Giant Rooks Talk New Album 'If Heaven Exists, This Might Be It' and Hope as Rebellion
In 2024, Giant Rooks launched their album "If Heaven Exists, This Might Be It" following a period of extensive touring and a break in 2025. They worked with producer Jonathan Gilmour, recording initial tracks in a cottage studio. A year earlier, they had released the first single, "The Future Is Cancelled." Finn Schwieters expressed that the album's title embodies a sense of hope during challenging times. Fred Rabe finds solace in music and literature, while Schwieters cherishes moments with friends after performances. The album boasts a cinematic essence, drawing inspiration from films such as "Sentimental Value." Additionally, "The Waves" features Solann, their first collaboration, who was discovered at a concert. Gilmour's insights influenced tracks like "Blood on the Dashboard" and "The Big Night Out."
Key facts
- Giant Rooks released their new album "If Heaven Exists, This Might Be It".
- The band toured almost continuously in 2024 and decided to play few concerts in 2025 to focus on new music.
- Producer Jonathan Gilmour, known for his work with Nothing But Thieves, was contacted and immediately enthusiastic.
- Initial recordings took place in a cottage studio in the English countryside.
- The first single, "The Future Is Cancelled", was released a year before the album.
- The album title is intended as a statement of hope and a reminder to appreciate joyful moments.
- The opener features a tempo change, adding urgency, and was developed from experimenting with different outros.
- The album is described as cinematic, with "The Waves" and "The Better Life" imagined in a film context.
- "The Waves" features Solann, the band's first feature guest, whom Fred Rabe discovered at a Patrick Watson concert in Paris.
- Gilmour's guiding rule was to "make everything more extreme", resulting in songs like "Blood on the Dashboard" and "The Big Night Out".
Entities
Artists
- Giant Rooks
- Finn Schwieters
- Fred Rabe
- Jonathan Gilmour
- Solann
- Patrick Watson
- Louisa Schumacher
- Carsten Schrader
- Steffen Rüth
- Emma Ruth Rundle
- Julia Jacklin
- Trettmann
- Roger Sellers
- Bayonne
Institutions
- Nothing But Thieves
- 4AD
- CHAT PILE
- JULIA JACKLIN
Locations
- England
- United Kingdom
- Paris
- France
- Marseille