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".

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




Thank you for your visit!









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

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Interview: Didirri

Hey everyone!

There are a few things we want to do more of in 2019.
We focused a lot on learning more about particular songs and albums last year - and we still aim to do that in the future.

But we didn't put as much focus on the brilliant artists that create those songs we love so much.
So this year we will be shining all the spotlights on the fantastic creators we come across.

We hope you're ready for it!

Today we're excited to share our conversation with the brilliant Didirri.


Didirri is a musician from Melbourne, Australia.

Ever since starting out, Didirri has managed to achieve big things; such as selling out two headline tours in 2017, supporting acts like Tash Sultana, Vance Joy, The Jezabels and The Temper Trap, and on top of that he sold out his first ever show in London at Shacklewell Arms.

Besides all of that, the young musician also played Fairgrounds Festival, Grampians Festival, Boogie Fest and NYE On The Hill.

Didirri switches between playing with a full band and playing solo shows. The latter providing a lot of intimacy, while the full band shows hit you with all the depth his music has to offer.

His debut EP, "Measurements", was released in July of 2018 and has convinced music fans all over the world of Didirri's talent.
Whether it's the dreamy "I Can't Get Last Night Out Of My Head" or the historical "Formaldehyde",
these songs quickly became staples for multiple playlists.





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


Find out what Didirri told us about his track "Formaldehyde", recording his EP, supporting Vance Joy, bad advice and a lot more. 


house in the sand: Hey Didirri! Thanks so much for taking the time to have a little chat.
How are you?

Didirri: Living life, loving it sometimes.

HITS: Do you find that writing music helps you to process things you go through? Or do you start writing about experiences once you've actually processed them?

Didirri: A little bit of column A, little bit of column B really. Healthy reflection through song is defnitely part of my writing process, as it is expression of emotion as it comes to me.

HITS: We absolute love your track "Formaldehyde" and the story behind it.
We'd love for you to share the writing process of it with out readers.

Didirri: It is an exploration of the infertility of Frida Kahlo and the plight of many women who have dealt with the inability to bring a child to full-term. I wanted to express my admiration for those powerful women who can turn something as painful as losing a child into art for others to reflect on.
It is supposed to express the anger of being out of control and the need to hold onto something painful for the sake of processing properly.



HITS: Rumour has it you've ended up laying under a piano, playing the clarinette while recording the EP.
How did that come about? And are there any other unexpected techniques we can hear on the EP?

Didirri: My producer and I are both very into folly rooms, the experimentation on the EP is due to a lack of sleep and an excavation of interesting sound. We likened the EP to sculpting sound, rather than painting it. Creating an excess of sonic qualities and then carving away the shitty ones. We wanted to create a space that was intriguing but still speaking to the songs.

HITS: You've played a bunch of shows for SofarSounds, which is such a cool concept, especially for the listeners.
But what was it like for you to play songs in such intimate settings?

Didirri: Incredibly exposing, confronting to my songwriting. But ultimately intimate and wonderful.

HITS: Probably a complete contrast to that was supporting Vance Joy at Rod Laver Arena in Melbourne - so what was that experience like?

Didirri: It is a sea of delayed reaction magnified by the immensity of the crowd. Every single joke, every single line, every single moment lasts at least 30 times as long.

HITS: On Twitter you wrote, "I write songs to give myself advice, and hopefully others.", so what was the best advice you've given yourself?

Didirri: If you have a Plan B, you don't believe in Plan A. When Plan A fails, make a new Plan A.

HITS: And again, another contrast - what was the worst piece of advice you've ever gotten?

Didirri: Music is fun, but remember you aren't helping people, do something worthy with your life.

HITS: Your music is obviously featured on a bunch of playlist - but who is currently on your playlist? Any cool acts or tracks you might like to share with us?

Didirri: Oh pep! Bon Iver. Billie Eilish. Blake Mills. Julia Jacklin. Ro. Canary.

HITS: And the final question: we've built a house in the sand - if you could build a house anywhere in the world, where would you build it?

Didirri: The cobbled streets of Barcelona. I think it has my heart.


We hope you enjoyed our conversation with Didirri!
Make sure to check out his music.





Thank you for your visit!

Credits // Words & Questions: Vanessa Jetwash | Image: Ian Laidlaw | Answers: Didirri

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Interview: Gabriel Black

Hey guys!

We believe that interviews are perfect ways to introduce you to artists.

Whether you already know them, or are just finding out about them - being able to learn more a person and their views can help you connect with their art on another level. 

And because we love getting to know artists better, doing interviews for this website is always an absolute joy.


Today we're thrilled to share our chat with Gabriel Black.


Gabriel Black is an artist originally from Pennsylvania, now based in Los Angeles, US.
His own description is as follows, "I sing songs poorly and draw shitty cartoons".

Well, we see it differently.
We're really digging Gabriel's sound and his creative way of animating his music.
And we're not alone; his track "jump" has racked up more than 800.000 streams on Spotify and over a million views on YouTube.

Describing his sound can be a bit tricky, fellow music critics have used alternative rock, postpunk and hiphop.
And they've kinda nailed it.

However, you should definitely check it out yourself.





Gabriel Black online: Twitter | Facebook | Spotify | YouTube | Instagram


Check out HITS founder Vanessa's chat with Gabriel as they chat about stereotypes, texting fans, ABBA and a lot more.

This interview was held via phone on August 29th.


Gabriel Black: Hey, how are you?

house in the sand: Hi there, I'm good! How are you?

GB: Pretty good, how about you?

HITS: It's a really rainy day over here. Hope it's better in LA!

GB: Yeah, it's sunny. Really sunny. Palm trees are swaying.

HITS: That's brilliant! Sounds gorgeous!

GB: Honestly, it gets a little old. I could use a little rain, it never rains here and I miss the rain.

