Hotel Fiction Talks Shaky Knees and Their Next Era
On Saturday morning at Piedmont Park, female-fronted indie rock band Hotel Fiction amped up the crowd with groovy new melodies, fan favorite sing-alongs, and a standout stage presence. I had the pleasure of sitting down with Jade Long and Jessica (Jess) Thompson for Captured Noise to chat with them about playing their first major festival.
What did the journey to playing Shaky Knees feel like and what does this opportunity mean to you?
Jess: Well, we started the band seven years ago and ever since this was on our list of dreams. At times, especially when we started, it felt really unattainable. As we kept playing it became a dream that felt more and more in vision. We kept touring and thinking that if we play a major festival we want it to be this one, especially as our first one. Atlanta is so important to us and we grew up here. We just kept waiting and hoping and submitting and trying. We were so excited when we found out that we got to play this year. It felt like all the touring we had done, all the writing, the recording was getting us ready. When we were on stage today I felt that way too, like all of the work we have been doing had prepared us and made this moment even more sweet. Every year we have picked up new friends, new fans, and new people we love that have been coming to the shows. It was really special that all of the people we love were there.
Jade: We wrote it down on this big vision board that we made this year so I think we maybe manifested it together.
Jess: Along with touring in Japan.
Jade: That’s next!
Your career took off in Athens in the UGA music scene. College towns are full of aspiring musicians, how did the Athens and Atlanta music scenes shape you as musicians?
Jade: It was a very very special place to start out. I think when we were in college it was such a golden era of music in Athens. A lot of our best friends who are still touring to this day were just starting out and some of our favorite bands were coming out of there at the time. It was just such a genuine scene with so much love and excitement for music that really inspired us. We met our band and each other through the Athens scene. We wouldn’t be here at all if it wasn’t for that scene. I think it’s going to be historical in Athens just like the Pylon era. There are so many amazing Athens bands and we hope to follow in their footsteps. And of course, the Atlanta music scene is just as cool, there is so much crossover between the two scenes.
Jess: I grew up playing a lot in Atlanta too and it’s kinda funny because we played a different fest in Piedmont Park when I was younger. It was the Piedmont Arts Festival so it felt really cool to be playing another festival here, it’s a dream for us.
On Wednesday you released a single called “Cold Cold Heart” that feels like a slight pivot and an exploration of 70s nostalgia. How does that song represent the direction you are going in for your next era following Staring at the Sun?
Jade: The next era is very inspired by rock and old classics. “Cold Cold Heart” is just kinda one genre we are exploring in the next phase of our musical career.
Jess: Yes, it is kinda leaning more groovy 70s. I feel that this album is our most rock centered album yet which is cool because most of Jade and I’s favorite bands are rock and 70s bands. I feel like as artists it is cool to get closer to making music that you would want to listen to.
Jade: Especially I think in today’s day and age with how scary the world seems, playing music that makes you nostalgic has felt really good to us right now.
Creativity and mediums other than music seems to inspire you, whether it’s really creative outfits on stage or other props or hand-designing album covers. How do other mediums of art influence your music?
Jade: It totally goes hand in hand! I think we are artists in so many different shapes and forms. I think being a musician means you are wearing so many hats too, whether it’s making your own album art, or being the director for a music video, or just creatives in what you wear. Because we have so many different passions, it is really cool to be all of those things through music.
As I am sure you have noticed, many artists are exploring new ways to connect with their audiences right now. For instance, Tyler the Creator and Lil Yachty hosted low capacity pop ups in Atlanta. Phoebe Bridgers is doing phoneless shows too. I was wondering if as musicians, this movement means anything to you?
Jess: I mean, absolutely. I think social media and the way we have all been saturated with self promotion and information has made connecting with fans more difficult. I think fans feel that and we feel that as we are trying to connect with them. I think it has made the whole world crave in-person connection. That is where we feel the most true and happiest as musicians, when we are playing music with people that love it. We can all enjoy that experience together and we are co-creating the experience. We have been to plenty of shows we’ve played where if the audience isn’t co-creating that experience it’s a lot more difficult. We all feed each other and are relying on each other's energy. I love that bigger artists are leading that charge too because it shows that even when you are at the level of playing arenas, you crave that intimate connection with the audience. I love the move towards more analog experiences, less phones.
Here are a few more rapid fire fun questions for you all to wrap up.
Who were you most excited to see this weekend?
Jade: We absolutely loved Geese.
Jess: Geese!
Jade: And we are really excited to see Pavement tonight, LCD Soundsystem
Jade and Jess: Modest Mouse!!
What is your favorite place to go in Atlanta or Athens?
Jade: In Athens, at the moment Hidden Gem. It’s a new bar. And World Famous, our classic go to spot. In Atlanta that’s a good question.
Jess: We need more Atlanta hangs.
Jade: Oh wait! I have a good answer. The Grant Park Farmer’s Market!
Jess: And the Freedom Farmer’s Market!
If you had a niche store that sold one item, what would it be?
Jade: The first thing that came to mind was cat accessories. You know, like bandanas, cat boots.
Jess: I’m thinking, rare vintage instruction books. Blueprints, you know like if you open up a box and there is a manual, maybe you throw that out or maybe I sell it in my rare vintage manual store.
Interview and photo by Lena Krone