Jamal Sabet - Hands Like Houses (26/07/2013)
Fresh of the release of their new album, Unimagine, we chat with Jamal Sabet from Hands Like Houses.
Hey Jamal, How are you?
Hey, I’m not too bad.
For those who have not heard your music before, how would you describe it?
Oh wow, sort of like a modern alternative rock I would say. Yep, that covers it.
Your music leans you towards more of a harsher vocal style, but you seem to have forgone this for clean vocals. Is there any reason for this?
I guess it’s just something we have always kept away from in a bid to channel more passion into our music from other avenues. I feel as though being able to show passion through means other than screaming is a process that requires more thought.
Look, I’m going to admit I was initially quite nervous talking to you guys, but after watching a few interviews online, I came to realise you all seem like pretty relaxed guys. Do you find many musicians that just take their job way too seriously?
I guess we see a much different side of musicians than what the general public do. We definitely see a much more relaxed side of them, and after touring with them and what not, we tend to see the person beneath the artist. We have had run-ins with artists who initially seem to take their job too seriously, but as time passes, they turn out to be the most genuine people we have ever met.
I watched the teaser trailer to your upcoming release Unimagine the other day, and I was quite curious about some of the things you guys raised in the video. You mentioned that your travels and the people you met on these travels have had a big influence on the album. How so, and who have you met?
Yeah, good question. I guess when you’re travelling you’re exposed to absolutely every part of life, and I feel as though a lot of our music has come from developing and being with each other, which travelling obviously facilitates. From even being with each other in such quarters for so long has forced us to grow as a unit. It’s a bit of a hard one to answer.
Travelling the world with your 5 best mates, playing gigs and playing music you love sounds like a dream to some. Do you ever get sick of each other?
Oh, without a doubt. Touring last year, in which I was away for eight months, would definitely be a high point in my life. We rarely get sick of each other, but it definitely can happen. You do learn to lean on each other, and at the same time respect each other’s privacy. It’s definitely a challenge, especially when the only time you have to yourself is between the shower and the bathroom. It’s definitely an incredible thing.
From what I have read, positivity is a huge theme in Unimagine. At any point during the creation process was positivity hard to come by?
Definitely. A lot of us are engaged, and we’re rarely home for much time at all. That in itself puts a lot of pressure on trying to ascertain positivity. You’ve just got to keep reminding yourself that you’re in a band, where you are with that band and to stay positive about those things.
What have you guys learnt both personally, and as a band, since you released Ground Dweller?
Ah god, what have we learnt? (laughs) Tolerance, patience and acceptance are probably the big ones. You learn things about people, definitely. The band is like my family now, I’ve spent more time with them than anyone in the world. You’ve just got to stay content with where you are and make the most out of it.
I must also ask, how was Warped Tour? I’ve heard it’s insane.
Oh, it is. It’s also the hardest and best thing that I have ever had to do in this band. We’re a really DIY band, we don’t leave much up to our crew. With that being said, our crew really only consists of two of our mates from back home that have been supporting the band since we started. Playing Warped Tour is something that we have dreamed about ever since we first picked up an instrument. It has sunk in now, but we are still unbelievably appreciative about it.
Traveling to America as a band from little old Australia seems like such a daunting task. Were you initially nervous about taking to big step into becoming an international artist, or was it always quite a calm experience?
It was definitely a very daunting task. We would be working jobs all through the week in order to save up enough money to be able to afford to do it. So we would go, come back, and repeat the process again. I guess it was daunting; we did go over a few times to record so that did warm us up to the experience. Now though, it’s much more of a calm process.
I’ll wrap it up here Jamal, but just for a final question, can you sum up what the rest of 2013 has in store for Hands Like Houses?
At the moment our main focus is just finishing up Warped Tour, and getting those most of this. We’re definitely coming home to Australia for at least a couple of months of rest, and then hopefully we can do an Australian tour in September. Obviously, I can’t give you too many details until it’s all locked in though. After that, nothing much planned! We kind of like it that way though, it sort of leaves it up to fate as to what can happen.