HITS: I get it, but sunshine doesn't hurt, does it?

GB: No, it's cool.

HITS: So how's your day? What have you been up to so far?

GB: Today I'm doing a few calls but other than that, just hanging out and making music, that type of stuff. It's kinda earlier here, I just woke up a little bit ago.

HITS: So, I wanna talk a bit about this stereotype that artists sit around all day and that songs kind of drop from the sky. And I kinda wanna end that stereotype because we all know it's not true.

GB: No, it's not true.

HITS: So I was wondering how much time you put into your music? How long does it take you to finish a project?

GB: To finish a project? It takes me time. Part of the stereotype- okay, without a doubt you have to endlessly be working, you know?
Because you'll go through waves to make something, just waves of stuff that you don't like, is not good - and you have to work through it to then have the breaking point where you get something good. So you always have to be working but to the opposite of that point, I do think, at a certain point a song will kind of come to you. You know what I mean?

HITS: Yeah, that totally makes sense.

GB: You can't just sit around, because then you're never going to improve. The whole thing is, you have to work through the bad moments; the uninspired, the not really productive moments to get to the gold.
So yeah, I probably work.. I work, I don't know. See, I do the art shit as well, so I do a few hours of the art shit a day and probably five, six hours of making music. Something like that. It's off and on, it's scattered. I've also got Netflix playing in the background, it's a mix of it.

HITS: That's totally cool. So you also animate your videos yourself - so I was wondering, when you write your music, do you already envision what the video is going to look like at the same time? Or does that just happen later on?

GB: Yeah, totally. I think that visually when I make music, I always kind of have an image in my head.
Whether it's just a guitar loop that I've done, I'll even start thinking what kind fits it visually. But especially once I start adding words, then it really comes together. I think about videos from the very start.



HITS: You seem to be pretty open about dark moments in your life through your music. Does that ever feel scary to you?

GB: Yeah!! That's kind of why it started out as a cartoon, to hide me, so I could be open about it and not show people who I am. I mean, yeah, putting yourself out there is very scary.
I've always been kind of shy to be honest. In High School would never play the talent shows or whatever, because I was very shy.
It's easier to be more open with people that don't know you than with people that do know you. So putting on a mask and being able to have a little bit of separation has been a really good thing for me.

HITS: That totally makes sense and it's really relatable. You seem to be really active on social media - and nowadays it goes hand in hand with music. And I've seen that you've put out your number online - so how did you come up with that?

GB: To be honest, I just thought it would be cool to have a way to talk to people directly. I mean, you can still dm me on Instagram and shit like that. But I just thought it would be cool to be like "let's just text.".

HITS: Amazing!

GB: And then that just happened. And to be honest, I'm not a big fan of social media. I know I'm on there a lot, or I'm trying to be. But really I hate how important social media is to music.
So texting was kind of a way of I didn't have to go on there but I could still talk to people. Being able to text feels closer than dm-ing someone.

HITS: Oh yeah, absolutely. So have any funny stories come out of that? Have you received any weird or strange texts so far?

GB: Weird or strange texts? Not really. Most of the texts honestly are more emotional.

HITS: Oh really? That's nice!

GB: I think by making music that is very true to myself, it has resonated with people in some way, so people will hit me up and tell me what's going on in their lives and how a song has helped them in some type of way.
It's gotten very deep at times, sometimes overwhelming to be honest. And I don't always know how to handle it, but I'm honoured that people will open up as much as they do. It's cool! I feel like I have a real bond with a lot of these people.

HITS: That's really beautiful actually, wow. It guess that also makes it a bit easier for you to be open, in return, because you know there are people who are willing to do the same.

GB: Yeah! I supposed it's true, I really haven't thought about it that way but I guess that's true. That's what I think, my supporters, that's what they expect from me now. It's just honest lyrics and shit like that. And then when we talk, I just try to be myself.

HITS: Of course, and that's always how it's meant to be, I guess.
To switch it up a bit and get into a bit of a lighter mood around here - I've seen your Spotify playlist and one band I was not expecting to see on there was ABBA, which is incredibly cool. Would you say your taste in music is pretty wide ranged?

GB: Oh yeah, for sure. To me, a good song is just... you just have to feel it, above anything. And I feel ABBA songs, witout a doubt.
My mom used to play a lot of ABBA when we were together. I went to the Broadway and saw Mamma Mia! and stuff like that. And literally whenever we were driving around, my sister, my mom and me would play ABBA in the car.
You just feel the music. To me the writing isn't that poetic, it's very upbeat, which is different to my kind of stuff. But like I said, when you feel it, you feel it and that's all that matters.

HITS: Brilliantly put. If you could form a supergroup with three of your favourite acts - who would you pick?

GB: Kid Cudi, Kanye West and do I get to pick one other or am I the third?

HITS: You can pick one more.

GB: Kid Cudi, Kanye West and The Red Hot Chilli Peppers, something like that. I don't know.

HITS: I feel like you've now manifested it, so one day we'll have that.

GB: Yeah, that would be crazy.

HITS: For sure! So what's next for you?

GB: Put out more music. It might take a second, but put out more music. I have ideas for crazier stuff in the works, I wanna make a TV show with the cartoon. I think that would be really cool. But yeah, that's really down the line. But next is really more music.

HITS: So we've got a lot to look forward to.
There is one question we ask everyone before we finish the interview: we have built a house in the sand, if you could build a house anywhere in the world, where would you build it?

GB: Anywhere in the world? Whoa, that is hard! I honestly think about this a lot because I love dreaming about my future and shit like that. Geez, it's really hard. I often dream about three houses.

HITS: Fair enough!

GB: I don't know. I think I'd like to live outside San Francisco, in Marin County, it's super beautiful there. It's still pretty close to know, you know, I live in LA so it's only six hours away. But I think it's one of the most beautiful places. And it rains a lot, as we were talking about. It rains!!!

