Giant Rooks: A Masterclass In Remaining Authentic and Connecting With Listeners
Samantha Colleran, May 2024
When Hamm, Germany natives Fred Rabe (lead vocals, guitar), Luca Göttner (bass), Finn Schwieters (guitar), Jonathan Wischniowski (keyboard), and Finn Thomas (drums) first formed Giant Rooks ten years ago, they had no idea how to write a song. They spent their first two years as a band honing their craft as songwriters and working to find a sound that felt authentically Giant Rooks. By the beginning of 2017, they released their New Estate EP on streaming, and in the middle of the 2020 pandemic they released their first full length album ROOKERY, which sees the band seeking answers to some existential life questions such as what their role in the world is and who they are as individuals. Their music struck a chord with an audience, and even caught the attention of well known acts such as Louis Tomlinson, who had the band join him for the North American leg of his 2023 Faith in the Future Tour. I had the pleasure of seeing them at Forest Hills Stadium, the final show of the North American leg, and to say I was captivated by their stage presence and unique sound would be an understatement. As they were leaving the stage, I turned to my best friend Jonathan and said “When Giant Rooks comes back to New York, I’m there.”
In February of this year, Giant Rooks released their sophomore album, How Have You Been? Many bands and artists feel the pressure of following up their debut album with something bigger and better than their first release. The band took some time experimenting with their sound, drawing inspiration from R&B and jazz, and even went the modern technology route of using computers to write their lyrics. Ultimately, they found themselves gravitating back towards their indie rock style with a more atmospheric, live feel with deep lyrics that resonate with their audience.
Although they’ve been together a long time, Giant Rooks are still surprised and honored to see so many people responding positively to their music and knowing all the words to their songs. No song of theirs sounds the same, and that’s the beauty of going on a Giant Rooks listening journey. You’ll find yourself wanting to dance to songs like “Watershed” and “Heat Up”, then you’re hit with the heavy weight of songs such as “Cold Wars” and “Flashlights”. The jump from ROOKERY to How Have You Been? shows just how much the band has matured, how their confidence in their craft has skyrocketed.
Every Giant Rooks song is a new adventure, but for first time listeners some solid starting points are “What I Know Is All Quicksand” and “Somebody Like You”. “What I Know Is All Quicksand” is a song that the band is still so proud of, and you can tell in a live setting just how poignant it is in their discography. No performance of this track is the same, as the band plays around with the key and tempo to make it unique. Fred takes the outro to a new level, the instruments tap out and he’s left singing acapella for a minute, and you can feel the power of the lyrics ring through the venue as a hush falls over the crowd. “Somebody Like You”, a more recent release from their album How Have You Been?, is another solid starting point. One of the easiest songs to write, but one of the hardest to perfect, “Somebody Like You” is an upbeat track with a slightly different approach to their typical songwriting style that captures the special energy of getting Giant Rooks in a studio.
Perhaps the most important thing about Giant Rooks is that they don’t try to be something they’re not. They write songs for the pure joy of writing and connecting with people, not because they want to follow the popular musical trends. They don’t limit their creativity in the studio; repeating styles and sounds isn’t something they’re looking to do, constantly experimenting with new things and seeking the next new musical adventure is more their forte.
So, what can we expect for the future of Giant Rooks? Most importantly, a collective band goal is to ensure everyone is happy and feeling confident writing timeless songs and going out on tour. Nothing is predictable, changes in technology and social media are happening at an alarming pace, but the one thing that is predictable is knowing that you can turn to Giant Rooks for real, authentic songs that will cut into the deepest parts of your soul and stay there forever.
All photographs in this post can be credited to Samantha Colleran, VIBING ON VINYL.