The Griswolds Shake Things Up on High Times for Low Lives
Words & Interview by Lexy Fields
Hailing from Australia, The Griswolds have shaken up the alternative rock scene with their latest album, High Times for Low Lives. Forming in 2012, this band have toured across the world, which lead to their performance on the Today Show as Elvis Duran’s Artist of the Month.
The band crafted this album carefully using life experiences and “the ultimate up and down movement of life itself.” Each song represents a part of the cycle of relationships – whether it be romantic or just human to human. From falling in love, to wicked behavior, to anticipated heartbreak, this album follows each band members’ life story as they follow their dreams.
The Griswolds’ sound has an unexpected twist on High Times for Low Lives, including aspects of R&B, electronic and pop that they have typically stayed away from in the past. It creates a sense of sparkling brilliance and keeps the listener on their toes with tracks such as “YDLM feat. Lizzo” and “Out Of My Head.” Frontman Christopher Whitehall claims that this album gives the listener a more in depth look into the heart of the band, “We’re a lot more honest now. We’re actually saying things from the heart, being real and honest. It’s all about not being changed and being raw.”
In respect to their sophomore album, Whitehall tells us that High Times for Low Lives is something that they put more conscious thought into rather than throwing together.
“Before we took songs and just chucked them on an album,” he says. “We’re really proud of this one actually, we really tried our best to write fourteen really good songs.”
You can tell that there is truth in this statement with one listen to the album all the way through. Each song carries a feeling that every listener has felt at some point in his or her life, all the while put to inventive and captivating beats. Though this album strays from the band’s original sound, Whitehall swears that they will always stay true to the band and their beliefs.
“As long as the four of us are doing it together, we will be staying true to who we are and what we do as a band together and doing what we love every day,” he says. “If it’s the four of us together, we’ll always keep each accountable. It’ll always be us and keep the same message and sound like the Griswolds.”
The band–also consisting of guitarist/keyboardist Daniel Duque-Perez, bassist Tim John and drummer Lachlan West–took all measures possible to really bring together the sound for this album, citing inspirations such as Kanye West. When they approached Grammy Award-winning producer Andrew Dawson (West, Sleigh Bells, fun.), they had a general base for what they wanted for their new album but were blown away with what Dawson had in store. Dawson was infatuated with the songs from the beginning and worked tirelessly with The Griswolds to construct the perfect album.
“Working with him was a dream – he’s sort of a freaky genius,” Whitehall discloses. “He’s just like a kid in a candy shop when you put him on the controls. Dawson is extremely creative and free.”
With this album being the first steps for the band into an unexplored territory between alt-rock, pop, R&B and electronic, The Griswolds are sure to keep their fans entertained and make a name for themselves in the music world.
