Sandhouse Talk Latest Single, Their Voices And More
Words by Glenn Sargeant
Feature Image Photo Credit: Hannah Murrell
Sandhouse have shared their latest single ‘Make Me Small’. The track is set to build on the early excitement generated by the duo’s debut EP released earlier this year. They spoke to us about the new single and more here:
Who is in Sandhouse, how did you meet and what do they play?
We’re a duo. We met at university in 2019 and have been making music together ever since then. We play ethereal guitar music inspired by 90s grunge.
What is your earliest musical memory?
Caspar: my family is quite musical so it’s difficult to remember my earliest memory. But my dad used to get me to come up and play keys on a song whenever his band used to have gigs when I was young, so that was my first chance to play on stage.
Anna: My earliest musical memory is probably my Mum playing Handel’s water music to help me get to sleep when I was a toddler. I always struggled with insomnia and I remember this being something that really calmed me down.
You have your new single ‘Make Me Small’ is out now. What was the story/inspiration behind the track?
The story was massively inspired by real life and Paul Tomas Anderson’s movie Phantom Thread. It’s about being in controlling relationships with big egos where you have to find your power in strange and secret ways.
Was it a difficult song to write?
It was actually one of the easiest songs we’ve ever written. We had a session with Anthony Boatright and Jake Burgess and were messing around speeding drum loops up. After about 30 minutes of playing we realised we’d written a song!
Do you have a visualiser to accompany the single?
We have a music video. It’s out on YouTube now!
Where did you record the single and who produced it?
It was split between our studio and Hotel Quebec. Caspar was the primary producer but Duncan Mills also did some production on the song, as well as mixing it.
Did you use any particular instruments, microphones, recording equipment to help you get a particular sound/tone for the record?
Honestly this record was quite minimal, we stuck to basics with bass drums and guitar. The drums and bass were done at Hotel Quebec so a lot of the sound came from their equipment, including a nice API desk. For guitars we just used different combinations of distortion, I’m a big fan of the EHX op amp big muff pedal. I’d say a lot of the sound for this song was about nailing the performance and arrangement.
Which of your tracks hear you at your a) happiest, b) angriest and c) most reflective?
Make Me Small is certainly one of the most angriest songs we’ve written. I can’t say we’ve written a huge amount of happy music but Grown off our last EP is a nostalgic song about happy moments. Our most reflective is probably an unreleased song off our upcoming project
Do you have any further music releases planned for 2025/2026?
We do! Keep an eye out.
What two things do you hope to have achieved once you have left the stage?
To have had fun and to have connected with the audience.
Do you have any favoured stage instruments, effects, pedals, microphones etc?
UDO super 6 synth for keyboards. We use a lot of pedals haha, I’d say some favourites of ours are the EHX Deep Freeze and Pigtronics Echolution 2.
How do you look after your voices?
Anna: I look after my voice by doing proper warm ups, singing every day and drinking a lot of tea.
You are given the opportunity to write the score for a film adaptation of a novel that you enjoy. Which novel is it and why?
I’d love to score the film adaptation of the novel Drive Your Plow Over the Bones of the Dead by Olga Tokarczuk. It’s set in an amazing barren landscape and deals with introspection, anger and murder!
Where is your hometown and could you please describe it in five words?
We both come from different places but both grew up in the countryside. So: quiet, remote, sprawling, suffocating and inspiring.
Feature Image Photo Credit: Hannah Murrell
Sandhouse’s latest single ‘Make Me Small’ is out now.
Listen Here: https://sandhouse.lnk.to/makemesmall