HITS: Whoa, it's coming full circle! Amazing!

GB: Exactly, exactly!

HITS: Cool! So thank you so much for taking the time to have this little chat - that was cool, I really enjoyed it.

GB: Thank you for having me!





We hope you enjoyed our chat!



Thank you for your visit!

Credits // Words (Intro & Questions): Vanessa Jetwash | Image & Answers: Gabriel Black

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Video Interview: Scenic Route To Alaska

Hey guys!

I've been having a lot of fun with the whole interview process recently.

Discovering a band's history and sound while doing the research, challenging myself to come up with tailored questions and finally getting to meet the people behind the music and having a chat with them - it's pretty cool.

You never really know what you get when you first meet someone - we all know that.
But when you meet someone to film a video and only have a few minutes to get comfortable with each other before you start rolling, you remember why it's important to prepare.

Sometimes things can be a bit stiff and tricky, but most of the time it's really all fun.


Fortunately, we got to add another band to the "brilliant people" list recently, so please let me introduce you to Scenic Route To Alaska.


Scenic Route To Alaska are a trio from Edmonton, Canada.
Their sound lies somewhere between Pop, Rock and Indie - but really is too complex to settle for just one genre.

Their live sets are energetic, expressive and watching them perform their relatable tracks is a lot of fun. It's basically that rock gig we all need every now and then.

Scenic Route To Alaska are:
Trevor Mann
Shea Connor
Murray Wood

The band members all met when they were kids and have been (quote) "making noise" together ever since.
With so much time to hone their craft and find their sound, the band has been more than just productive and has managed to release an impressive amount of quality tunes:

EP: Scenic Route to Alaska (2011)
LP: "All These Years" (2012)
LP: "Warrington" (2014)
LP: "Long Walk Home" (2016)
LP: "Tough Luck" (2018)

Whenever they aren't writing and recording, the band is touring the continents and connects with their fans.

During their recent monster of a tour, I got to ask the band a bunch of questions so that you can get to know them a little better.

I'm not sure what it is, but filming interviews in the boiling sun seems to become a thing around here. 

The gents of Scenic Route To Alaska embraced the heat and we had a relaxed little chat on the steps of the castle in Stuttgart. 

Check out the video as we discuss being on tour for eleven weeks, alternative band names, their first jam sessions and a lot more.

(I might've talked about The Golden Girls again...)


Watch the interview here:




Massive thank you to Shea, Trevor and Murray for taking the time to run around Stuttgart and to have this lovely chat! Was a pleasure!

And another massive thank you to Marco for arranging the interview, really appreciate it!


Check out Scenic Route To Alaska's latest music video for "How It Feels" here:




Scenic Route To Alaska online: Website | Twitter | Facebook | Soundcloud | YouTube | Instagram | Spotify





Thank you for your visit!

Credits // Words, Image & Video: Vanessa Jetwash

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Video Interview: Alx Green

Hey guys!

Every now and then musicians are in my area and stop by to create some content.
It's actually quite fun to walk around my home town to find cool spots for photo/video sessions.

Growing up, nothing exciting ever happened in this area (in my opinion anyways) and so to finally bring some of the excitement into town feels pretty cool.

But of course I don't keep cool stuff to myself - instead I come here and share everything that I find brilliant with you guys.

And without getting to emotional, just know that it really makes me happy to have this platform where I can talk about music whenever I like. It's pretty darn cool.


But now, let me introduce you to Alx Green.


Alx Green is a singer/songwriter from Chester, UK.
His sound combines modern Folk with classic Blues elements.
He released multiple demo EPs before recording and releasing his first studio EP in 2016, and then releasing follow-up EP "For Today" in March 2018.

Touring Europe constantly releasing music got him the attention and support of BBC Radio 2, BBC Introducing, BBC Radio Merseyside and many more.

After dropping everything to fully focus on his music, Alx started to make himself a name, touring over 22 cities on one tour and shaping his craft.

During his latest Europe tour, Alx stopped by in the area for a brilliant performance.


We ran around in the boiling heat to find a great location to film - and once we did, we sat down to chat about his latest EP, tour, Social Media, a lot of sand and a lot more.


Watch our interview here:




Thank you to Alx for being such fun to work with - what a delight it was even though it was so warm out there.


Check out Alx performing his song "Hollow" here:




Alx Green online: Website | Twitter | Facebook | Soundcloud | YouTube | Instagram




Thank you for your visit! 

Credits // Words & Video: Vanessa Jetwash

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Interview: Matthew Mole

Hey guys!

I remember the first time I sat down to do research for an interview.
That was in 2012 and I honestly had no clue what I was doing, so my Google search history looked a lot like this:
- how do you interview musicians?
- how to do research for interviews
- what did I get myself into?

Hundreds of interviews, intense journalism studies and six years later, I don't need Google's help anymore, but actually fell in love with the process of researching and forming interview questions.

It's interesting having to structure conversations before they even happen and it's so wonderful getting to learn more about the artists behind the music we enjoy.


Today we get to share a conversation we had with the brilliant Matthew Mole,
so please let us introduce you to this fantastic artist.


Matthew Mole is a multi-instrumentalist and singer/songwriter from Cape Town, South Africa.

His sound combines Folk, Electronic and Pop in such seemingly effortlessly manner, delivering live sets which convince on all fronts.

In 2011 Matthew released his debut EP "You did well, kid" independently and offered multiple songs for free.
A year later he won Converse's "Get Out Of The Garage" competition along with a gig in London's 100 Club and a recording session at the Converse studio in New York.
He then signed to Just Music and released his second EP, "Same Parts, Same Heart" in December of 2012.

