Second albums are always different from the debut. Some might say they come with a heightened level of pressure – if the first one did well, the public and industry both expect the sophomore record to be just as good, if not better; if the debut didn’t gather a lot of attention, you’ve got to make it this time, otherwise, the odds for future success may not be in your favour. When it came to creating their second studio album, the German indie group Giant Rooks knew they had a formidable challenge waiting for them – but they mastered it just as its predecessor. Over the course of fourteen tracks, the eclectic ‘How Have You Been?’ invites listeners into a sonic journey that is both deeply personal and universally resonant, marking yet another milestone in the five-piece’s journey on their way to global stardom.
“It’s always exciting when you release something like this into the world because we’ve been working on it for over three years, and, of course, there’s a lot of emotion and work involved,”, shares Luca Göttner, Giant Rooks’ bassist about the release of their sophomore record. “And when the album is finally out, and you get the first reviews from people, it’s really good to see the positive reactions. From what we can see, it’s been very, very, very well received. I mean, the numbers speak for themselves, but then, of course, the reaction at the concerts is a whole different thing.”
With more than three years in the making, 60 finished songs and over 250 ideas and half-finished hits, it’s easy to say that ‘How Have You Been?’ might just be the group’s most assured and mature body of work to date. With each song, the Berlin-based ensemble, made up of singer Frederik Rabe, guitarist Finn Schwieters, drummer Finn Thomas, keyboardist Jonathan Wischniowski and bassist Göttner, dive into a diverse array of themes, from the pursuit of freedom and love to battling with existential questions and navigating the allure of instant gratification in our digital era. “Each track stands for itself, especially when it comes to the stories that are thematised in the album,”, Göttner explains. “They are very personal tales that are not necessarily about us, but we like to address specific topics in which many people can recognise themselves and which can mean something to them. That’s why the record is not so much related to us as a whole, but can rather be viewed through a global lens. They are all topics that people can relate to today.”
Hailing from a small town in Germany called Hamm, the captivating quintet has always had big dreams and continually been on the lookout for the chance to not just reach greatness in their home country but also be able to step over its border (metaphorically and literally) and make a name for themselves. While people could argue that their highly acclaimed debut ‘Rookery’ already managed to fulfil that mission, it’s their second album that has now deeply carved the band’s name on the stages of concert venues and line-ups of festivals all around the world. But despite the world tours and sold-out headline shows, the process of their latest release started at the place Giant Rooks’ story also came to its first spark – with just the five friends in a small room somewhere in Germany, and nothing but the love for music to drive them forward. “We started, of course, in our rehearsal room, where we worked on the songs until they were ready for the studio. Once we reach that point, we record the drums and so on, plus all the other intricate details,”, Göttner recalls, adding that the process of creating an album can drastically change once things get a little more serious and the rules of business set in. “Towards the end, you realise that the mood is getting more tense. You have a certain amount of time pressure because you have a deadline. Which is good because otherwise the album would have probably not come out for another three years. And you also definitely recognise that you’re getting lost in the details, because you try out so many things and rethink a lot of your decisions, which is not needed at all. At that point, you just need to get the album out there.”
But with so many songs saved up, it wasn’t an easy decision for the German group to choose which tracks would make it onto the long-player and which ones would have to sadly be left behind (and safely stored away for the future), as Göttner reflects: “It was a horrendous decision. I think there were over 60 finished songs, and it took us a month to listen through all of them again and decide which ones would go on the record. Of course, our own opinions matter the most, but it’s not just us who are involved in this band, we also get a lot of input from outside, our team, the label, and so on. Filtering all that feedback is very stressful. But I think we’ve managed it quite well.”
Showcasing the band’s evolution, ‘How Have You Been?’ flawlessly balances high-energy anthems with poignant reflections on social and personal themes, while blending influences ranging from rock ‘n’ roll grit to the infectious rhythms of hip-hop. For once, there are fan favourites like the electrifying ‘Somebody Like You’ and ‘Flashlights’ as well as the bouncy ‘Morning Blue’ (which, for their live shows, peaks in a glittery dance party featuring endless waves of colourful confetti and a massive disco ball), but it’s the lowkey, more intimate moments on the album with songs like the title track ‘How Have You Been?’ and the moving ‘Nobody Likes Hospitals’ that truly highlight Giant Rooks’ musical talents. Specifically, the latter has been coined as one of the LP’s standout hits, as it delves into the delicate topic of mental health – a subject close to the band’s heart, with vocalist Rabe singing, “I don’t wanna live, I don’t wanna die / Blood on my hands / All this time, you’ve been on my mind / But you don’t understand / Nobody should feel the way you feel right now / Soon, you will be home /It will pass like a bad-weather front”. Written by the group’s guitarist Finn Schwieters, the heartfelt song stands as an exploration of the musician’s own experiences which led to the quintet having to take a break from performing live, as Göttner reveals: “I think it’s easily understandable that the track is about mental health and mental health problems. We make no secret of the fact that Finn in particular had these problems two years ago during the festival summer and that was the inspiration behind writing a song about it. This topic has become so important, and we think it’s necessary that we talk about it.”
Since their emergence into the scene, the charismatic five-piece has been using their platform to not only share their talents and unique, wonderous soundscapes with their dedicated fanbase but to also spread some goodness and build a safe space for people who love music just as much as they do. Because, at least for Göttner – although this will most definitely also count for the rest of the group – music isn’t just his biggest love, but also a way of life: “On the one hand, of course, music is the passion that I’ve always had my whole life, which I’ve now been able to turn into my profession. And that’s the best thing that could have happened to me, that could have happened to all of us. Music surrounds me the whole day, be it with the band, but also outside of it. There’s never a moment when music doesn’t play a vital role in my life. And that’s why it’s the most important thing for me.”
As ‘How Have You Been?’ continues to resonate with audiences all around the globe, Giant Rooks stand as a testament to the power of music to transcend boundaries and borders, and unite hearts. A heritage settled deep within the soft hills of Germany, lyrics in English meant to move their listeners, and a quest to create the perfect soundtracks to their own and their fans’ lives – it is hard to imagine that there is something out there that can put the indie-rockers to a stop. With their soulful and highly addictive melodies and sincere lyricism that always hits you right in the feels, the group walks their listeners on paths filled with introspection and connection, while their second full-length musical endeavour reaffirms the timeless truth that, in the end, we’re all just searching for a way to answer the question, “How have you been?”.
Written by Laura Weingrill // Photography by Universal Music
GEM Magazine 