Playlist: HITS magazine

To celebrate the release of our first print issues, here's a playlist featuring all artists involved.

HITS x Berlin

We hosted our very first live gig in Berlin - and this is what it looked like.

Cover The HITS

Our latest video series - covers performed by our favourite acts, exclusively for us.

Video Interview: Scenic Route To Alaska

Melting away in front of Stuttgart's castle, we had a chat about touring, band names, Toy Story and a lot more.

Find us on YouTube!

Visit us on the 'tubes for interviews, exclusive performances and outtakes.

why likes and followers matter




Hey guys!

What a headline.
To be honest, I never thought I would be the person to write a post telling you "why likes and followers matter".

Yet here I am, about to tell you.
If you are shaking your head in disbelief, or are about to call me 'shallow', please hear me out.
I can back this up.

So - why do likes and followers matter?

Isn't everybody laughing about those people who want +256 likes for their selfies?
Or who think they are famous because they have +472  followers?
Doesn't that all sound super ridiculous?

It probably does.

But when it comes to the business side of things,
it's anything but ridiculous.
In fact, it's one of the most important aspects.

Why?
Because likes don't just say "oh nice selfie, you've got a good face - here's a thumb!" when you use social media for work.
No, they can actually determine one's career. 
Hell, even one's income.

I have a feeling that those of you, who work in or with Social Media, are probably already nodding their heads.

And if you don't get what I'm talking about - good for you, you're probably leading a normal life.

But let me explain by giving you my personal example.

I run a music website.
And in order to collaborate with the artists we see featured on this website, there are three important factors:
1) my skills: of course, just like in any other job, you need to have a set of skills in order to get the attention of those people you may want to work with.
2) my audience: a lot of the times when I request to interview an artist/a band, the labels and managements behind the musicians want to know how many people visit my website.
3) my social media statistics: those labels, promoters and managements are also interested in the numbers and interactions we have on Twitter, Facebook and all the other platforms.

When I first started working in music, the only numbers that mattered were the views and visits on a website.
But with Social Media being such a huge part in our everyday lives, the amounts of likes and followers keep getting more important day by day.



So why do likes and followers matter to me?
Because those numbers paired with my skills decide whom I get to work with.

And why should you care, you might ask?
Well, you don't have to care. It's probably only really my problem.
But, if you enjoy this website and maybe came across music you now listen to in your free time, 
then this might matter to you.
If you want us to continue to grow - we need likes and followers.
If we grow, you'll benefit from it because you'll get to watch interviews with some of the biggest acts around.
If only a handful of people cared about house in the sand, I would've never been able to chat to Olly Murs or photograph Ed Sheeran
But, because there is a bigger interest in this page, we get to do and share these cool things with you.

So how can you make a difference?
By following those on Social Media, who deliver content you enjoy.
By clicking the "like" or "thumbs up" button when they post something.
By commenting, retweeting or subscribing.

Those actions don't cost you anything and it usually takes less than five seconds to do them.
So be a hero and like, follow and comment.
This counts for all creators on Social Media such as musicians, photographers, videographers and PR agencies. Not just for us bloggers.


I hope this post has been either relatable (because you "know the struggle") or interesting (because maybe you have never thought about the importance of a "silly like").
Either way, I hope you enjoyed reading this and might consider hitting that like button some more.

Of course I would absolutely love to hear your opinion on this and I'd also be happy to answer any questions you might have.


Just because it makes sense, here are our social media links. ;)
You can follow, like or just lurk - either way, we appreciate your time.


www.instagram.com/houseinthesand.com/houseinthesand



p.s: in case you were wondering - I'm wearing my amazing The Photo Ladies hoodie in the photos.
You can learn more about this fantastic collective by visiting their website.



Thank you for your visit!















Credits // Text & Photography: Vanessa Jertschewske

Gig Photos: Milky Chance at The Teragram Ballroom, Los Angeles




Hey guys!

The excitement levels at the house in the sand headquarters are on a constant high.

Working with a team of photographers allows me to cover gigs in so many places.
It allows me to give talented photographers an extra platform.
And it allows me to share even more music with you.

I'm glad everyone, who has been reading HITS for a while, seems to be very alright with there now being a team behind the scenes.

Today we've got the first post of photos by our Los Angeles based photographer, Melissa Rodriguez.

You can learn more about Melissa here, and support her on her social media outlets:
portfolio | twitter | facebook | instagram


Melissa went to photograph Milky Chance and their fabulous support act Noah Kahan in LA and you can check out the photos below.

