manchester. We were wow'ed from the first note on and eagerly kept waiting for new releases.

So naturally we wanted to chat about Little Hours's latest single.


- Song Of The Day -
"Dream, Girl" by Little Hours


Behind Little Hours you will find John Doherty, a multi-instrumentalist and songwriter from Donegal, Ireland.

John tends to focus on acoustic guitar and piano instrumentations paired with his warm and hypnotising voice, but doesn't shy away from surprising his listeners with additional elements here and there.

His indie-pop sound has allowed him to find a loyal and appreciative fan base.
One of the first songs Little Hours released, "It's Still Love", was nominated for a Choice Music Prize and has gotten significant Irish airplay.

Between playing sold-out headline shows, appearing at Electric Picnic and playing support slots for James Bay, Tom Baxter and Hudson Taylor, Little Hours kept on releasing well crafted tracks and EPs over the years.


Litte Hours latest release, "Dream, Girl", is definitely one to talk about.


For this track John chose to make the piano the leading element of the song. The main chords follow you through the piece, allowing you to immediately find a familiar element.

Once the percussions kick in, "Dream, Girl" conveys more depth and grip, also adding another constant to the track, keeping the same steady pace throughout the song.

John's warm and powerful vocals showcase his wide range and guide you through the track with so much confidence and ease.
The layered backing vocals support and higlight the lyrics while the string arrangement shows Little Hours's dedication to details.

If this song is your introduction to Little Hours, just know that you're in for a treat.


Watch the music video for "Dream, Girl" right here:




- buy and/or stream "Dream, Girl" here -



Little Hours online: Website | Twitter | Facebook | Spotify | YouTube | Instagram






Thank you for your visit!















Credits // Words: Vanessa Jetwash | Image: Little Hours via Facebook

Interview: Froth



Hey everyone!

The beauty of having a team of amazing writers and photographers working together to create the content to you see on house in the sand, is that we all bring different tastes and interests to the table.

However, we all have the same goal and that is to allow you to get to know your favourite acts better and for you to meet some new favourites along the way.

And we believe that the best way to achieve that goal is to chat to the artists themselves and share the conversations with you.

Our LA based writer and photographer Melissa had a little chat with Froth a while back and we're excited to share it with you now. 


Before you dive into the interview, please make sure to follow Melissa:
  twitter | facebook | instagram

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So let's get to know Froth!


Froth are a three piece from Los Angeles, US.

Their influences range from shoegaze to psychedia to post-punk, ultimately causing them to create a wild noise rock signature sound.

Joo-Joo Ashworth, Jeremy Katz and Cameron Allen have been releasing music together since 2014 and have celebrated the release of their third album, "Duress", earlier this year.

Froth's live sets are as memorable as their studio recordings, incorporating analog snythesizers, overdubs and drum machines, ensuring their listeners are having an amazing time watching them live.

2019 has seen them performing alongside Black Marble, Versing, A Place To Bury Strangers DJs and more.





Froth online: Website | Twitter | Facebook | Spotify | YouTube | Instagram


Melissa got to chat to Jeremy who told her all about the "Yanny/Laurel" debate, what the band does on days off and where they find their influences.


house in the sand: Hey Froth! Thanks so much for taking the time to have a little chat with us at house in the sand! How are you guys doing on tour?

Froth: We're basically done and driving back, but it went really well. We got along super well with the whole touring party (Black Marble, DYED).

HITS: Being from Los Angeles, would you say that the city has any influence in your sound or the lyrics in your songs?

Froth: I wouldn't say that specifically the city influences the music, but it probably does. Definitely we used to be very inspired by local LA bands and the whole scene. I'm inspired by the Dodgers now too.

HITS: The video for your song "Laurel" is so creative and kind of has a nostalgic "90's" vibe with the animation, I felt a Space Jam reference in there. What was the creative thought process when coming up with the idea for the video?

Froth: Definitely analog Space Jam was a goal from the video. It was all masterminded by Courtney Garvin (from The Courtneys) who had all the shots and animations planned out. She actually said she woke up from a dream one day and got the idea.



HITS: You've said the song was based on the "Yanny/Laurel" video that went viral last year. Which name did you guys hear? I could only hear Laurel.

Froth: I heard Yanny first but only two times, then Laurel forever.

HITS:
If I asked you to cover a song by another band - which one would it be and why?


Froth: It would be "Autumn Sweater" by Yo La Tango because it's already so similar to our song "xvanos".

HITS: Describe tour life for us; what are some things you do on days off? What is your number one must have essential when traveling?

Froth: We try to find something good to eat and a newer thing is trying to find something physical to do. We used to do tours where we would just sit in the van and eat convenient garbage and bicker with each other. Now it's about eating pho and hitting some batting cage. Swimming outside on days off, playing with a ball.

HITS: Please complete the following sentence: We are Froth and we...

Froth: hate our first album, "Patterns".

HITS: Is there anything else you'd like house in the sand readers to know?

Froth: We are Froth and we hate our first album, "Patterns".



We hope you enjoyed our conversation with Froth!
Make sure to check out their music.





Thank you for your visit!









