Exploring the themes, inspirations, and creative process of The Joy Hotel's debut album 'Ceremony'.

This seven-piece ensemble recently released their debut album, 'Ceremony,' a continuous piece of music that delves deep into themes of hope, regret, love, and the passage of time. Recorded live-to-tape at the legendary Rockfield Studios, 'Ceremony' is both an auditory and visual journey, with its rich narrative and striking album artwork.

In this conversation, The Joy Hotel opens up about their creative process, the inspirations behind their evocative lyrics, and their vision for the future. From the existential musings of their song "Jeremiah" to the intricate collaborative dynamics within the band, we explore the heart and soul of their music. Join us as we delve into the minds behind one of Glasgow's most intriguing musical acts and discover the stories that shape their sound.

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 a seven piece alt-rock band from Glasgow and our music is an  amorphous mix of genres ranging from psych-rock to country.

Your debut album, 'Ceremony,' is described as a continuous piece of music that explores themes of hope, regret, love, and the passage of time. How did the concept for this album come about, and how did your time at Rockfield Studios influence its creation?

The concept emerged pretty much all on it’s own. Emme and I never really discussed themes ahead of writing the record so I think overall it’s just a reflection of how we must have been feeling at the time. Rockfield started as a practical choice of studio because it had the best space for us to record live, all at the same time, but as soon as you’re in that historic environment you can’t help but be driven to push your own boundaries.  

"Jeremiah" tackles existential themes and contrasting attitudes towards the end of the world. What inspired this song lyrically, and how does it reflect the broader narrative of ‘Ceremony'?

I was reading an article about climate protestors in London and one of the women there was saying they had been dismissed as ‘Jeremiahs’, which was being used as a pejorative to paint them as being alarmist. I ended up reading the Book of Jeremiah where the prophet Jeremiah warns that God will destroy their society if the people don’t change their ways. We wanted to explore the end of the world from two different perspectives and to have it revolve around the refrain of the name Jeremiah. It fits neatly with the broader narrative which in essence is about finding meaning in whatever myth we choose to believe to get through life. 

You recorded 'Ceremony' live-to-tape at Rockfield Studios. What was the significance of this recording method, and how did it contribute to capturing the essence of your music?

We wanted to get as close to how we actually sounded as possible and not spend a tonne of time ironing the flaws out of the music. It’s quite tempting when you start out to pursue perfection but that seemed like a dishonest way of doing it. We wanted to capture the essence of the band as it was at that time and grow outward with each new record.

The album artwork and the concept of a short film accompanying the release suggest a visual and narrative dimension to 'Ceremony.' Can you elaborate on the visual storytelling aspect of this project?

The album art was inspired by the cover of Underground by Thelonious Monk. There was something about the confined space filled with objects that resonated with us. We wanted our cover to feel cluttered but organised, busy but tidy, with each object representing the aspects of life that are collected along the way. 

As a band that has gained recognition in the Scottish DIY scene, how has your journey shaped your approach to songwriting and performing live?

A huge amount of our writing and rehearsing was done during the pandemic. We played one show in the March of 2020 and then two weeks later the world stopped. We spent a lot of time discovering what the essence of the band was. In the end we realised that we were constructing an album that on record worked as a continuous flow of music and that on stage presented as an entire show. Finding that cohesion between the songs is what set us apart.  

Could you share more about the collaborative songwriting process within The Joy Hotel? How do each member's contributions shape the final arrangements and themes of your songs?

Emme and I have always written together since the very beginning. The first song we ever collaborated on was Killing Time which is on the album. We’ll always work to make sure the song is there and then bring it in to the studio and let the band interpret it and move it towards what ends up being on the record. We’ve only gotten more collaborative as time has gone on. 

'Ceremony' is described as a soundtrack to a film that doesn't exist. If you could visualize a narrative for this album, what story or imagery would you associate with its music?

The album lyrically walks the line between despair and hope and I suppose how that lands with each individual will depend on how they feel at the time and how that’s interpreted. Sonically we tried to have a fair amount of counterpoint between it sounding very shiny and bright at times and quite bleak and sludgy at others?

Your band name, The Joy Hotel, evokes a sense of place and hospitality. How does this name reflect your identity as a band, and what does "joy" signify in the context of your music?

To us the band name mainly evokes a sense of escape from mundane and melancholy. We want music to be a vehicle for connecting with and understanding other people, recognising each other’s struggle and trying to ease the suffering if we can.

How do you hope listeners will connect with 'Ceremony'? What emotions or insights do you aim to evoke through your music, especially in the context of today's cultural and societal challenges?

It’s difficult to say and I’m not sure we’d want to project that on to people. Those who’ve heard the record have wildly different interpretations of it and for us the best case scenario is that people discover different layers of meaning with each listen. 

What do you love right now?

Chappell Roan.

What do you hate right now?

How expensive it is to be alive.

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

I honestly haven’t been listening to old records as much recently. There are definitely stacks and stacks of formative albums that have shaped the way I make and feel about music but recently I’ve just been trying to dig in to new music and rediscover that fresh feeling you get from discovering something new. Most of the music I listen to bears no resemblance to what we make. Overall we’re really inspired by how progressive and adventurous people can be now that we’re in a post-genre world. 

Looking ahead, what are your aspirations for The Joy Hotel's future? Are there specific themes or directions you'd like to explore in your upcoming music?

Emme and I want to talk more about modern life and reflect the culture as it is now. The thing we kept noticing in particular was the fact that phones are never mentioned in the first album despite phones being an every present, all encompassing force in our lives. So I reckon we’ll veer towards themes like the internet, sexuality, isolation and nostalgia.