Chatting with Grouplove’s Christian Zucconi – HuffPost 3.12.14
Mike Ragogna: Okay, you’ve got way too much going on, but let’s start with your single “Ways To Go.” It’s killing the Alternative Radio Chart and its video is coming in at like four million views. Is there a back story to the song, why it’s causing such a ruckus?
Christian Zucconi: We wrote that song while we were recording Spreading Rumours in Los Angeles. Or maybe one could say that the song wrote us. Usually, the best songs come to me when I least expect it; like some other subconscious force is speaking through me and I’m just the vessel, my hands knowing where to go before I really do. Does that make sense? It’s being received super well because it comes from an honest place, it’s got a great hook, and the lyrics are asking big questions.
MR: The song is from your latest album, Spreading Rumours. So what kind of rumours are spreading and who’s doing the spreading?
CZ: You know actually the thought behind the album title was to have the songs themselves become the rumours, for kids to be talking about our live shows and spreading the word by “word of mouth” instead of by the internet. It’s hard to imagine, but how it was not that long ago. This record has a lot of idyllic thinking to a time before everyone was always standing still staring at their phones.
MR: What are some personal favorites on the new album and why?
CZ: All the songs on the album have a deep personal connection for me, but “Borderlines and Aliens”is a favorite because it’s the heaviest of all the songs; “Hippy Hill” because it has this crazy bridge that is probably my favorite moment on the record, and “Sit Still” because it represents the pleasure and paranoia of making the album. If I ever forget what the process was like, I put that on to remember.
MR: What was the creative process like from songwriting to recording?
CZ: Well were lucky to have a lot of songs already written before going into the studio. We necessarily hadn’t jammed on them yet but everyone was familiar with a few key songs from old garage band demos Hannah and I had done, or just songs we’d all sing when we were warming up for a show. It’s an incredible feeling to then all go into the live room and start playing the songs for real and hearing them come to life in the Grouplove world of sound. It’s all very organic and we like to capture the songs right when they truly become alive, so we never beat it to death and capture it on tape spontaneously.
MR: Any surprising self-discoveries about the band or how you record or write along the way?
CZ: Oh man, there are too many to list! Every day is a discovery for me, and being in a band is always about growing, both musically and personally. We all have to grow and overcome personal challenges if this is going to work long term and in doing so it’s actually super rewarding, even if you think you can’t go on at some points. Writing for me usually comes from these darker places. A basic need to vet your soul.
MR: You also created the short film I’m With You. What went into making it?
CZ: We were introduced to Sam Erickson by Steve Ralbovsky of Canvasback Music, the head of our label. Sam had directed some amazing music documentaries (My Morning Jacket, Manchester Orchestra) and we all wanted to capture our first tour on film after releasing Spreading Rumours. It was called the Seesaw Tour, because we played two nights in each city, one electric and one entirely acoustic. New York City played a big role in the early days right before Grouplove came to be, so we thought it would be the perfect backdrop for the film, and it would give the audience a real look into our live show, not to mention the first in depth depiction of how we all met each other back in Greece in 2008. There is also a companion piece live EP that just came out, also called I’m With You.
MR: You’ve been on the road, are there any bands out there that Grouplove, well, loved or formed a bond with while touring?
CZ: Well if you’ve seen the documentary, it’s obvious that we love Manchester Orchestra. Those guys are the best, and the music they put out is so damn good and inspiring. Cage The Elephant, Alt-J, and Reptar are also amazingly awesome bands and people we’ve toured with. We feel blessed to have met them on this journey we’re all on.
MR: What are a few of the differences between how the band creates and records these days versus when you first started out?
CZ: Well when we first started out, we recorded our EP as brand new friends for the hell of it without ever knowing we’d be in a band to begin with. So it’s safe to say that time and production was the most freeing recording experience because there was no outside pressure from anyone, because no one knew we existed! That being said, as we’ve grown as musicians and friends and built up a fan base, it’s very exciting to record now because people want to hear it! But we still take that same approach as we did on the EP. Everything happens organically, we’re super collaborative, and we love spontaneity.
MR: Was Grouplove mentored at one point, by whom, and what would you say to that supporter/teacher now?
CZ: We were all mentored by each other, because all of our life experiences were so different from one another we each brought a very unique vibe to the table. You can hear it in our songs. From the start though, things happened very quickly and we suddenly found ourselves surrounded by a hardworking loving team that is our manager, record label, booking agents and eventually a kick ass crew. We’re working together every day with the same goal in mind.
MR: What advice do you have for new artists?
CZ: Write honestly, never compare yourself to anyone else, and stick with it. Don’t give up, and don’t have a plan B.
MR: Where is Grouplove headed in the long run? Beyond success, do you all have any big plans or desires you need fulfilled either through Grouplove or personally?
CZ: We plan to be around a long time, evolving in our future records and getting in front of more and more people when it comes to our live shows. That’s what we live for, and what our fans give back to us is just mind blowing. Onward and upward.