Canberra based band, Hands Like Houses has amassed a legion of devoted fans around the world. They’ll be showcasing their single, New Romantics from their forthcoming album. We chatted their guitarist, Alex ahead of the bands arrival in town.
NL: After these shows in Australia, you’re off to the US and the UK. Are you nervous?
ALEX: Not at all! We can’t wait. It’s our first full US headliner and we love touring the UK so the vibe is good!
NL: The photos from your show in Melbourne a couple of days ago look epic. How were the new songs received live and what does it feel like to release your new babies to fans?
ALEX: Melbourne was exactly what we needed to kick off the tour! All of the new songs got a great reception even the unreleased ones. It’s such an awesome feeling rock out to songs they’ve never heard. Let’s us know we’re doing something right!
NL: We’re loving the guitar sounds in your new song, New Romantics. Can you tell us how you achieved that sound?
ALEX: It was pretty straight forwards really. Our producer James Paul Wisner had a “Custom Audio Electronics” head which almost solely used across the record. We played around with it a bit but it’s such a great sounding head that finding that aggressive guitar tone came pretty easily!
NL: The bass is right up in the mix in New Romantics. How important is that driving bass to create your sound?
ALEX: Bass is super important and particularly across this album we’ve placed extra emphasis on it. It’s created an extra dynamic to our music and sound plus it just sounds badass!
NL: We saw you were involved in a lawn bowls comp in Singleton. Who won and do you have any bowls tips for us?
ALEX: We hit a kangaroo so we got stuck in singleton till our van was fixed and there isn’t a whole lot to do. So naturally we went and played bowls! Joel and I (Alex) took out the competition with some tips from the resident club champ, I think it gave us that extra edge!
NL: Speaking of your blog, you guys post a lot to your blog and social media. How important has ‘online’ been to you guys and what advice would you give to up and coming bands about social and online?
ALEX: It’s definitely important to us as we’re trying to cover three territories (Australia, America and the U.K.) at an up and coming band level id say it’s important to have all your socials monitored pretty closely but also really focus on word of mouth and an organic connection with fans at shows rather than spending all your time on your phones
NL: When you’re on the road, what’s on your burger or are you more hot dogs and pizzas?
ALEX: We love pizza! Now you’ve made me hungry just thinking about it. 3 of us don’t eat meat so basically every single vegetable we can get our hands on goes on top with some decent hot sauce and we’re in heaven
Hands Like Houses play the Cambridge Hotel on Friday the 16th of October. You can get tickets via Bigtix.com.au