In 2014 Matthew released his album "The Home We Built" as a double CD featuring 32 tracks.

2017 saw the release of his latest LP, "Run", which features some of Matthew's finest work to date.


If you are based in Europe, you'll be able to check out Matthew's energetic live shows yourself - here are the dates:

30th May - Kulturladen, Konstanz (GER)
1st June - Bregenz Life Festival, Bregenz (AT)
2nd June - Degginger, Regensburg (GER)
3rd June - Konzerthaus Schüür, Lucerne (CH)
7th June - Molotow, Hamburg (GER)
8th June - Surfana Festival, Bloemendaal (NL)
10th June - Tunes in The Dunes, Cornwall (UK)
13th June - Merlyn, Nijmegen (NL)
14th June - Paradiso, Amsterdam (NL)
19th June - Blueshell, Cologne (GER)
20th June - Club Stereo, Nuremberg (GER)
21st June - Fluc, Leopoldstadt (AT)


- click here to get tickets -





Below you'll find our conversation with Matthew and you'll get to learn more about him and his art.

house in the sand: Hi Matthew, thanks so much for taking the time to have this chat!
How are you today?

Matthew Mole: Thank YOU for having me! I'm doing great, thanks! Can't wait to be back in your amazing part of the world.

HITS: So, you'll be on tour again very soon, coming back to Europe.
How do you prepare for a tour? Do you have a routine when it comes to rehearsals?

Matthew: I have been playing extensively around South Africa with quite a lot of festival shows happening here.
We have been working towards the strongest live set possible, to put on a fun show for audiences here at home. All of this, at the same time leaving room to make a few adjustments for the audiences in Europe.
That way we are constantly working with basically the same live set here trying to make it as tight as possible for Europe!

HITS: What's your favourite thing about performing live?

Matthew: It's always about the interaction with the audiences. I mean, if they weren't there, then the show would be a little awkward!
So my favorite part is trying to give them as much energy as possible and seeing how that gets reciprocated.

HITS: We've seen some footage of you performing and you actually take your drums into the crowds, which looks so cool! So how did you come up with the idea to do that? And what are the reactions like?

Matthew: I've always loved the idea of doing different things away from the stage at times.
It just moves the whole focus of the show for those few seconds or minutes. I've seen a few bands go into the audiences with instruments and I really wanted to try it out!
It's been so much fun to do, so I've just kept try to do it! 

HITS: Not too long ago you've supported Bastille live - first of all, what was that experience like?
And secondly, if you had to pick any band or aritst to support you on tour, whom would pick?

Matthew: That really was an amazing experience. They are a band that I love, which is a massive bonus. I learnt a lot from them, from how they are with people to how they set everything up on stage.

When it comes to bands opening for me, that's really difficult because I'm still trying to work towards that kind of things, haha! But I love it when there's an opportunity for youger/up-and-coming bands and artists to open up shows!



HITS: How did you meet your band?

Matthew: It's really just myself and a drummer.
There are three of them, depending on whose schedule works best for the tours. Josh Klynsmith is coming with on this tour.
We met years ago in South Africa when I used to play solo shows. He plays for a band called Gangs Of Ballet and we play lots of shows together here in SA. Same with the other two drummers, they both play for other bands.

HITS: Do you have your "must-haves" when it comes to live gear? Are you specific with the brands you use?

Matthew: I do have a few favorite brands, but only because that's all I have used for most of musical experience. I've gone through a few different acoustic guitars and I think I am still figuring out which is my favourite. I love Shure gear, their electronics have played a huge role in my live set.

HITS: Do you ever get writer's block? If so, how do you handle it?

Matthew: I do! But I think it's just overthinking. So when I feel stuck, then I either move on to a different idea/song or I just take a quick break from what I am working on.

HITS: What are your thoughts on Social Media? Do you ever find yourself needing a break from it?

Matthew: Social media is great. It's an amazing tool to spread your music, but most of all it's the best way to engage with followers from all over the world in real time.
I often get a bit overwhelmed and tired from Social Media, but I try and keep consistency and then it becomes a little more natural.

HITS: We've built a house in the sand - if you were to build a house anywhere in the world, where would you build it and why?

Matthew: I've always told my parents, since I was like four years old, that one day I will get them a house. So I would love to build them a house here in South Africa. They would choose to live in Cape Town, so I'd find the best part of Cape Town and build one for them there!





Matthew Mole online: Website | Twitter | Facebook | YouTube | Instagram



Big thank you to Matthew for taking the time to have a chat with us.
And a huge thank you to Barbara for arranging this conversation.




Thank you for your visit!

 Credits // Words (Intro & Questions): Vanessa Jetwash | Answers: Matthew Mole | Image: Tyler Walker via Matthew Mole

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Video Interview: Jalen N'Gonda

Hey guys!

Whenever we get the chance to talk to interesting people, we usually grab it.
Even if that means turning a day off into a work day.

You know how they say "if you love your job, you won't have to work a day in your life" - well, we can't completely agree with that. Work is work, whether you love it or not.

But, if you really love your job, there will be times in which work doesn't feel like work at all.

For us it's when we get to interview artists and chat to them about their music and plans for the future.

In January I got to film my first interview of the year in Liverpool with Jalen N'Gonda - which was definitely a great place to kick it off.


Jalen N'Gonda is a musician originally from Maryland (US), now based in Liverpool (UK).

He got into music at the age of 11, inspired by his father's record collection which mainly consisted of Jazz, Hip-Hop, Soul and Classics.

Jalen moved to Liverpool in 2014 and made the city his music home of choice.
He's been gigging through the country and various other places ever since and has played sold out headline shows in London and Geneva.

The musician has also supported acts such as Laura Mvula, Martha Reeves and Lauryn Hill at the Montreal Jazz Festival.

His single releases have been well received by his loyal fanbase and the excitement for his upcoming songs is growing.

