Hailing from Hamm, Germany, alternative-rock band Giant Rooks has been taking the world by storm over the past few years. With a series of singles, EP’s, and an Apple Music Home Session recording, Giant Rooks has been active in the music industry dating back to 2017.
Released in 2020, their debut album “ROOKERY” brought singles “What I Know is All Quicksand” and “Heat Up,” and showcased the band’s versatility overall. The singular genre-defying album consists of tracks with powerful choruses, and features a multitude of different sonic styles, including elements reminiscent to disco, funk, brass, and synth, leaning towards a more “experimental” style.
The heartfelt sophomore album “How Have You Been?” came four years after “ROOKERY,” and features upbeat earworms like “Somebody Like You” and “Pink Skies,” while incorporating thought-provoking emotional tracks like “Bedroom Exile” and “Morning Blue.” The combination of alternative-rock hits and soulful ballads makes for a very dynamic, yet still cohesive record.
Back in April, Universal Music Group’s 1824 branch hosted a press conference with Giant Rooks’ lead vocalist Federik Rabe and guitarist Finn Schwieters. Though Giant Rooks consists of five members total, including Luca Göttner on bass, Finn Thomas on drums, and Jonathan Wischniowski on piano, Rabe and Schwieters are the founding members of the band. The two cousins offered insight to WQAQ and the rest of the attending publications on touring across the world, songwriting, as well as the newly released album “How Have You Been?.”
Prior to the release of “How Have You Been?,” Giant Rooks spent months on the road with Louis Tomlinson on his “Faith in the Future” tour, where Tomlinson’s fan base immediately fell in love with the German rockers. Rabe and Schwieters spoke very fondly of Tomlinson, his team, and his fans, remarking that they felt very welcomed by everyone, and how surreal it felt to see the crowd buzzing with excitement and singing along to their songs despite only being an opener on the tour. Calling this tour a “learning experience,” the two commented on how passionate Tomlinson’s audience is, and how appreciative they felt when seeing the fans treat the openers with the same dedication.
Over the course of the tour, the crowd’s favorite track on Giant Rooks’ setlist quickly became “Somebody Like You,” an irresistible, upbeat, catchy tune that seemed to unite everyone in the audience. During the conference, Rabe and Schwieters divulged that the fan-favorite was actually the most challenging song to finish up on the new record. Having finished the demo of the track over the course of only a few days, the track’s post-production process became daunting. Unsure of what direction to take the song, the band members felt as though they were “lost in the process.” In the end, the extra time and effort devoted to the final version of the track was well worth it, seeing how well it was received by Tomlinson’s fans, Giant Rooks’ fans, as well as the general public.
Even though Giant Rooks is keen on not being limited to the confines of one singular genre, the band always strive to stay true to themselves, and openly encourage others to do the same. When asked how the band manages to achieve genuity in their lyricism while taking into consideration the current fads and trends in the industry, the two members divulged the internal battle the band faced when creating their sophomore album.
As mentioned previously, the songwriting process for “ROOKERY” was largely electronic. When brainstorming for the new album, the band set a goal to “make timeless music.” To reach that goal, the group made the decision to take a different approach by focusing on a small-scale songwriting process, consisting of only the five band members and their corresponding instruments.
One of my biggest personal takeaways from talking with the founding members of Giant Rooks, was that idea of staying true to yourself, and how valuable that ability is. At the end of the day, there is only one you, and the world could miss out on something extremely special if you don’t embrace your true, authentic self.
Embarking on an extensive year of touring, the opportunities to see the alternative-rock band are nearly endless. Before playing a round of headlining summer shows in Europe, including their home country, Germany, Giant Rooks will officially be rejoining Louis Tomlinson on his 2024 continuation of the “Faith in the Future” tour in Latin America. The band will also be making multiple appearances at festivals like Southside Festival, Hurricane Festival, and more. A complete list of tour dates and respective ticket links can be found on Giant Rooks’ website. Regardless of having or not having heard Giant Rooks live yet, the band is absolutely worth seeing.
