Image credit: GIVVEN

Capturing grief and pain with their latest song ‘Losing Colours’, band GIVVEN paints a colourful and graceful picture with warm soundscapes. Comprised of bandmates Adrian Held, Jordan Haller, and Nikodem Milewski, the trio anticipate releasing an EP of the same name via Bias Beach Records. ‘Losing Colours’ dwells on heartbreak and feeling like a part of you is fading away when the one you hold dear to your heart disappoints you. The band masques the lyrical intensity of the song with soft downtempo hooks and ethereal electronic embellishments.  While we wait for the EP release, which we can only imagine will be a poignant and cathartic listen, we chatted with the band about the EP title track.

Stream/ download: ‘Losing Colours’

Please describe your sound for us.

There is no “GIVVEN formula” that we follow. We tend to just try things out and see if they sound cool. The feeling we’re always looking to achieve in our music is a bit nebulous and hard to pin down, but we know it when we hear it.

How did it all start for you?

When Adrian played Niko a demo from Jordan on his phone, Niko loved it, and then less than two months later, Jordan was in Vienna and we all started making music together. It was all very spontaneous and fast and we didn’t really have a plan.

‘Losing Colours’ forms part of your forthcoming EP and music video series and we had the first taste with the ‘Taking On Water’ video shot in Iceland. What was the inspiration for filming the videos for the EP there?

We felt like Iceland was the perfect place to capture the atmosphere we were going for with this EP. It’s wild and raw and full of unexpected things.

Which three artists would you say made you want to create your own music?

We each have a wide range of influences and we think that the combination of all of those is what makes the GIVVEN’s sound unique.

What is your go-to gear/equipment when creating?

Nikodem has a room full of outboard gear for mixing and mastering, Adrian has a room full of classic synths and hardware, and Jordan records in his parents’ basement with a microphone and an acoustic guitar. Together it somehow makes the perfect blend of messy and clean, polished and raw.

What are some of your key influences in your music? Whether it be the sound created by others, imagery, films or any kind of art form.

We’re trying to make music that is very emotional and sets you in a weird in-between world (nostalgic, melancholic but in the same way not too negative and beautiful). We love trying to capture these in-between feelings and ride the line between dark and light in our music.

Any new or upcoming artists on your radar?

GIVVEN.

What can we expect from you in the near future? Any upcoming projects in the pipeline that you would like to tell us about?

We have lots of new music in the pipeline and our sound is constantly (and quickly) evolving, so we never really know what direction the music is going to follow until the songs come out.

Famous last words?

Go stream ‘Ghostkeeper’.

Follow GIVVEN:

Website – Facebook – Twitter – Soundcloud – Youtube – Instagram – Spotify