Following on from their highly praised single 'Shades Of Blue' in recent months, South London-based outfit Earl Gray Collective look to ready us for the release of their eagerly-awaited sophomore EP with their latest sweeping cut 'Holiness'.
Following in the footsteps of the likes of Bon Iver and The National, 'Holiness' sees the band in a far more subdued guise. Swapping their usual blues-inspired indie-rock for a lo-fi piano-led aesthetic, the group show off their more poignant side through this warm and wistful offer that oozes heart and emotion.
So with their new EP out in the coming months, we caught up with the band to find out more about their influences and what has led them to this point in their career.
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What were the first instruments you fell in love with?
Will (lead singer/keys): I’ve always loved singing, I can remember as a kid putting on my parents CD’s and belting it out along with the lead singer.
Katie (drums): I had a fascination with drums from a very early age, and remember loving going over to a friends house who had a kit when i was younger. My parents kept holding off letting me have lessons as they thought I'd be too short to reach the pedals. Eventually they gave in to a trial lesson and to their dismay I could reach the pedals and there was no going back!
Zac (Guitar): It was always the electric guitar for me. Both my parents played a bit and so there was always a guitar in the house. When I was 13 my friends and I decided we wanted to start a band. Problem was, none of us really knew how to play any instruments. I nominated myself to learn the guitar and thankfully my parents were super encouraging about it and got me my first electric guitar and amp.
What has been the most prominent inspiration behind your music so far?
Will: For me the music and songwriting that have moved me most are ones telling stories. Whether through the emotions evoked by certain sounds or by well crafted lyrics driving the imagination. As a kid I could get lost for hours in the stories of Laura marling, Mumford and Sons, Bon Iver and John Mayer and I think it’s safe to say their way of writing stories has continued to form and inspire my music. As a band however we draw inspiration from all over the place, we’ve all got interests in slightly different areas and genres.
What kind of music did you love as a teenager?
Will: Acoustic indie, Indie folk, rock and some Jazz. Bands such as Bon Iver, Ray La Montagne, Laura Marling, Jamie Cullum, John Mayer.
Katie: I went from listening to the likes of abba, Elvis Presley and a mix of world music, to discovering a lot of pop punk and rock as a teenager, anything from Blink-182 to Young Guns and Death Cab for Cutie. Paramore were the first band I saw live with a friend, it’s safe to say I’ve been a fan ever since, and they were a big inspiration with following a musical career! Later on I started to get into a lot of indie, pop and more folky and alternative stuff.
Zac: I was into bands like the Red Hot Chili Peppers, Muse and Kings Of Leon. But my real passion was for blues music. Jim Hendrix and Eric Clapton were my introduction to blues, but I quickly got excited about Stevie Ray Vaughan, BB King, Buddy Guy, Joe Bonamassa and others.
When you wake up in the morning, what kind of music do you like to listen to?
Will: I’m a sucker for indie folk / acoustic stuff. Anything that gently eases me into reality and that I can slowly drink coffee to!
Katie: I have this thing of trying to always listen to something I haven’t heard before, new or old, whatever the genre, in the morning. Zac: It would either be gospel/worship music, or at the moment a band called The Bros. Landreth. They’re an amazing band from Canada who write beautiful songs and play killer guitar parts.How many of your songs have you written about people in your life?
Will: I’d say pretty much all the songs I write are relationship based whether between me and wife, my friends, my colleagues or between me and God. The most obvious example of this is the most recent song Holiness which is about the pain and beauty of watching my heroic wife dealing with insomnia and how her response was so inspiring.
What have been the most memorable moments in your career so far?
So hard to choose as we’ve had many great moments but I think the top 3 are:
1. Supporting our friends Dutchkid in their sold out gig at Camden Assembly. The venue was packed and the evening was electric. We were super happy with our performance and people really enjoyed the evening.
2: Making our first music video. We did a live video for our latest single Holiness in this stunning church which was over 1000 years old. We had to stay up super late as we were recording in the late summer and we needed it to be dark before shooting but making the music together in such an amazing space full of history and obviously so linked to the song was incredible.
3: Playing our first festival “Blissfields” a few years back. It was just super fun to be playing to people out in the open air, not to mention that it was memorable because Will (lead singer) didn’t realise how far the festival was from the station. He almost got himself run over on A roads staying alive by hiding himself in bushes from oncoming cars. Definitely a memorable moment.
If you weren’t musicians, what other path do you think you might have taken?
Will: I’ve always said I could never choose between 2 jobs: surf instructor or tailor.
Katie: My alternative plan to music has always been to escape to the mountains and go on a permanent ski season, perhaps becoming a snowboard instructor or guide…!
Zac: Either a pastor in a church or a zoo-keeper. They might sound like they’re worlds apart but I’m sure there’s some crossover.
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Earl Gray Collective's latest single 'Holiness' is available to stream and download now, and their new EP is expected to arrive later this year. Check out the new live video for 'Holiness' in the player below.