&






Credits // Intro: Vanessa Jetwash | Interview questions: Melissa Rodriguez | Interview answers: Froth  | Image: Jeff Fribourg

Performance Of The Day: "Bones" by JC Stewart




Hey everyone!

It's a rainy day here and somehow that just makes me crave beautiful, calming and soulful music.
It's pretty fascinating how much our surroundings influence our taste and mood.

Of course, I have no idea what the weather is like in your area, for all I know the earth could already be headed towards the apocalypse. (#Wasteland, Baby!)
But, if you are looking for a song to thoughtfully look out into the rain, you've come to the right place.

So, grab a cup of tea, a blanket and let's have a proper cliché rain day.


- Performance Of The Day -
"Bones" by JC Stewart


JC Stewart is a singer/songwriter from Derry, Northern Ireland.

He combines classic singer/songwriter elements with Pop elements.
JC writes about his own life experiences and is often inspired by conversations he has with others,
this results in his songs being honest, direct and vulnerable - giving the listeners so much to identify with.

The young musician is influenced by artists varying from Tom Waits, to Bob Dylan, to The Band and Hozier. These influences give an insight as to why JC Stewart's sound can be so light and delicate in one song but then go oh so dark and anthem-like in others.

JC has been pretty busy releasing new songs - such as "Have You Had Enough Wine?", a gripping and cinematic song that takes you on a journey of confusion and heartbreak. Besides supporting Kodaline, Freya Ridings and Snow Patrol, he also co-wrote "Hollywood" which you'll find on Lewis Capaldi's debut album.
He has a few more support slots for LAUV, Anne-Marie and Vance Joy coming up, so make sure to keep an eye on his socials to catch some of the shows.


Most recently JC Stewart shared the acoustic performance of his latest release "Bones".


Recorded on a couch athestically placed in a field in the outskirts of London, this performance of "Bones" really highlights the ebbs and flows of an ending relationship.
By just focusing on acoustic guitar and vocals, JC has stripped the song down to its bones (#wecamehereforthepuns), showing how well the song works with even just these two elements.

This intimate performance is baring the song's structures perfectly; going from soft and composed to loud and raging, again portraying the sadness and frustration one feels when going through these situations.

The line "it's better to have lost, than never have loved at all" still manages to paint it all in a forgiving and somewhat optimistic light and allows us to move on with a smile on our faces.


Watch JC Stewart's performance of "Bones" right here:




- buy and/or stream "Bones" here -



JC Stewart online: Website | Twitter | Facebook | Spotify | YouTube | Instagram














Credits // Words: Vanessa Jetwash | Image: JC Stewart via Facebook

Gig Photos: Catfish and the Bottlemen at Stage AE, Pittsburgh (June 2019)




Hey everyone!

Summer is in full swing, we've made it through a couple of heatwaves already and we believe that cold drinks and good music can get us through this.

Our fantastic photographer Gabby went to see and photograph Catfish and the Bottlemen last month-
and now we get to enjoy the photos from the show.

So, grab a drink, lean back and let's pretend the weather is normal.
(But let's go and do something for the environment afterwards, okay?)


As always, we'd love for you to support Gabby online:

website | twitter | instagram


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Date: 25th June 2019
Venue: Stage AE, Pittsburgh (US)

Support Act: The Worn Flints


The Worn Flints are a three piece from Columbus, Ohio.

Their unique Psych Rock sound draws influences from Blues, Folk and like minded Psychedelic Rock bands.
The trio consisting of Kenny Stiegele (guitar, piano, vocals), Steve Trabulsi (bass) and Jake Smith (drums) have their focus on abstract song structures and extended heavy instrumentations.

Their energetic live set really warmed up the crowd and probably even left them wanting more.
So keep an eye on their socials (linked below) for upcoming tour dates.


Watch the band's performance of "Oh, Brother" right here:




The Worn Flints: Website | Twitter | Facebook | Spotify | Instagram















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Headliner: Catfish and the Bottlemen


Catfish and the Bottlemen are an Alternative/Indie Rock four piece.

The band was formed in Llandudno, North Wales and has been going from strength to strength over the years.

Catfish and the Bottlemen are:
 Van McCann
Benji Blakeway
Robert Hall
Johnny Bond

The four musicians spent the beginning of their careers gigging whenever and wherever they could, building a loyal fanbase.

Besides winning the Brit Award for British Breakthrough Act in 2016, Catfish and the Bottlemen have toured in South America, Japan, Europe, UK, North America and Australia.
They've played sets at Lollapalooza, Glastonbury, Latitude, Reading and Leeds, Bonaroo and many more. Recently they've headlined Trnsmt Festival in Glasgow, Scotland.

The band's albums have followed stylistic concepts starting with the artwork.
So far Catfish and the Bottlemen have released:

EP: "Kathleen And The Other Three" (2014)
LP: "The Balcony" (2014)
LP: "The Ride" (2016)
LP: "The Balance" (2019)


Watch the video for "2all" right here:




Catfish and the Bottlemen online: Website | Twitter | Facebook | Spotify | YouTube | Instagram



















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Have you seen Catfish and the Bottlemen live before?





Thank you for your visit!








&






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