In case you are Berlin based, you can catch Jalen live on February 28th at Barkett - click here for the event.


During my day trip to Liverpool I got to meet up with Jalen and we had a chat about moving to Liverpool, what inspires him to write, where he would build a house given the chance and a lot more.


You can watch the interview below:




I would like to say a massive thank you to Jalen for taking the time to have this lovely chat and for providing the location to film at.

Also a huge thank you to Christian and Beate for setting up the interview.


Check out Jalen's latest single "I Need You":




Jalen N'Gonda online: Website | Twitter | Facebook | Soundcloud | YouTube | Instagram






Thank you for your visit!

Credits // Words, Image & Video: Vanessa Jertschewske

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Video Interview: Jamie Lawson (round three)

Hey guys!

There are musicians you just don't ever get bored of;
Jamie Lawson is one of them.

When you find artists that are a delight to interview, you're most likely going to feel the need to interview them again and again.
In my case, it worked out and I filmed my third interview with Jamie last week.

I'm sure a lot of you are very familiar with his music - so this is your chance to catch up with him.
If you aren't familiar with Jamie yet - this is your chance to learn more about him.


Either way, I hope you'll enjoy watching it as much as I enjoyed filming it.


Jamie Lawson is a singer/songwriter, originally from Plymouth, now based in London, UK.

To tell you his entire story, I'd need to write a couple of pages.
To avoid that, I'll try to give you the "quick JL guide", but please make sure to check out Jamie's full bio.

The musician from the United Kingdom has been writing and releasing music for years, he's been gigging loads and has built himself a loyal fanbase.

Between our first interview in November 2014 and this one, taped in November 2015,
 Jamie got signed to Ed Sheeran's label (Gingerbread Man Records), supported acts such as One Direction on tour, appeared on countless radio and TV shows, released his selftitled record and has won an Ivor Novello award.

On September 29th, Jamie released his latest album, "Happy Accidents" - a colourful record which takes you on a lively journey through sounds.

Just a few hours before he went on stage to open the tour for James Blunt in Stuttgart, we got to catch up with him.


In the interview we talk about preparing for tour, the process behind the album, politics, Manchester and a lot more.


Check out the interview here:




I would like to thank Warner Music GER for arranging the interview, Tim for not rushing the interview one bit and Jamie for the lovely chat - as always.



Watch Jamie's latest music video for "Can't See Straight":




Jamie Lawson online: Website | Twitter | Facebook | YouTube | Instagram




Thank you for your visit!

Credits // Words, Image & Video: Vanessa Jertschewske

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Interview: The Wandering Hearts

Hey guys!

There are many ways to learn more about talented musicians.

You could analyze their music.
Or you could read their press release.
Or just ask them questions online.

We usually do all of the above.
That leaves us with a lot of details about the bands we enjoy - and of course we are here to share that.

Today we get to introduce you to an exciting band.


The Wandering Hearts are a quartet from London, UK.

Their Folk/Americana sound is influenced by bands such as First Aid Kit, Of Monster and Men and - of course - Fleetwood Mac.
The Wandering Hearts also work in their British roots and have found their signature sound in an impressively short amount of time.

With soothing harmonies and beautiful melodies being their trademarks, it's no surpirse that the band got discovered 30 minutes after uploading their first demo and soon enough got signed by Decca Records.

AJ, Chess, Tim and Tara share a love for Folk, Americana, harmonies and gin and have had plenty of reasons to celebrate all of those passions.


We got to have a little chat with the band to learn more about them, their writing process, music videos and what their ultimate playlist would sound like.


Check out our interview below.


HITS: Hi guys! Thanks for taking the time to chat to us.
The Wandering Hearts: Hey! Not at all!

HITS: We are loving your latest single, "Devil". Could you talk us through the writing and recording process of it?
The Wandering Hearts: We had a great time writing Devil. We were on a writing retreat in Norfolk - the most idyllic setting in the middle of nowhere - with nothing but a few guitars, some food and a bottle or two of wine...!
We wrote four songs in two days there, three of which will be on the album!
Devil came about very quickly and was an instant favourite of ours. We demoed it in the office of the house we were staying in, then once we decided it was going to be a single, we went back to the studio to record it.

HITS: We'd love to chat a bit about the music video for your song "Wish I Could" - what was the inspiration behind this one? Do you have any funny stories from the set, that you chould share with us?
The Wandering Hearts: Wish I Could was one of the first songs we wrote together, so it means a lot to us. It's about knowing a relationship is coming to an end but it's hard to see a way out. Too much has happened and you wish you could go back to the start... but you can't.
The video was a lot of fun to shoot! The idea behind the set, that you see working around us, is the mechanical, almost clockwork feel that relationships can have. It is all triggered by the music as we start to play, seeming like it could just rewind back to the start. It was amazing to see Tom King's idea come to life! The bowling ball certainly had a life of its own, narrowly missing Tara's head a few times!

HITS: When it comes to writing - how much time do you usually spend with a song, before you stop working on it?
The Wandering Hearts: We spend as long as it takes on a song, but it usually seems to be a very natural, organic process that takes a day or two. The joy of writing as a four piece is that someone is always on the ball!

HITS: What would the current "The Wandering Hearts Playlist" look like? Who are you listening to at the moment?
The Wandering Hearts: The playlist in the van would sound something like this: Striking Matches, Haim, Florida Georgia Line, Seth Lakeman, Kelsea Ballerini, Thomas Rhett, The Steeldrivers, Jarrod Dickenson, Shovels & Rope, Jack Savoretti, The War on Drugs, Jessie Ware, The Lone Bellow, Thirty Seconds To Mars, Jillian Jacqueline.

