London Grammar released their fourth studio album, 'The Greatest Love,' at the end of last year. The band, which originated while its members were studying at the University of Nottingham over a decade ago, conveys a sense of confidence with songs like 'House' and 'Fakest Bitch.' This summer, they will headline LIDO Festival in Victoria Park, presenting a "more high-energy show" as a London festival exclusive. They also have a series of live performances across Europe to look forward to. The trio consists of Hannah Reid, Dan Rothman, and Dot Major.
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At LIDO Festival, it has a unique feel since the headliners also curate the entire lineup. London Grammar will be joined by artists such as Celeste, Róisín Murphy, Wasia Project, and Holly Walker on the day. Rothman states, “It's about wanting to share the type of music we are passionate about as a band; curation truly feels like an extension of our creativity.”
In curating the festival’s lineup, London Grammar was particularly focused on championing “female talent” that has made a significant impact in recent years, as Rothman notes. “Ultimately, it was about having support acts that are predominantly female, and I think that’s very much highlighted. I’ve always been a huge admirer of Róisín Murphy, and having artists like Celeste is essential as well… They are incredibly significant artists.”
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Meanwhile, Dot mentions that artists like Charli XCX have had “an amazing year” and an “incredible [career] trajectory,” noting that she has been active for about the same duration as the band and has experienced a remarkable campaign this year. It demonstrates how aligning artistic vision visually can lead to a global impact, which is surreal.
The band, having recently completed their fourth album, 'The Greatest Love,' has immediately begun working on their fifth album, although they acknowledge it is still in the early stages.
Frontwoman Hannah Reid shares that they had a clear idea of which artists to invite to the festival from the beginning. “I think Róisín [Murphy] and Celeste were the first names that came to mind. There was no pressure; it was a joy to have the honor of doing something like that. I'd say that’s a highlight.”
She adds, “We’re really excited about it. Expect a slightly more high-energy performance from us, along with a fantastic lineup of support acts.” Dot chimes in, “We’ve really mixed it up for this summer. While we aim to maintain a high-energy vibe, we also hope to create an intimacy among the three of us on stage that we haven’t fully explored before.”
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Dot reflects on their process for the previous single, 'Fakest Bitch,' and its connection to their live performances. “In terms of making the album ['The Greatest Love'], it represented a special moment. It was the first time we all came together again after some time apart, just the three of us in the studio. When we recreate that moment live, we stay true to the writing process, bringing everyone together. Hopefully, that feeling resonates when it’s performed.”
Reid discusses the bond among the band members. “There’s an openness and vulnerability that has varied throughout our writing process, depending on what we’re all experiencing. Now that we’ve been together for so long, it feels like family, and there’s a certain freedom and self-sufficiency that is quite refreshing.”
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When the band first began, Reid unfortunately faced sexism and misogyny in the music industry, leading to self-doubt as an artist. Reflecting on those experiences and how things have changed, Reid states, “There’s still a long way to go. What's encouraging is that many of the biggest artists today are women; that itself is empowering. However, the business side still needs improvement. It truly affected me in my early twenties, but I'm older now, and as a band, we don’t tolerate that behavior anymore.”
Reid adds, “I do feel [unstoppable]. We’ve overcome so much in this ever-evolving industry, and we still draw audiences to our live performances, which is what music is all about. It feels like we can hopefully continue for another decade and beyond.”
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London Grammar will perform at LIDO Festival on June 15th // tickets.
Words: Narzra Ahmed
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London Grammar launched their fourth studio album, 'The Greatest Love,' at the end of the previous year. The band, which came together during their studies at the