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Date: 8th March 2017
Venue: The Teragram Ballroom, Los Angeles (USA)

Support Act: Noah Kahan





Noah Kahan is a singer/songwriter from Strafford, VT - a quiet town with a population of 1000.
He discovered his love and passion for songwriting at an early age.

His sound ties in multiple genres but mainly connects Folk and Acoustic-Pop, creating a fantastic Alternative sound.

Noah crafted his skills "in the rolling hills of his family’s 133 acre tree farm. This serene location provided the backdrop for countless adventures that ranged from typical boyhood antics to the more rebellious teenage exploration."

A little while back, Noah Kahan shared his first track "Young Blood" with the world.
And just recently he joined Milky Chance on tour.





Noah Kahan online: Website | Twitter | Facebook | Soundcloud | YouTube | Instagram












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Headliner: Milky Chance




Milky Chance are a duo from Kassel, Germany.

Clemens Rehbein and Philipp Dausch met at school and instantly became friends. Later on they played in a local band, and kept on making music even after the band split up.

The duo built a tiny studio in the house in which Clemens grew up in. They recorded their debut album, "Sadnecessary" in said studio with minimal equipment.
Once it was done, they released their debut single "Stolen Dance" which went viral and has now gained over 300 million views.

All the attention allowed Milky Chance to sett off on tour, which then turned into a +100 dates tour.
Since then they've been touring, playing at festivals and built themselves a very loyal fanbase.

And just yesterday, March 17th 2017, they released their new album, "Blossom".





Milky Chance online: Website | Twitter | Facebook | Soundcloud | YouTube | Instagram



































And that's it!
Let us know if you've seen Milky Chance live before, we'd love to hear your thoughts!




Thank you for your visit!









&








Credits // Text: Vanessa Jertschewske | Photography: Melissa Rodriguez | **ticket and photo pass have kindly been provided**

Video Of The Day: "Bloodstain" by Wrabel



Hey guys!

Last year I got asked to interview an artist called Wrabel.
I did not know his music back then, but it didn't take more than a song for me to be completely conviced.

So it did my research and along the way I quickly realised that I was going to chat to a very fascinating person.

The phone interview we recorded is still one of my favourite interviews I've done so far, so in case you'd like to listen to it - just click here.

Today I'm stupidly excited to share Wrabel's most recent single with you.
Check it out!


Video Of The Day:
- "Bloodstain" by Wrabel -



Wrabel is a solo act from Los Angeles, United States.
He combines Pop and R'n'B elements in such graceful manner.

Stephen Wrabel has been writing music for almost ten years now after discovering his love for music at an early age.
He spent a year studying at Boston's Berklee College Of Music before he moved to Los Angeles to pursue his career in music.
Wrabel has also written for many artists such as Adam Lambert, Ellie Goulding and Philipp Phillips.

In 2014, the talented musician released his debut EP "Sideways" and started his solo career.
The song "Ten Feet Tall", a beautiful piano ballad, was then used by Dutch DJ Afrojack which allowed Wrabel to kick off his career in style.

He is now working on his debut album which we will get to hear in 2017. 


And just recently Wrabel released a new single, "Bloodstain".

It has clearly got a strong R'n'B vibe to it; Wrabel's warm and expressive voice tells the story in such hypnotizing way. Whether you can relate to the song or not, you'll end up eagerly following every word, processing it with care.
The beats are the leading element of the song and guide you through the emotions; subtle e-guitar elements highlight the intense parts.

I also want to talk about the lyric video for "Bloodstain".
It's a video collage of instant photos (known as Polaroids - but, fun fact - Polaroid is a brand, not the actual photo.) and it's done brilliantly.
The photos take you on Wrabel's journey of dealing with heartbreak. It's documented in an intimate and artistic way. It's refreshingly creative and it's everything we needed.


Check out the lyric video for "Bloodstain" below!




- buy it -



Wrabel online: Website | Twitter | Facebook | Soundcloud | YouTube | Instagram





Thank you for your visit!
















Credits // Text: Vanessa Jertschewske | Image: Wrabel

Behind The Song: "Speak and Spell" by Glass Peaks



Hey guys!

Are you ready to discover more new music?
I hope so.
Because we have a lot of that coming your way.

Personally, as the writer of this website, I am very much in love with what 2017 has offered so far.
We've been treated some fantastic songs, EPs and albums within the past three months.
The press releases in my inbox tell me, that it's going to stay that way.

So buckle up, let's discover some new tunes!

Today we get to sneak behind the song of a very new and exciting band.
Check it out!


