Van Houten, a Leeds-based group of six born from a friendship steeped in 90’s guitar music, unveils their debut album, The Tallest Room. Their distinctive sound — a melancholic yet upbeat fusion of lo-fi, shoegaze, and garage rock — reflects a seven-year-long journey of highs and lows.

Speaking on the project, Van Houten shares, “Our debut feels like the first real milestone in our musical journey. For us, this record represents a new beginning for us as a band and also me personally. Over the past couple of years while we’ve been writing I’ve gone through some massive changes that have really sculpted my outlook and it’s naturally bled into our music… It’s about gaining perspective, moving forwards and while it acknowledges darker experiences & feelings, it’s ultimately about moving on.“

From the optimistic lead single, “Coming of Age”, to introspective tracks such as “Panoramic View”, the album exudes honesty, vulnerability, and personal growth — and firmly marks Van Houten’s place as pioneers in the guitar scene. Produced by Alex Greaves, The Tallest Room is an eclectic mix that celebrates the band’s evolution while looking to their bright future.

Van Houten shares the lowdown of each track from The Tallest Room below…

“Black and White” 
This song expresses distain at an increasing lack of compromise that people are prepared to take on their views. It questions the general unwillingness to talk and hear out others, which creates an ever more disjointed and polarised world. 

The shades of grey in between “black and white” opposing views are not striking, glamorous or extreme, but they often hold the key to unity, togetherness and progression. I guess this song is really a call to arms of compromise and understanding. I can’t do much as an indie artist to make the world more forgiving or more united, but this song at least helps express that desire, so hopefully others can relate to that. 

Acknowledging the need for compromise within myself and being willing to give space for all of my feelings is a big part of the growth that this album is about.

”Never Did Come Back”
This song depicts a nightmare state in which you find yourself drifting hopelessly into an open ocean, with seemingly no hope of safe return. Before you realise what’s happening, any sight of land is long gone and you are fully submerged under the waves. Eventually you sink so far beneath the depths that not even sunlight can penetrate the water; Leaving you drowning in complete darkness. 

This tale depicts the way in which you lose yourself in anxiety and alienation. The feeling of hopelessness like drifting out into this open ocean, lost and alone. This song acknowledges the mark that this experience leaves on a person forever in the title “never did come back”. 

”Coming of Age”

This was the first song we wrote that was written in the practice room as a full band. The song was written in maybe 3-4 hours total and was sparked by the main intro riff which was originally intended to be a quiet, somber classical guitar piece. 

It really was a spur of the moment, bottled magic kind of moment, which kind of defined the process of writing many of our new songs. There was very little in the way of agonising over small details, which until this track, would often happen.

This song really was the catalyst for us and the first step into a new sonic landscape. While we feel we’ve come a long way with our compositions since this track, it was very much the all important first step into a new process and creative space. 

”Panoramic View”
This was the last song we wrote for the record, and came together pretty quickly down at our practice space. We wanted to strip things back and build the song around a simple repeating drum pattern and guitars that eb and flow as the song progresses. It’s one of our favorites and we’re looking forward to playing it on tour.

Lyrically, “Panoramic View” encapsulates the main theme of finding a new perspective, which is a prevalent idea throughout the record. It’s about finally finding a retrospective way of looking at myself, my life, the mistakes I’ve made and the hurt I have felt. It’s about going through an often painful, yet necessary process of reflection and growth. The song champions the idea of a higher vantage point. “A panoramic view from the tallest room” and a newfound sense of clarity. 

”Note to Self”
The lyrics for this song were unfinished until my grandmother, who was relatively young, passed away while were in the middle of recording the record. 

The song is an illustration of the way death of someone close can bring a realisation of the fragility and fleeting nature of life. It’s about wanting to take life freely and take risks almost up to a reckless degree and seeing the beauty in the fact that you really have no control in the grand scheme of things. The song is a reminder to myself to not waste precious time on doubting decisions and overthinking. A reminder to live my life without looking back but also an ode to the values my grandmother has instilled into me. 

”Only Wanna Be With You”
The last song we recorded, it was good fun to write a short in and out pop song to go with the rest of the record. It is a lighter take on a relationship than the ones touched on in other tracks. The song quickly addresses fleeting infatuation and how affection can eclipse over any problems that occur in a relationship. The song is purposely short and reflects the way in which such powerful feelings can be there one minute, and gone in the next. 

”Head Straight”
“Head Straight” is a story taken from the mundane depths of a dysfunctional relationship. Realising you need space to breath, reflect, heal. And also realising that this is something that needs to be done through personal introspection, without having to consider somebody else through the process. 

”I Let You”
“I Let You” describes the feeling of being discarded by someone who you built your life around and gave everything to. It’s about still letting this person, despite all of the hurt they have caused, still run freely in your thoughts. It’s about being unable and unwilling to process and accept a traumatic experience.

The song looks into the idea of facing up to the newfound silence in being alone and finding some form of bittersweet, toxic comfort in not letting things go. 

In retrospect, and in context of the full record, this song has become a reminder that things do change, and healing can happen only if you let it. This is probably our favourite song on the record and represents our sonic vision the most accurately. We can’t wait to expand on this sound and are well into making our followup piece.