HITS: Social Media is such a huge part of our everyday lives. Do you have a favourite platform to connect with your fans?
The Wandering Hearts: Social media really is such a huge part of our lives these days. I think having quite a broad audience means all platforms are great for connecting with our fans. I have fun with InstaStories and we can respond to people on Facebook/Twitter when we're on the road.

HITS: If you had to change the band name - what would you change it to?
The Wandering Hearts: We've already been there! We had to change our name early on, as there was another band with the same name... so The Wandering Hearts is here to stay!

HITS: You've achieved a lot ever since you got started - could you name a highlight of the year so far?
The Wandering Hearts: Wow, this year has been amazing for us. I think so far our highlight would be supporting Tom Petty and Stevie Nicks at British Summer Time in London's Hyde Park! That was one to remember!

HITS: Do you document everything that's going on for yourselves, just to collect the memories?
The Wandering Hearts: We are! It's good to have something to look back on and remember everything, as time seems to fly by at the moment. Our phones are getting full of fun times! We are all collecting things for the memory box along the way.

HITS: What can we all expect from you next?
The Wandering Hearts: We are off on tour with Marty Stuart next week and also have our headline London show on 24th October at the Borderline! Our new single will be out soon and we're gearing up for the release of our debut album in the new year!
Lots to keep us busy and a chance for people to come and watch us live all over the UK.
We cannot wait to get on the road!


Watch the music video for "Devil" below:




- buy or stream "Devil" -



The Wandering Hearts online: Website | Twitter | Facebook | Soundcloud | YouTube | Instagram




Thank you to Becca for setting up the interview, and to The Wandering Hearts for the lovely chat.




Thank you for your visit!

Credits // Words Intro & Questions: Vanessa Jertschewske | Image & Answers: The Wandering Hearts

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Interview: Novatines

Hey guys!

There is one question I get asked all the time.
Literally, all the time.

And it is - "What's your favourite kind of music?"
There have been times in which I've said "Folk" or "Rock" - or both, because I couldn't ever decide.

But I have a new answer. A true answer.
My favourite kind of music is "honest, energetic and passionate".

And that's exactly the kind of music we feature on HITS.
So let's not waste any precious time - ladies and gents; please meet 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.

We're excited to be one of the first sources to introduce you to this exciting Rock band.

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

Having just launched their debut single, we've had a chat with the guys and learned more about their writing process, their live shows and more.
 

Check it out below!


HITS: You guys have just released your first single, "Medicine". What was the overall reaction like?
Novatines: The reaction has been great - we've been called one of the UK's hottest new guitar bands and it's only been a couple days...

HITS: You get to pick three words to describe the band - which words do you pick?
Novatines: Huge fucking vibe.

HITS: How much time do you usually spend working on a song before you release it?
Novatines: Depends on the song - we come from an old school band ethic... it should come naturally. If you have to work really hard and practically ply it out with a crow bar - chances are, it won't be a good song.
Some ideas take time to really manifest themselves, but we've always let them come naturally... and we never work on anything that we aren't incredibly excited by.

HITS: What can fans expect from your live shows?
Novatines: We record live to give people an honest window into what we really sound like. There are no smoke and mirrors - it's loud, energetic and never a boring show.
It's always really disappointing when you hear a band on record and it's sparkly and incredible... then you see it live and it's practically an entirely different thing all together - we want to sound like us, all the time.

HITS: We're really digging the visual vibe you've presented online. So, how involved are you when it comes to the artwork and photography?
Novatines: We are incredibly involved in all that stuff, most of it is designed in house - it's important to have a firm hand on the wheel with it all, because we know what we are, better than anyone else does. We work with a few photographers and directors, but we are always heavily involved with the concept and direction. We are a group with something to say, good or bad.

HITS: What's next for you guys?
Novatines: Lots of shows, lots of writing and lots of noise.


Now that you've learned more about the band, let's take a look at their debut single, "Medicine".


There are some songs that grab your attention and don't let go of it.
"Medicine" is one of them.
The loud and soaring guitar riffs are demanding and know exactly what they want - your full attention - and they get it.

Heavy drums don't just support the strength of the song, they are the strength. The perfectly timed beats give the song so much power and allow the moody and tight bassline to unfold into the key element of the track.

The gripping lead vocals underline what the band's sound is all about - confidence, power and passion. Paired with yet another attention grabbing element, the chants, "Medicine" presents itself in the most exciting manner.


Listen to "Medicine" below:




Novatines online: Twitter | Facebook | Soundcloud | Instagram




Thank you for your visit!

Credits // Words & Questions: Vanessa Jertschewske | Image & Answers: Novatines

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Video Interview: Josh Savage

Hey guys!

I think I've said it before, but I just really love the fact, that I get to decide which artists I want to work with.
Running this website on my own means that I have full control over the decisions.

That also means I get to choose which artists I want to interview, and which artists I don't want to interview.

I'd like to think that leads to more enjoyable interviews for everyone; the artists, the viewers and myself.

The most recent interview I filmed, was one enjoyable adventure.

After getting stopped by security for filming at Granary Square in London,
we had to find another spot - and so Josh Savage and myself ended up on a boat, which was also a book shop.
So if you're in London - make sure to find the "Word on the Water" boat and have a little look around, they also host little gigs on there!

Alright, now that I've set the scene for you, please let me introduce you to Josh.


Josh Savage is a self-managed and independent musician, originally from Winchester, UK - now based in London.

His sound can be described as Indie-Folk with Acoustic elements in it. You'll often find beautiful string arrangements in his songs.
So far, Josh independently released three EPs; "Mountains in Hurricanes", "Spaces" and "Quatre Épines" - the last one showcasing Josh's French roots. 

In 2015, Josh played 79 shows with Sofar Sounds - all across America and Europe, in just 5 months. You can stream the documentary made on the road on Vimeo -> "Living Room Tour".

