Music / Features
Track by Track:
Grand Pine - Hold Me Down
Grand Pine - Hold Me Down
Greeting us into spring, last month Melbourne indie-folk band Grand Pine release their tantalising debut album Hold Me Down. Upon the new release, we caught up with the band to get a closer look into the songs that make up their new album.
A good five years on since the band’s formation, Melbourne quintet Grand Pine have finally graced us with their debut album Hold Me Down. Across these eight tracks, Grand Pine has blessed us with their wholesome and thoughtful take on indie-folk, blurring masterful harmonies and cinematic atmospheres with their subtle art for storytelling. Not only through their lyrics but also through the composition of the glistening instrumentation, Hold Me Down reminds us that life is a rollercoaster.
The record begins with soft guitars and ethereal harmonies, as lead vocalist Guy Perkin’s heavenly voice rocks gently to the rhythm of the drums and twinkling plucking of the guitar. Although it is the shortest track, ‘Hi//Lo’ is instantly hypnotic, setting the tone for the rest of the album to come. Next up is ‘Feel Alone’; the twinkling riffs on the guitar continue and the lyrics take us to a common feeling many of us might have felt before. Swept up in the increase of instrumentation, the lyrics begin to swirl together and the refrain “feel alone, die alone” turns comforting - “if you feel alone, don’t die alone”. A choice to make, but a reminder that we don’t have to be alone.
Warmth is felt through each track, and as it slowly unravels, ‘Back In Town’ shows us the light at the end of the tunnel. This time the drum marches a soft rhythm, carrying us through the song before being embraced once again by the delicately intricate harmonies. ‘Sink Or Swim’ is a unique track that commences with Peleya Arapakis’s velvety smooth voice taking the lead on the vocals. As the song builds she is joined into a sweet duet with Perkins - a tug of war between wanting nothing more than to stay, but knowing that it’s no use.
Picking up the pieces and pace, ‘Heart’ comes to play. One of the groovier tracks on Hold Me Down, the guitar pushes the track forwards with its steady stride, as Mike Ridley’s keys follow the vocals and rise through the notes before continuing with the zestful rhythm. The song continues to encapsulate the battles of life, insecurities and self-realisations.
Stripping it back next, ‘Time Has Come’ rolls gently like waves on the shore. The synth stretches each note before Perkins’s voice soars over the instrumentation, his words heavy with delay that echoes each of his thoughts on struggle and wishes. Grand Pine’s tight harmonies come bursting through and the song ends with one final blast. Following along, the title track and most recent single ‘Hold Me Down’ is a plethora of sound and emotions. The song pulls lines from ‘Hi//Lo’ and exposes the electric guitar traversing through the notes. At last we reach ‘Salvation’, an amelioration of the final thoughts, with only vocals and the muffled clock-like rhythm. It’s a holy last track that suspends the lasting effect of their warm wholesome album into the air.
Listening to the musicality, emotion and warmth of each track, Hold Me Down is an album for the heart. To help us dig into the album further, we had the pleasure of having Grand Pine walk us through the stories behind each track.
The record begins with soft guitars and ethereal harmonies, as lead vocalist Guy Perkin’s heavenly voice rocks gently to the rhythm of the drums and twinkling plucking of the guitar. Although it is the shortest track, ‘Hi//Lo’ is instantly hypnotic, setting the tone for the rest of the album to come. Next up is ‘Feel Alone’; the twinkling riffs on the guitar continue and the lyrics take us to a common feeling many of us might have felt before. Swept up in the increase of instrumentation, the lyrics begin to swirl together and the refrain “feel alone, die alone” turns comforting - “if you feel alone, don’t die alone”. A choice to make, but a reminder that we don’t have to be alone.
Warmth is felt through each track, and as it slowly unravels, ‘Back In Town’ shows us the light at the end of the tunnel. This time the drum marches a soft rhythm, carrying us through the song before being embraced once again by the delicately intricate harmonies. ‘Sink Or Swim’ is a unique track that commences with Peleya Arapakis’s velvety smooth voice taking the lead on the vocals. As the song builds she is joined into a sweet duet with Perkins - a tug of war between wanting nothing more than to stay, but knowing that it’s no use.
Picking up the pieces and pace, ‘Heart’ comes to play. One of the groovier tracks on Hold Me Down, the guitar pushes the track forwards with its steady stride, as Mike Ridley’s keys follow the vocals and rise through the notes before continuing with the zestful rhythm. The song continues to encapsulate the battles of life, insecurities and self-realisations.
