It’s a band for spring, for evenings outside and – just maybe – to fall in love to: Gardens is FM4 Soundpark’s homegrown act of the month.
It’s April. There’s no way around it: spring is officially here. Time to dream dreams that are just a little kitschy…picture it: a sunset sky streaked pink and orange. You’re on your old bike, riding to meet your friends, who are already waiting for you at the lake. You press play on – why not? – the tape player stuffed into your backpack…and the song you hear, after a couple of clicks, is “Talk” by Gardens.
This is your band for spring, for evenings outside, maybe even to fall in love a little bit to. It’s rock’n’roll that does what it’s supposed to do when guitars are involved: it takes you somewhere else, somewhere where you’ve got time to think. Daydreaming is allowed, as is making big plans. Transitional weather and transitional jackets, your vitamin D levels finally getting back to where they’re supposed to be.
Gardens consists of Luca Celine Müller, Peter Benedikt Mathis, Laura Keiblinger and Patrick Stieger. They started talking about making music together when Luca was working in visuals (he’s made album covers and music videos for Ja, Panik). First it was a duo with Peter (who also makes music on his own, under the name ‘Peter the Human Boy’), then they were a quartet. “We’re all motivated, we’re all on board. We’re happy, and now we’re here,” Luca says.
When you make music, you can process things, build your own worlds – Gardens knows that already. “It’s almost like meditating.” Their songs are about upheaval, inspired by change and a few of their musical heroes: Julia Jacklin, Big Thief, Courtney Barnett, and Wet Leg. “There might be something on our album that sounds like that,” Luca laughs. And also, an element that – thanks to Beyoncé and Lana Del Rey – is very much à la mode: a little country. Is there such a thing as too much slide guitar? Right now, at least, the answer is no.
Gardens say their music sounds like oversharing in the bathtub with a good movie in the background. People should feel when they listen – ideally, all the feelings. They should feel like the emotional burdens they carry are understood. What are the elements of Gardens’ songs? Water and earth. Wet earth, like when it rains. Or warm water. “Under water, you feel enveloped, comfortable. Like when you listen to our music.”
Gardens have built a (sound)garden of their own, where people can meet up. “I’d love to live in this garden,” Luca says. And it’s truly inviting: wild, overgrown, a home for lots of animals. Sheep, goats, and chickens, little benches everywhere, a long swing hangs from a tree. Flowers, a little pond, bushes heavy with berries. Sounds like paradise – but they don’t mean it as a retreat: Gardens’ music feels good, but it’s more than simple escapism.
“In spite of everything, it’s about reality,” about things people can identify with. “Maybe we’re trying to make reality a little less hard.” Still, it’s intended to stir emotions, even as it comforts. It’s not just serene; it changes, stays in motion. “This garden is under construction.”
The results of all this landscaping is coming in autumn, when Gardens releases its debut album on Siluh Records. In advance of the album, they’ll be releasing new songs, videos and more; they play at Kollektiv Kaorle in Vienna on April 19th, then in Prague and Berlin. And they’re extending a special invitation to join them: “Come along…and thanks for being here.”
Christoph Sepin, translated from the German original by Philip Yaeger