His single "Whisper In The Snow" ft. Alice Pearl was played on Dermot O'Leary's BBC Radio 2 show by Jo Whiley and has been streamed over 260.000 times on Spotify.

Earlier this month Josh released his latest single "Ghosts" and blew us all away with it.
(Check out this exclusive acoustic performance!)

And soon Josh will be heading off on tour again - you can find out where to in the interview.


So after we climbed onto the Word on the Water boat in London, we had a little chat about "Ghosts", writing and singing in French, dealing with set backs and a lot more.

(Stay tuned until the end for some outtakes.)




Mega thanks to Josh for being such fun to film and hang out with.

And a huge thank you to James who let us film on the boat- he's possibly the coolest guy in London!



Listen to "Ghosts" below:




- buy "Ghosts" -
- stream "Ghosts" -



Josh Savage online: Website | Twitter | Facebook | Soundcloud | YouTube | Instagram




Thank you for your visit!

Credits // Words, Image & Video: Vanessa Jertschewske

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Video Interview: Rhys Lewis

Hey guys!

When you meet people to film an interview with, you rely on their mood and behaviour - as that makes up 50% of the interview.

Over the years I've chatted to quite a few people and it's so interesting to see the different dynamics you get.
I usually always have a great time and learn a lot from each interview.

The most enjoyable chats are with those people, who are genuinely nice and easy to get along with.

Today I get to share one of those fun interviews with you and I'm super excited about that.
I'm sure a lot of you have already heard about Rhys Lewis, but for those of you who haven't - let us introduce you to him.

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 and Berlin, 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 most recent 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.

On Friday, the 11th of August, Rhys will be releasing his next single, "Be Your Man".
To catch one of his upcoming Europe shows, make sure to click here for the dates.


Whilst I was in London, we had a little chat about his recent gigs in the Netherlands, his single "I Know The Feeling", polaroids and more.

Note: we had to move to another spot during the interview, but technically shot this in one go - don't be confused.


Check out the interview below:



Massive thank you to Rhys for this fun chat and to Heather and Milly for arranging it.


Watch the video for "I Know The Feeling":




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




Thank you for your visit!

Credits // Words & Video: Vanessa Jertschewske

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Audio Interview: Vancouver Sleep Clinic

Hey guys!

Every day when I go through my emails, my excitement level is sky-high.
Why? Because I know I'm about to find an artist or a band who is going to end up on my playlist.

And of course, I don't just keep the music to myself; I share it with everyone who wants to find something new.

My favourite way of learning more about a band and their art, is asking them lots of questions.
Luckily, that's exactly what I get asked to do.

As always, I'm very excited for you to check out today's band- my hunch tells me you're going to love it.


Vancouver Sleep Clinic is a fieve piece from Brisbane, Australia. Their sound can be described as Alternative.

Frontman Tim Bettison started the project in 2013. The first release, "Vapour", immediately caught the attention of big media sites such as The Guardian and Indie Shuffle.

The debut EP "Winter" has had a total of + 30 million streams, which probably speaks for itself.

And now Vancouver Sleep Clinic just released their highly anticipated debut album "Revival".


Just a few days ago I got to call Tim via Skype and had a fun and interesting chat with him. 

You can listen to our conversation below, as we chat about the new album, tour phones, having to run in music videos and a lot more.



Check out Vancouver Sleep Clinic's music video for "Someone to Stay" below.




- buy or stream the album: here -


Vancouver Sleep Clinic online: Website | Twitter | Facebook | Soundcloud | YouTube | Instagram




Many thanks to Tim for the lovely chat, and to Sony Music GER who organised this interview.




Thank you for your visit!

Credits // Text: Vanessa Jertschewske | Image: Vancouver Sleep Clinic via Sony Music GER | this interview was recorded on 4th April 2017

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Audio Interview: James Edan

Hey guys!

The audio interviews have quickly made it onto my list of favourite features.
Doing phone interviews or interviews that are just taped, you often end up transcribing the entire conversation so you can later publish it.

This was honestly the most annoying part of my journalism studies.
When you read a statement, there are so many ways to interpret it.
But when you listen to somebody state their opinion, you're most likely to understand it just the way they've meant it.

And because that's exactly what I want to do with house in the sand, these recorded interviews make life a little bit easier and better.

I recently had a chat with one of the most wonderful guys in this industry, James Edan.

James Edan is a singer/songwriter from Glasgow, Scotland.
James is one half of house in the sand's favourite duo, Martin and James.
With the band being on a break, both individuals are now making music on their own.

James' influences vary from intensity of Bruce Springsteen, to Simon and Garfunkel's handcrafted songs, to the Spice Girls and their catchy pop vibes.

His own sound blends Rock, Pop and Folk - in the charming acoustic manner, as well as with big compositions.
His upcoming EP "Flying Solo" showcases his strong and expressive voice and his writing skills. Make sure to keep an eye and an ear on James.

Just a few days ago I got to call James to record a little interview.

We had a little chat about his rather random and unexpected solo career, treating songwriting as a 9 to 5 job, social media and a lot more.


You can listen to our conversation here:




Check out this EP teaser to get a preview of all songs on James' upcoming EP "Flying Solo":




James Edan online: Website | Twitter | Facebook | Soundcloud | YouTube | Instagram





Thank you for your visit!

Credits // Text: Vanessa Jertschewske | Image: via James Edan Facebook

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Interview: Ciaran Lavery

Hey guys! 

Some artists just keep moving without any breaks.
I find that super inspiring and also super impressive.

Being in the position where a lot of promo emails fill me inbox every day, it never goes unnoticed when there are artists who constantely have something to present to the media and the public.

Ciaran Lavery is definitely one of those tireless musicians who keep releasing fantastic art.

Ciaran Lavery is a singer/songwriter from the small town Aghagallon in Ireland.

