Photo by: Aaron Farley

 
The Sights and Sounds has been invited to cover the 2013 Hangout Music and Arts Festival in Gulf Shores, Alabama and as part of our coverage of the event, and in an effort to continually bring you the best in new and great music, we will be running a series highlighting the artists set to perform at this year’s event. Read about the bands, find some new artists to listen to, and enjoy the sounds below.
 
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GROUPLOVE got it’s humble beginnings when Hannah Hooper met Christian Zucconi late one evening on the lower east side of Manhattan. While both lived in New York, the two had never met but hit it off immediately. Soon after, Hooper was invited to an art residency in Greece and insisted Zucconi join her on the journey.

“Seriously, we had only known one another for a few days but are both so inspired and alive when we are together that going to Greece seemed like a magical and natural thing to do” recalls Zucconi.

On the island of Crete, in a small remote mountain village, Hooper and Zucconi met their future band members. Sean Gadd, a natural songwriter and guitar player, instantly bonded with the two eccentric New Yorkers. Their relationship became apparent through the music they were making day in and day out. Andrew Wessen, a pro surfer and musician from LA, and his childhood friend Ryan Rabin, an accomplished drummer and producer, were also at the residency and quickly joined in with the musical trio. And thus, GROUPLOVE was formed.

“We all understood how rare it is for five strangers to feel as close as family and create passionate music together. We couldn’t just return to Brooklyn and let the music we all made fade into a memory of that summer we had in Greece,” explains Zucconi. So after Greece, everyone pulled their funds together and Sean, Christian and Hannah made their way to Ryan Rabin’s studio in LA to record their debut album, Never Trust a Happy Song.

“We seriously had the best time of our lives doing that record”, says Zucconi. And the result is an incredibly special album where soaring harmonies coupled with sweeping anthems lead you through their powerful journey. Like the members of GROUPLOVE, their music is diverse in influence and style but bonded together by an undeniably creative kinship. A kinship founded in beautifully creative surroundings and ultimately reflected in the insanely catchy harmonies and fantastically upbeat rhythms that shine through in singles such as “Tongue Tied” and “Colours.”

“We never could have dreamt this up” says Zucconi, “but at the same time we’re not at all surprised – GROUPLOVE is meant to be. Our story a testament to fate, and our music is something we are ready to share.”

 

 

 
GROUPLOVE is set to perform on the Hangout Stage at 1:15pm on Sunday, May 19th.

Tickets for Hangout Music Festival are still available here.
 

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