Stripping it back next, ‘Time Has Come’ rolls gently like waves on the shore. The synth stretches each note before Perkins’s voice soars over the instrumentation, his words heavy with delay that echoes each of his thoughts on struggle and wishes. Grand Pine’s tight harmonies come bursting through and the song ends with one final blast. Following along, the title track and most recent single ‘Hold Me Down’ is a plethora of sound and emotions. The song pulls lines from ‘Hi//Lo’ and exposes the electric guitar traversing through the notes. At last we reach ‘Salvation’, an amelioration of the final thoughts, with only vocals and the muffled clock-like rhythm. It’s a holy last track that suspends the lasting effect of their warm wholesome album into the air.
Listening to the musicality, emotion and warmth of each track, Hold Me Down is an album for the heart. To help us dig into the album further, we had the pleasure of having Grand Pine walk us through the stories behind each track.
Grand Pine: Our first born is finally out in the world for everyone to, hopefully, enjoy. It’s an amazing feeling to let go of something that we’ve held on to for so long. Talked about and hyped for so long, much to the dismay of family members and friends I’m sure. Worked on and grew with for so long. Now that it belongs to the world I hope that people can take comfort, meaning and overall pleasure from the album and its themes. I hope people feel something special when listening and I hope that they can relate to this chapter of songs.
Hi//Lo
The first iteration of ‘Hi//Lo’ was actually an older song I had written called ‘Light Years’. I wrote ‘Light Years’ after being inspired by a Gregory Alan Isakov song called ‘Light Year’ which I was obsessed with at the time. I even directed a little film clip for ‘Light Years’ while I was in Perth with an ex. From there it morphed into what we now know as ‘Hi//Lo’. A song that often opens our live set and one we thought fitting to open the album. For me, ‘Hi//Lo’ reminds me that even feeling on top of the world can be a reminder of how far you have to fall but that with the right people around you’ll not only land gracefully, but you’ll be back on top again.
Feel Alone
Where ‘Hi//Lo’ was written about landing gracefully into a depression or low point, ‘Feel Alone’ draws on darker sides of being at the bottom. It’s almost like dialogue between the pessimistic and rational trains of thoughts that often battle when you’re feeling at your worst. Two sides of the same brain fighting it out to become your mood at any one time. ‘Feel Alone’ is a strange song for me. It’s unarguably dark but the themes are juxtaposed by a rather upbeat melody and feel to the song. I don’t remember the writing process for this song or why I thought “feel alone, die alone” would make for a good hook but I’m glad that it found its way onto the album and into my conscience.
Back In Town
Home is a big theme of this album. Both as a physical place, be it the place you grew up or the people who make it, and a metaphor for peace of mind. ‘Back In Town’ represents the place, the people and the healing nature of having somewhere or someone to always go back to. A home. It can feel so good to go back to these places or people and it can feel so difficult to leave them but we all need to leave at some stage. There’s so many things to do and places to be but you’ll always have home. That’s essentially ‘Back In Town’.
Hi//Lo
The first iteration of ‘Hi//Lo’ was actually an older song I had written called ‘Light Years’. I wrote ‘Light Years’ after being inspired by a Gregory Alan Isakov song called ‘Light Year’ which I was obsessed with at the time. I even directed a little film clip for ‘Light Years’ while I was in Perth with an ex. From there it morphed into what we now know as ‘Hi//Lo’. A song that often opens our live set and one we thought fitting to open the album. For me, ‘Hi//Lo’ reminds me that even feeling on top of the world can be a reminder of how far you have to fall but that with the right people around you’ll not only land gracefully, but you’ll be back on top again.
Feel Alone
Where ‘Hi//Lo’ was written about landing gracefully into a depression or low point, ‘Feel Alone’ draws on darker sides of being at the bottom. It’s almost like dialogue between the pessimistic and rational trains of thoughts that often battle when you’re feeling at your worst. Two sides of the same brain fighting it out to become your mood at any one time. ‘Feel Alone’ is a strange song for me. It’s unarguably dark but the themes are juxtaposed by a rather upbeat melody and feel to the song. I don’t remember the writing process for this song or why I thought “feel alone, die alone” would make for a good hook but I’m glad that it found its way onto the album and into my conscience.
Back In Town
Home is a big theme of this album. Both as a physical place, be it the place you grew up or the people who make it, and a metaphor for peace of mind. ‘Back In Town’ represents the place, the people and the healing nature of having somewhere or someone to always go back to. A home. It can feel so good to go back to these places or people and it can feel so difficult to leave them but we all need to leave at some stage. There’s so many things to do and places to be but you’ll always have home. That’s essentially ‘Back In Town’.
Sink Or Swim
At its core, ‘Sink Or Swim’ is a break-up song. It’s also the only song on the album that I don’t sing predominantly. Our incredibly talented drummer, Pelaya Arapakis, takes the reins on vocals and absolutely kills it. The poor characters of the song, however, find themselves at the end point of their relationship. It touches on lost feelings of love as well as willingness to change for someone you’ve become almost dependent on. However, second chances are often hard earned, if earned at all. This song ultimately ends with the acceptance that what was once held close and dear has now disappeared completely. It’s kind of sad but in the end you need acceptance to truly move on.