James Versluis
Hey Jamal, How are you?
Hey, I’m not too bad.
For those who have not heard your music before, how would you describe it?
Oh wow, sort of like a modern alternative rock I would say. Yep, that covers it.
Your music leans you towards more of a harsher vocal style, but you seem to have forgone this for clean vocals. Is there any reason for this?
I guess it’s just something we have always kept away from in a bid to channel more passion into our music from other avenues. I feel as though being able to show passion through means other than screaming is a process that requires more thought.
Look, I’m going to admit I was initially quite nervous talking to you guys, but after watching a few interviews online, I came to realise you all seem like pretty relaxed guys. Do you find many musicians that just take their job way too seriously?
I guess we see a much different side of musicians than what the general public do. We definitely see a much more relaxed side of them, and after touring with them and what not, we tend to see the person beneath the artist. We have had run-ins with artists who initially seem to take their job too seriously, but as time passes, they turn out to be the most genuine people we have ever met.
I watched the teaser trailer to your upcoming release Unimagine the other day, and I was quite curious about some of the things you guys raised in the video. You mentioned that your travels and the people you met on these travels have had a big influence on the album. How so, and who have you met?
Yeah, good question. I guess when you’re travelling you’re exposed to absolutely every part of life, and I feel as though a lot of our music has come from developing and being with each other, which travelling obviously facilitates. From even being with each other in such quarters for so long has forced us to grow as a unit. It’s a bit of a hard one to answer.
Travelling the world with your 5 best mates, playing gigs and playing music you love sounds like a dream to some. Do you ever get sick of each other?
Oh, without a doubt. Touring last year, in which I was away for eight months, would definitely be a high point in my life. We rarely get sick of each other, but it definitely can happen. You do learn to lean on each other, and at the same time respect each other’s privacy. It’s definitely a challenge, especially when the only time you have to yourself is between the shower and the bathroom. It’s definitely an incredible thing.
From what I have read, positivity is a huge theme in Unimagine. At any point during the creation process was positivity hard to come by?
Definitely. A lot of us are engaged, and we’re rarely home for much time at all. That in itself puts a lot of pressure on trying to ascertain positivity. You’ve just got to keep reminding yourself that you’re in a band, where you are with that band and to stay positive about those things.
What have you guys learnt both personally, and as a band, since you released Ground Dweller?
Ah god, what have we learnt? (laughs) Tolerance, patience and acceptance are probably the big ones. You learn things about people, definitely. The band is like my family now, I’ve spent more time with them than anyone in the world. You’ve just got to stay content with where you are and make the most out of it.
I must also ask, how was Warped Tour? I’ve heard it’s insane.
Oh, it is. It’s also the hardest and best thing that I have ever had to do in this band. We’re a really DIY band, we don’t leave much up to our crew. With that being said, our crew really only consists of two of our mates from back home that have been supporting the band since we started. Playing Warped Tour is something that we have dreamed about ever since we first picked up an instrument. It has sunk in now, but we are still unbelievably appreciative about it.
Traveling to America as a band from little old Australia seems like such a daunting task. Were you initially nervous about taking to big step into becoming an international artist, or was it always quite a calm experience?
It was definitely a very daunting task. We would be working jobs all through the week in order to save up enough money to be able to afford to do it. So we would go, come back, and repeat the process again. I guess it was daunting; we did go over a few times to record so that did warm us up to the experience. Now though, it’s much more of a calm process.
I’ll wrap it up here Jamal, but just for a final question, can you sum up what the rest of 2013 has in store for Hands Like Houses?
At the moment our main focus is just finishing up Warped Tour, and getting those most of this. We’re definitely coming home to Australia for at least a couple of months of rest, and then hopefully we can do an Australian tour in September. Obviously, I can’t give you too many details until it’s all locked in though. After that, nothing much planned! We kind of like it that way though, it sort of leaves it up to fate as to what can happen.
James Versluis