Start Listening To: English Garden
Sit back, relax, and join us as we embark on a fascinating journey into the world of English Garden.
Hailing from Bath, Somerset, the band's roots run deep, originating from years of friendship and musical collaboration dating back to their school days. After a natural progression, they found themselves in London, where their creativity blossomed into the dynamic sound they're known for today. Their debut single, ‘Lo and Behold’ lyrics are inspired by the poignant tale of a person slipping into dementia, the song showcases English Garden's ability to craft emotive narratives wrapped in catchy melodies.
For those unfamiliar with your music, can you tell us who you are, where you’re from and about the music you make?
So the most of us are from Bath, Somerset, which is where the band was formed, after many years of previous projects as mates in school - we shortly moved to London after this. Our music is quite a mix of different styles as we can’t really be arsed to follow a certain pattern, we just do what we enjoy doing at the time of doing it.
Congratulations on the release of your debut single, "Lo and Behold". Can you tell us about the inspiration behind the song and how it came together?
Thank you! We are very excited to release this song. It came about when Henry played a riff during a soundcheck which we really liked. Will’s girlfriend said it sounded like the soundtrack to a retirement home which inspired the lyrics; a story about an old person slipping deeper and deeper into dementia which seems distressing but despite our characters seemingly optimistic outlook on life.
The track "Lo and Behold" is described as equal parts raunchy and subtle. Can you elaborate on the themes and emotions conveyed in the song?
The emotion of the song is actually a hot topic of debate within the band, with some of us viewing it as sorrowful and others see it as a glimmer of hope. So I guess it’s best described as melancholic. Basically the song is about resilience during hardships and finding happiness in the small things that make life beautiful.
How was the experience of working with producer Shuta Shinoda at Hackney Road Studios, and how did it influence the final outcome of the single?
He’s an absolute professional, he tells you straight if something isn’t working and swiftly works to dig out a solution in a very relaxed environment. This means that we are able to get everything done to a very high standard, leaving plenty of time for experimentation and fine tuning. We would 100% recommend using his services! Also big shoutout to Laurie’s brother Joe on the clarinet and Clari from Mary in the Junkyard on Cello on this track, they were fantastic!
Being cousins and having known each other since a young age, how does your shared history influence your dynamic as a band?
Over the years we’ve developed a telepathic quality, meaning we understand exactly how each other play. This helps a lot when things don’t go to plan on stage.
Recruiting Laurie Cobb through university seems like an interesting addition to your lineup. How does the cornet contribute to your sound, and what led to the decision to incorporate it into your music?
It raises the band to a whole new sonic level, which we could never previously achieve. He is basically filling in any gaps the rest of us leave, and through the clever use of his pedals, he is a one man orchestra. We were in the market for some form of brass to finalise our sound when we started getting serious, and we found a gem in Laurie. Now we don’t know what we’d do without him.
You've performed at Glastonbury and have been active in the London circuit. How do these experiences shape your growth as a band?
So we actually played Glasto as our old band, which was quite different musically, but as this being our biggest ever performance it, really made us realise the level of professionalism you need to have to put on a show for a large and eager crowd. Playing the circuit in London also made us realise that maybe doing this band malarkey isn’t as easy as we may have liked, but fuck me it’s fun.
Can you share any memorable moments or stories from your Glastonbury performance?
It was the first time Herbie ever played with us! He joined us for one song on the shaker egg and one one the bass and we haven’t looked back ever since. Also I can’t remember which ones of us it was but we caught whiff of a rumour that posh spice was in the back stage hot tub later that night so we rushed there in our swimmies to be cruelly let down by a half dozen naked old men!
Your upcoming launch party at the George Tavern sounds exciting. What can fans expect from your live performances, and how do you prepare for a show?
Yes we are very gassed for this one, release shows are always fun and it’s also a Big Richard night which, if you aren’t familiar already, are always an absolute blast! We’d like to think our performances are full of good energy and laughs as that’s what people want on a night out maybe? In regards of preparing for shows we don’t know for sure really, we just turn up and relax, it’s all just fun and games at the end of the day.
What do you love right now?
We love relaxing at the pub, as cliche as it sounds, nothing can beat it.
What do you hate right now?
The price of beer at the pub, as cliche as it sounds, we’re all being fucking ripped off.
Name an album you’re still listening to from when you were younger and why it’s still important to you?
For me (Will) it’s regatta de blanc, probably the first album I ever listened to from start to finish and it’ll probably be my last. It’s a true masterpiece.
The first vinyl I (Herbie) bought, when I got a record player at like 15, was transformer by lou reed. I was actually named after Herbie Flowers who played bass on it so I guess that was the first time I even thought about playing bass.
As a band, what are your goals and aspirations for the future, both in terms of musical achievements and personal growth?
As a band all we wish to do what we are doing together until we’re all old and pruny like how The Rolling Stones have done it. To be able to continuously and successfully write music which may resonate with people is the ultimate dream.
