In this conversation Essex band in earnest talk about their experiences of being creative during lockdown and their upcoming debut EP set to released on the 7th October.
Tell us a bit about yourself!
Hey! We are ‘in earnest’, comprised of Tom (vocals and guitar), Sarah (vocals and keys), and Toby (violin, acoustic guitar). We’re from Essex in the UK and we make sad indie noise.
What is the meaning behind your band’s name?
We were all in a different band together before we were ‘in earnest’. When we reformed, we set a clear intention of being very direct with what our songs were about, with an emphasis on being more artful in the music that we wanted to create. The dictionary definition of ‘in earnest’ is something that is already in motion but done in a more authentic, honest way.
Do you have any artists who have particularly influenced your sound?
Yes, loads! We identify musically with artists such as Phoebe Bridgers, Julien Baker, Noah Gundersen, and Big Thief. Individually, we can be found listening to all sorts of music, from pop to folk to black metal!
How would you describe your music?
We semi-jokingly call ourselves ‘sad indie noise’. It was a little term that we came up with early on but it seems to have stuck! We mostly write about our feelings and other deeply personal music that always leans towards the sad side of things! We love it.
What can you tell us about your upcoming EP?
We recorded it over 4 days in a rented holiday barn in Essex with our producer Peter Waterman (Longcroft Recording). Making it was a really important process for us to begin trying to find out what the sound of ‘in earnest’ really was. It was like a mini-holiday with lots of late-night recording, a jacuzzi, and bottle-feeding goats on the nearby farm being the main highlights.
Would you say that lockdown has affected your creative process when it comes to writing and recording music?
It’s been strange, but not particularly bad for our creativity. We’ve spent a lot of time writing new material and we’ve actually just finished recording EP #2 which we estimate will be a 2021 release. We also made music videos for each of our three singles whilst in lockdown - so we’ve been quite productive really!
What advice would you give to someone who may want to start a career in the music industry?
Be yourself and write music that you would want to listen to yourself.
in earnest's debut EP will be released on the 7th October. Check out their song '29' below!
Comments