Hailing from the Cathedral city of Lincoln and having been compared to everyone from Blakfish to Reuben to Deaf Havana, Lower Lands are on band on the up as their latest EP, ‘Growing Pains’ has been warmly welcomed by critics and fans alike.
Mixing enthralling alternative rock guitars with layered harmonies and mature pop sensibilities, the quartet provide an earthly EP that neatly flows but with a decent amount of variation giving them that extra bit of appeal.
Since forming at college, Lower Lands have shared the stage with the likes of Iron Chic, Crazy Arm, Shapes and played this year’s Crash Doubt Fest in their hometown. Whilst later this year they will be joining Hawthorne Heights on their UK tour.
With a superb, varied début EP under their belt, Lower Lands have all the potential to be in the same field of the likes of other emerging UK alternative rock acts like Lower Than Atlantis, Deaf Havana, Young Guns, and Straight Lines.
Already Heard recently caught up with to discuss the bands history, the overwhelming response to ‘Growing Pains,’ the Lincoln music scene, and more.
Already Heard: First of all can you tell us your name and what do you in Lower Lands?
BI: Ben Inkley, I’m lead vocals and play Rhythm guitar
PH: I’m Paul Howells, I play guitar and sing a bit.
AH: For new listeners, how would you dscribe your sound and who would you compare yourselves to?
BI: I’d describe our sound as sing along, riff orientated alternative rock music with a grunge twist. For fans of Reuben, Nirvana, Twin Atlantic etc.
AH: Your latest release is an EP called ‘Growing Pains.’ What is the EP about and what can new fans expect from it?
BI: New Fans can expect from ‘Growing Pains’, catchy songs that will stick in their heads from the first time they have them played. The EP itself is basically a group of songs documenting the emotions and problems that four teenage guys face day in day out, hence the title. It’s more exciting than it sounds.
AH: I understand the feedback from ‘Growing Pains’ has been positive. Why do you think people have took to the EP so well?
PH: It was a bit of a genuine surprise to the initial reaction we received from it. I think the lyrics are really relatable to everyone else our age and the music has a good balance between “sing you a lullaby” and “punch you in the face.”
AH: Are there any bands that have influenced Lower Lands and ‘Growing Pains’?
BI: Every band each one of us has ever listened too has influenced ‘Growing Pains’ and will continue to influence us over every record we ever release. But if I’m pushed to mention one band in particular it would be Reuben. All of us in the band take so much inspiration from their song writing style and sound.
AH: Which tracks on ‘Growing Pains’ best represent Lower Lands?
BI: ‘Idle Hands and Empty Pockets’ probably represents the band the best and the sound we’re heading for at the moment, more so than a year ago when we wrote all of the tracks. It’s still a catchy song with layered harmonies which has always been a huge focal point of the band from day one, but has that more Grungey edge we’re working in with our more recent songs you should be expecting from our next release.
<a href=“http://lowerlands.bandcamp.com/album/growing-pains” data-mce-href=“http://lowerlands.bandcamp.com/album/growing-pains”>Growing Pains by Lower Lands</a>
AH: Can you tell us a little about how Lower Lands came together?
We were all at college together and Ben, Jacob (Jarvis – Bass) and Sam (Girling – drums) started jamming out a few ideas based off of the common ground of bands like Reuben and Hundred Reasons. I’d heard the stuff they were coming up with and though it was wicked but I was already in another band. When my band broke up, I jumped at the opportunity to join and that’s how it all came together really.
AH: Since then you’ve played with the likes of Iron Chic, Crazy Arm, Shapes and Deaf Havana. How has this shaped the bands sound and benefitted you?
BI: Playing with bands bigger than ourselves has pushed us to improve our live sound and image but apart from that it hasn’t changed us much as a band. I’d say the only way playing larger venues has influenced our sound is that we now know what may or may not work well live as opposed to on a demo recording we do in our basement practice area.
AH: Later this year you’re touring with Hawthorne Heights and Burn The Fleet. What can new fans expect from a Lower Lands live set?
BI: From our first gig we’ve always had live reviews praising us for our energetic stage presence and crowd interaction. People coming out to shows can expect upbeat songs and heavy riffs.
AH: Following on from that tour, what else do you have for the rest of 2012?
PH: We’re currently planning another run of UK shows before heading out to mainland Europe to melt their faces. A Christmas number one maybe?
AH: You’re from Lincoln. How would you describe the current music scene in the city?
BI: Lincoln doesn’t have the biggest music scene in the UK to be honest, but it’s very closely knit. Once you get involved you basically know everybody else involved with it. We have a couple of decent promoters, a couple of decent bar venues for bands such as us, and the odd big band that comes through once every couple of months.
AH: Are there any local bands you’d like to recommend?
BI: There are some fantastic bands in Lincoln that go unheard of literally because the city . We highly recommend The Living Daylights, Blind Wives, Archetype and We Pharaohs.
AH: Finally why should readers check out Lower Lands?
BI: People should check out Lower Lands if they’re looking for a band that’s catchier than Stevie Wonder on repeat but got more balls than a nudist beach in Benidorm.
‘Growing Pains’ by Lower Lands is available now on I Am Mighty Records.
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Words by Sean Reid (@SeanReid86)