Start Listening To: Sandhouse

Sandhouse dives into their creative process, inspirations, and what fans can expect from their upcoming music.

Sandhouse, the London-based duo consisting of Anna and Caspar, has been steadily capturing attention with their captivating blend of '60s psychedelia, '90s alternative rock, and contemporary electronic influences. Emerging from a shared history in a university band back in 2018, Their sound, a rich tapestry woven with overdriven guitars, haunting vocals, and atmospheric production, invites listeners into a world that is both raw and meticulously crafted.

In this Q&A, Sandhouse opens up about their influences, the creative journey behind their latest track, and what listeners can expect from their forthcoming music.

For those unfamiliar with your music, can you tell us who you are, where you’re from and about the music you make?

We’re Anna and Caspar, we met in a band at university in 2018 and have been working together ever since. Both of us live in London and make guitar music together influenced by 60s psychedelia, pop music and 90s grunge and trip-hop. 

Congrats on the upcoming release of "Bite Me Back"! Can you tell us more about the inspiration behind the track and how it came to life?

Thanks! Bite Me Back is actually the first song we wrote for Sandhouse. We were initially both surprised by the way it came out, particularly as we hadn’t experimented with overdriven or fuzzy guitars before, but it ended up providing the direction for the sound of the project.

Part of the inspiration came from a writing choice: we’d previously been writing vocal melodies around synth lines, and interspersing a lot of production in our writing process. We decided we wanted to try writing with just guitar and vocals then adding the production later. 

The song has been described as a “twisted love song for hopeless romantics and relationship addicts.” Could you dive into the lyrics and what they represent for you both?

Anna: I was 6 months into a new relationship when we wrote Bite Me Back and was feeling myself become more and more intoxicated with this person. I was feeling a strong pull to give myself over completely to the relationship and neglect myself and my friendships, despite knowing how unhealthy that would be.

Bite Me Back represented a way to experience that feeling of submission without it wrecking my life. 

Anna, your ethereal vocals add a unique texture to Sandhouse’s sound. How did you develop your vocal style, and who are some of your influences?

Anna: Getting the vocal tone right for this project was quite a long process. We split the vocal recording across 2 months as we would record, listen back and analyse, then go back into the studio a couple of weeks later. 

Deftones’ Chino Moreno and Trent Reznor were huge vocal inspirations for this song. I loved their raw sensuality that felt erotic and ugly at the same time. 

You mention that "Bite Me Back" draws on '90s alternative guitar music. Are there particular bands or sounds from that era that inspired you?

Caspar: Smashing Pumpkins, Nirvana and Cocteau Twins are the main names that jump out to me from that era. I started listening to Siamese Dream when we were writing this music and it had a big impact on the guitar sounds I was inspired by.

But as much as we're inspired by the 90s, we're trying to create a sound that hasn't been done before. There's a lot of newer artists that have influenced our sound, people like Mount Kimbie, Matty and Wisp.

Your debut single, "Sick Of Your Face," received strong support from outlets like The Line of Best Fit and BBC Introducing. How did that early recognition impact you as a new band?

It was really exciting! We had an EPs worth of music ready when we released Sick Of Your Face and were prepared to be patient before we started getting any attention. Having so many people listen to and enjoy Sick Of Your Face was amazing and a bit unexpected. It’s led us to meet some great people, and given us a push to get back in the studio and write some more. 

The music video for "Bite Me Back" is intriguing! Can you share the concept behind it and how it visually complements the song?

Anna: Thank you! The music video is playing on the idea of addiction to a person. We wanted to capture the feeling of euphoria and disorientation that comes with falling in love and starting to need someone. Hopefully the music video captures the intense, sensual energy that we’ve tried to convey in the song. 

Sandhouse’s sound has an emotional and atmospheric feel. How do you approach creating this vibe in the studio? Is it something that comes naturally, or is it carefully crafted?

We're big fans of electronic music and that's made us want to incorporate atmospheric moments with unique effects into the live music that we play. It can be a challenge but that's part of the fun. I think we have very similar instincts and taste, so we both understand the sound that we're reaching for before we've found it.

We have also been lucky to collaborate with some amazing people like Joe Solan, Mark Cake and Anthony Boatright, all of whom are incredible at creating atmosphere and emotion in music. 

Your second single is launching alongside a sold-out show at Bermondsey Social Club. What can fans expect from your live performances, and how does the live experience differ from the studio?

We’ve built a really exciting live show that expands on the world we’ve been trying to create with the EP.  It stretches the sonic pallet we’ve been experimenting with and also includes lots of unreleased songs. 

The live experience feels totally different to being in the studio; writing for us is a meticulous process, it’s introspective and focussed. Playing live kind of feels like the opposite, it’s this huge burst of energy, breathing new life into songs that we’ve spent hours working on.

With an EP on the horizon, what can listeners expect from this new collection of songs? Will it continue in the same emotional, atmospheric vein, or will you be exploring new territory?

They can expect an elaboration on the first two singles we’ve released. Every song on the EP has its own personality and emotional connection to us so hopefully each one will feel new and exciting in its own way. 

What do you love right now? 

Anna: Francesca Woodman

Caspar: Bitcrushers

What do you hate right now?

Anna: Hate feels like a strong word but I’m creeped out by the peeled hard boiled eggs you can buy in pots at the supermarket.

Caspar: The clocks going back in winter.

Name an album you’re still listening to from when you were younger and why it’s still important to you?

Anna: Aretha Now. Aretha Franklin’s voice melts me every time I hear it, it always has, and always will. Every song on that album is iconic and has soundtracked my life since my Mum played me ‘Say A Little Prayer’ when I was 5. 

Caspar:  Voodoo by D’Angelo. It’s kind of like my music bible. I grew up listening to and studying that album. It’s informed so much of how I hear and make music, as well as being a sentimental place I can return to. I’ll never stop listening to it.

What’s next for Sandhouse after this release? Are there any live dates, collaborations, or surprises we should look out for in the coming months?

We’re writing a new project at the moment and are in the process of booking shows for early next year. So look out for more music and more gigs!