Their moniker may conjure deep-seated fear or imagery of disinfected white walls and menacing, snapping blue gloves, but this medical facility homage is bright, bold, and not scary in the slightest.
The London-based quartet The Hospital have emerged from the indie-pop space with a sound that combines the surf-rock effervesence of Australia with the punk-adjacent driving instrumentals of the gritty London underground scene.
Their upcoming August EP - 'Without You Is Hard' - is their sophomore project release, and comes preceded by the lead single 'Decomposing'. Talking on the release, they note: "When you're in a relationship, and there's a real fear of 'Is this the best that I will do? Am I
settling because I don't think I deserve better?' It's discovering that part of yourself when you go,
'No, I'm actually worth way more than this'."
Steeped in self-realisation and deep introspection, 'Decomposing' utilises swirling synths and stripped-back guitars to convey loss. Despite the heartache narrative, the lead vocals take on an uplifting role - featuring delicate harmonies that lend to the euphoric soundscape.
Ahead of the release of 'Without You Is Hard', we chat with The Hospital about fan-run ins, Lena Dunham, and manifesting Glastonbury as part of the Seven Questions with Music Is To Blame Series.
Introduce yourself and where you’re from.
I’m The Hospital. I’m originally from Sydney, Australia, but I’ve been living in London for the last few years.
What do our readers need to know about you?
I re-watch Girls once a year - I love Lena Dunham.
What have you got coming up that you’re most excited for?
Our new EP 'Without You Is Hard' comes out on the 21 st of August. These are my favourite songs I’ve ever written, and I want people to fall in and out of love to them. Our first single off the EP 'Decomposing' is out on May 1st, so you can stream it now!
What’s the best run-in you’ve had with a fan?
I’ve had a few weird ones. One time, a fan found my home address and rang my doorbell. My Dad ended up letting her in for a cup of tea. A different fan's dad wrote me a letter from prison, saying he was grateful his daughter found my music because it was helping her deal with his incarceration.
What’s been your biggest ‘I’ve made it’ moment so far?
When I headlined Glastonbury - that was amazing. No, for real though, I haven’t had my “I made it” yet, but a really proud moment was when I first played the EP to my parents, and they loved it. That was special.
What are your three “desert island” albums?
Joni Mitchell - 'Blue'
Viagra Boys - 'Viagra Boys'
Fall Out Boy - 'From Under The Cork Tree'
Sum up your sound in three words.
Lugubrious / Jubilant / Modern
Lana Williams
@lanatakesphotos / @_lanaajade
Image: Provided courtesy of The Hospital
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