To find the right words to describe his genre, you'd have to invent new words.
The are many layers to this constantly developing artist, who draws inspiration from rock bands as well as Bob Dylan & Crosby, Stills & Nash.

His debut EP "Kosher" (2014), which includes the track that made us big fans, "Left For America", got the ball rolling for Ciaran.
His relentless passion for music has let to him releasing his first album "Not Nearly Dark", as well as a collaborative mini album called "Sea Legs" with Ryan Vail in 2015.

2016 has seen the release of Ciaran's second album, "Let Bad In", which has blown minds all over the world.

And just because all of the above isn't enough for Ciaran Lavery, he's about to drop his next piece of art - a live album recorded at Belfast's The Mac.

Because the curiousity to find out more about the live album was nearly killing us, we had to have a chat with Ciaran.

Find out what he told us about the process of putting the album together, working with a string section, Social Media and a lot more!

house in the sand: Hi Ciaran, it's been a while since we last had a chat back in Stuttgart.
Catch us up, what's been going on in your music life?

Ciaran: Things have been pretty relentless over the peroid of a year. I've been touring with a band the past 6-8 months across the U.K, Ireland & Europe, recording new material in Dublin, which has been a hell of a lot of fun. Right now I'm preparing for the release of a live album 'Live at The Mac' recorded over two sold out nights last December with a trio of strings.

HITS: Of course we want to chat about your upcoming release, the "Live at The Mac" album.
How did the idea for the live album come up?

Ciaran: I guess I've always wanted to scratch the itch of working with strings in some way or another. It's a road that has been trodden by the singer songwriter community many times, so I have been sensitive to the idea for a while. I got to a point where I had flirted briefly with the idea of small arrangements on record, so that almost opened the door. At a time where I had two LPs and an EPs worth of material under my belt, I felt I was in a good position to have a variety of songs to choose from. I like manipulating my tracks, letting them morph & mutate according to the arrangements. A lot of the songs chosen had yet to be arranged for the string instruments, so that intrigued me.

HITS: So you've just mentioned the string trio which you've played the show with.
How much practice had to be done to get it all to work together? Can you tell us a bit about the process of that?

Ciaran: Dan Burne-McCullough was the perfect arranger for the job. He was sensitive about the nature of the songs and at the forefront of everything was an idea of complimenting what already existed. The strings served to add a layer of emotion and drama that aren't present in a solo performance of guitar and myself.
The three players of Rachael, Zarah & Owen worked effortlessly alongside the songs, so yes, there was a lot of time and effort put into the various areas but it also had a feeling of everything slotting into place.

HITS: We can also find a cover of the classic "Streets Of Philadephia" on the album. What made you choose this particular track? Do you have a special connection with the song?

Ciaran: Who doesn't love Bruce Springsteen? If there were an opportunity to perform something of his back catalogue, then I was going to take it. It was just a matter of looking at something that hadn't already been treated with the same arrangement and seeing if we could do it justice. Like I say with all covers, they are never there to compete with the original at all, they never can. It's more a nod to the track and hopefully a result that can possibly bring out elements of the song that weren't as obvious.

HITS: Looking back, what was your personal highlight of creating the album?

Ciaran: It's always the live performance itself. When you step out live, you always want to make sure you can engage people for the 60 minutes or whatever length of time you have to play with. People pay good money and spend their time in the hope to have a good time. As a performer, I hope they can take something away from it.

HITS: Of course wel aso need to ask - which are your favourite live albums by other artists?

Ciaran: I have always been drawn to Eels, Live at Town Hall. I remember hearing it for the first time, already being a fan of the band, and it really blew me away. Songs that had a previously bombastic bold production, were suddenly stripped and presented in a way that hit you right between the eyes and somewhere among 'the feels'. I do cherish the Ryan Adams Carnegie Hall live record too, but I'm a huge fan of his and always have been. He creates something special, between the songs and the comedy. And of course, the original great live album(s) Johnny Cash live at San Quentin and Folsom Prison. They exist on another plain.

HITS: With Social Media being such a huge part of the music business and our lives in general, it's easy to find clips from gigs online. How do you feel about gig-goers who tape gigs and put the videos online?

Ciaran: It's an inevitable byproduct of the world that we live in. As a live performer, you want people to exist in the moment and not be aware of the digital world that's forver present around them. Really though, who am I to chastise someone for lifting their phone if they feel this is a moment they have to capture? (hopefully for all the positive reasons)

HITS: You seem to be on tour all the time, which is amazing. But it also means you spend a lot of time travelling. How do you keep yourself entertained on the road? Do you play card games? Watch films?

Ciaran: I recently downloaded Netflix to my phone but between my battery life and memory space it's a horrible duo of circumstances that have almost eliminated that form of entertainment. I try to read & write a little. I read more than I write admittedly. But then again, I'm still learning. Routines are hard to come by with the constantt moving from one place to another. If I can, I try to find a space to switch off, as difficult as that is. Right now I have Patti Smith's 'M Train' with me around the UK, which I can't recommend enough to any type of reader.

HITS: As you know, house in the sand is crazy about new music. Can you share any favourites of yours with us?

Ciaran: Joshua Burnside, Saint Sister, Rosie Carney, In Their Thousands

HITS: And finally, thanks for taking the time to chat to us, Ciaran.

Ciaran: See you soon!


Pre-Order "Live at the Mac" - out on December 9th 2016

Listen to "Tell Them All" taken off 'Live at the Mac' below!






Ciaran Lavery online: Website | Twitter | Facebook | Soundcloud | YouTube | Instagram






Thank you for your visit!

Credits // Text intro & questions: Vanessa Jertschewske | Answers: Ciaran Lavery | Image: Kathrin Baumbach | **this interview has kindly been arranged by Six07 Press**

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