LA-based metal project Grihastha returns with 'MACHiNE', a ferocious new single that fuses industrial metal, groove-driven riffs and philosophical lyricism into one uncompromising release. Created by Grammy-nominated producer and multi-instrumentalist Nikhil Suresh, the track explores the uneasy space where human desire becomes automatic, pairing crushing guitars with mechanical rhythms and cinematic electronic textures.
Founded during the 2020 pandemic, Grihastha has built a reputation for blending aggression with introspection, drawing inspiration from artists as varied as Metallica, Nine Inch Nails and Linkin Park while incorporating deeper philosophical influences.
So with the new single out now, we sat down with him to find out more about his origins and what has been inspiring him most over the years.
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What was the first instrument you fell in love with?
The guitar fell in love with me – I’ve tried to leave her plenty of times, she keeps coming back.
What kind of music did you love when you were younger?
Everything to be honest, in the early early years, there was a lot of bollywood music playing at home – i never disliked any of it – but then the formative music that I personally remember enjoying and listening to intentionally was this one CD called Bump 9, which had a remix of the song Move It by Reel 2 Real. Also I really liked some of the music on the old wwf smackdown games I used to play as a kid – most of them that I liked were the heavier ones – like the theme song for D Generation X, the theme song for Triple H (not the motorhead one, but the one before that). Never liked the slower calmer ones.
What was the first album you remember owning?
Bump 9 – specifically for the song Move It – i didnt know what remixes were back then, but now i know it was a remix of the song and not the original.
What is the one song you wished you could have written yourself?
Time is better spent doing rather than wishing.
Do you have any habits or rituals you go through when trying to write new music?
Picking up the guitar and a pick is generally a good start for me, ha. No rituals or habits, but they tend to always start with a guitar in hand. There have been very few songs that haven’t started with a guitar.
Who are your favourite artists you have found yourself listening to at the moment?
At the moment: Modern Alibi has some cool songs, lolwtfitsjake has some interesting stuff. Outside of that AR Rehman’s one specific soundtrack from the movie Dil Se. Been diving back into Robbie Williams.
If you could open a show for anyone in the world, who would it be?
Present: Ghost, Slipknot, Rammstein. Past: Nirvana
What do you find is the most rewarding part about being a musician?
DEFINITELY not the money, HA. On a more serious note – on a surface level: the part when you finish a project (however many songs it is) and now you know the project is done, and after a few months when you look back at the releases and get that nostalgic feeling of when you wrote the songs and were working on it. On a deeper level: I’m not doing it for a reward or a rewarding feeling - I’m doing it because it comes out and impedes the creation, and not letting the songs out is not an option.
And what is the most frustrating part?
Frustration is for people who don’t have clear goals and direction. People with strong vision and direction don’t waste time on frustration.
And what is the best piece of advice you have received as a musician?
Impossible to say, every piece of advice is situational, there's no ‘best.’ You should always outgrow every piece of advice you’ve been given, if you don’t that means you’re not moving forward.
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Grihastha's new single 'MACHiNE' is out now. Check it out in the player below.