Behind The Song:
- "Speak and Spell" by Glass Peaks -


Glass Peaks are a four piece from Kent, UK.
They describe their sound as 'melancholic alt-pop', which definitely hits the nail right on the head.

The band formed in 2016 but has already gotten support from the UK's top music sources; BBC Radio 1, Absolute Radio, BBC Introducing and more.

Influenced by bands such as Joy Division and The Smiths, the four musicians have a great variety of inspirations, but also put a unique twist on things.

Glass Peaks are: Lewis, Jake, Grant and Alfie.
Today we got to find out more about the band's recent single, a song which showcases the band's exciting and promising sound.

Here's what Alfie and Jake told us about "Speak and Spell":

Alfie: "This song went through lots of different stages before it took on it's final form. Much of what we write starts with a riff or the beginnings of a chord structure. Speak and Spell started in just the same as any other track we've written except this time we were experimenting with different sounds and textures. We incorporated a synth bass in this track which we hadn't previously done for any of our other music. There's a fluidity in the way we write and perform our songs, there are no tracks etc...however, this song features big synthesiser lines and swelling, side chained vocal pads. It's one of the most mechanical songs we've ever written, but in a good way!"

Jake: "Most of our songs start from a singular riff or very small part, mainly guitars. From that I guess we just keep working on it and experimenting with it for a while. Myself and lewis will always bounce of and inspire each other when writing guitar parts, trying different patterns and licks to intertwine in and out of each others parts."

Alfie: "For me, the song is about social perceptions. It's about what is deemed as acceptable in social situations. It could be from the way someone carries themselves at a party, or the way someone behaves in a relationship. The song is a reminder of all of the abhorrent attributes you find in people and how much their actions or words can affect you if they're a little too close to home.

When we completed writing the song, it felt like finding like the secret passageway behind a painting in a grand hall or something, like we'd finally found the way to the sound we'd been searching for. 
I was so pleased with the form of the song and how we'd taken it from a small idea to a piece of music which really pushed us outside of our comfort zone. The process of recording was absolutely incredible, our producer, Kris Harris, really pushed us to create a masterpiece. He left no stone unturned and always questioned things we felt were 'right' in order for us to really think outside of the box. I'm very proud of Speak and Spell and the whole journey that went with creating it."

Jake: "Writing the song was great fun, we experimented a lot with the synth bass in this track which took a long time to get right but when we got it, we got it. Recording with Kris Harris was the best thing we could have ever done for the song. He really squeezed everything out of it and helped craft it into something we are really proud of."

Alfie: "The difference between Speak and Spell and everything that preceded it is that S&S was a venture into something we're not used to sonically. Experimenting with Synth bass and electronics was a first for us, but it has completely opened our eyes and made us write newer things with a wider, more vibrant palette."


Listen to "Speak and Spell" below!




Glass Peaks online: Website | Twitter | Facebook | Soundcloud | YouTube | Instagram






Thank you for your visit!













Credits // Text (intro): Vanessa Jertschewske | Image & Text (about song): Glass Peaks

Gig Photos: Colony House at U Street Music Hall, Washington




Hey guys!

With today's post I get to introduce a new member of our team to you.
I am just so excited to see our team expand because that means we get to cover even more fantastic music.

We now have a wonderful photo lady based in Washington, USA.

You can learn more about Gabby here and support her with likes and follows here: website | twitter | instagram

Gabby recently shot her first show for us and you are able to see the results below, so go ahead and check it out!
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Date: 4th March 2017
Venue: U Street Music Hall, Washington (USA)

Act: Colony House




Colony House are a four piece band from Tennessee, USA.
They can be genrefied as Indie-Rock with their own unique twist to it.

Colony House are:
Caleb Chapman (lead vocals, guitar)
Will Chapman (drums)
Scott Mills (guitar, backing vocals)
Parke Cottrell (bass, keys, backing vocals)

Formed in High School in 2009, the band started to self-release EPs, before then releasing their debut album "When I Was Younger" in 2014.

Since then Colony House have made their radio and TV debuts, toured with acts such as Needtobreathe, Switchfoot and more, and played at festivals.

Their recent album "Only The Lonely", released in January 2017, was well received.

Just recently they played in Washington and you can see all photos below.





Colony House online: Website | Twitter | Facebook | Soundcloud | YouTube | Instagram



















And that's it.

Let us know if you've seen Colony House before. 




Thank you for your visit!










&








Credits // Text: Vanessa Jertschewske | Photography: Gabby Ames | **ticket & photo pass have kindly been provided**