Austrian electronic-duo HVOB (Her Voice Over Boys) have spoiled us this week by dropping a new single and announcing their third album. For the first time ever, Paul Wallner and Anna Müller have collaborated on a record, choosing Mumford & Sons’ Winston Marshall to join them. What results is a stunningly darker sound throughout their new album, SILK, out March 24th. This is evident in first track “Blame Game”, which features haunting vocals floating over captivating reverb-heavy guitar lines to create a chilling and beautiful listen.
With a European tour planned for April, we sat down with Anna to have a chat about what’s in store.
How did you first meet?
Paul and I met in Vienna a couple of years ago, it’s a small city and it’s very unlikely that you don’t meet the people that share the same passion for music as yourself. We recognised very quickly that we should make music together, he is good in things that I am not good in, and vice versa. He is more the technical part as I am more the composing and lyrical one.
Who are your musical influences?
When I grew up, I listened to all the bands my brother was into. My first concert I ever went to was Oasis in the late 90s, I think I was 11 or 12 years old. Shortly after that I became obsessed with acts like Radiohead, PJ Harvey and Nirvana, later with Elliott Smith and some German bands like The Notwist and Tocotronic. To name only a very few.
Can you tell us about your new single “The Blame Game”?
Winston was sending over some chords and vocals, which Paul and I fell in love with, and so we started to produce the track. It was the first song we started with for the new album. We finished the track together in Vienna, it was a very intense and productive time, as we had a very strict deadline for the album. When we started with “The Blame Game” we thought we want to do only an EP, but then we decided to make a whole album, but the deadline stayed the same as for the EP. Yeah, so we had quiet a lot to do.
“The Blame Game” is the first track from your new album SILK. Can you tell us about the new album?
18 months ago, we got an email from Winston. Paul and I thought that it was a fake email and we didn‘t take it too seriously at first. It said that he liked our music and that he wanted to visit us in Vienna and produce some music. Fast forward 18 months and we are proud that we have made it. It was not that easy as we all have very strict tour schedules, but we found a way, because we all love the music so much.