Heart
One of the more rhythmically driven songs off the album and definitely a more rock focused track. ‘Heart’, like many of the songs off this album, started as a voice memo on my phone. It was simply humming the chorus melody accompanied by the guitar line played in the chorus and it sat there for almost three years until I picked it up again. And I’m glad I did because it’s one of my favourite tracks on the album. The song is demonstrative of how ugly self-pity can be and how sometimes losing everything can make you start to appreciate what you once had and had once taken for granted.
At its core, ‘Sink Or Swim’ is a break-up song. It’s also the only song on the album that I don’t sing predominantly. Our incredibly talented drummer, Pelaya Arapakis, takes the reins on vocals and absolutely kills it. The poor characters of the song, however, find themselves at the end point of their relationship. It touches on lost feelings of love as well as willingness to change for someone you’ve become almost dependent on. However, second chances are often hard earned, if earned at all. This song ultimately ends with the acceptance that what was once held close and dear has now disappeared completely. It’s kind of sad but in the end you need acceptance to truly move on.
Heart
One of the more rhythmically driven songs off the album and definitely a more rock focused track. ‘Heart’, like many of the songs off this album, started as a voice memo on my phone. It was simply humming the chorus melody accompanied by the guitar line played in the chorus and it sat there for almost three years until I picked it up again. And I’m glad I did because it’s one of my favourite tracks on the album. The song is demonstrative of how ugly self-pity can be and how sometimes losing everything can make you start to appreciate what you once had and had once taken for granted.
Time Has Come
This track was born after having been obsessed with the Fleet Foxes album Crack Up and specifically the opening track, ‘I Am All That I Need’. I wanted to create something that sonically held back for the most part of the track but have a, for lack of better word, huge release at the end. Something that springs out and hits you when you’re feeling safe, nestled in the vast space of the song. The story revolves around two people who silently love each other from a distance. Both are aware of their longing for the other but both are hesitant to make a move. Until they do and they run away.
Hold Me Down
Like ‘Heart’, ‘Hold Me Down’ was written from old voice recordings off an old phone. I had two different recordings for, at the time, two different songs that I ended up merging to make the final chorus of this track. ‘Hold Me Down’ is the emotional height of the album in my eyes. It in some ways encapsulates the manic chaos of the themes, how quickly they can change and how strong they can feel. This track is easily my favourite off this album to play live and I think the energy and emotion in the second half of the song is a fitting pinnacle to a thematically turbulent album and the perfect transition to the final track.
This track was born after having been obsessed with the Fleet Foxes album Crack Up and specifically the opening track, ‘I Am All That I Need’. I wanted to create something that sonically held back for the most part of the track but have a, for lack of better word, huge release at the end. Something that springs out and hits you when you’re feeling safe, nestled in the vast space of the song. The story revolves around two people who silently love each other from a distance. Both are aware of their longing for the other but both are hesitant to make a move. Until they do and they run away.
Hold Me Down
Like ‘Heart’, ‘Hold Me Down’ was written from old voice recordings off an old phone. I had two different recordings for, at the time, two different songs that I ended up merging to make the final chorus of this track. ‘Hold Me Down’ is the emotional height of the album in my eyes. It in some ways encapsulates the manic chaos of the themes, how quickly they can change and how strong they can feel. This track is easily my favourite off this album to play live and I think the energy and emotion in the second half of the song is a fitting pinnacle to a thematically turbulent album and the perfect transition to the final track.
Salvation
If you hadn’t noticed by now, there are certain aspects to songwriting and production that I really love to lean into. The most obvious being vocal harmonies. ‘Salvation’ is no exception to this trend, being the most stripped back, almost acapella, song on the album. I took a lot of inspiration from Bon Iver’s acapella version of ‘Heavenly Father’ and The Paper Kite’s acapella version of ‘St Clarity’ and from there tried to tie ‘Salvation’ back to the rest of the albums themes, mostly tying it back in with ‘Hold Me Down’ and ‘Hi//Lo’. Like a bridge between the end and the start again.
If you hadn’t noticed by now, there are certain aspects to songwriting and production that I really love to lean into. The most obvious being vocal harmonies. ‘Salvation’ is no exception to this trend, being the most stripped back, almost acapella, song on the album. I took a lot of inspiration from Bon Iver’s acapella version of ‘Heavenly Father’ and The Paper Kite’s acapella version of ‘St Clarity’ and from there tried to tie ‘Salvation’ back to the rest of the albums themes, mostly tying it back in with ‘Hold Me Down’ and ‘Hi//Lo’. Like a bridge between the end and the start again.
Hold Me Down is out everywhere now - head to grandpinemusic.bandcamp.com to purchase the album on vinyl.
