Hailing from Germany, Giant Rooks have cemented themselves as a powerhouse in the German indie-rock scene and beyond. Renowned for their electrifying performances and captivating collaborations, the band’s rise has captured the hearts of millions.
Giant Rooks’ fanbase has undoubtedly expanded globally within the past few years. Their music resonates deeply with audiences across the globe, connecting with listeners from all walks of life in Germany and beyond.
Comprised of Frederik Rabe (vocals, guitar), Finn Schwieters (guitar), Luca Göttner (bass), Jonathan Wischniowski (keys), and Finn Thomas (drums), Giant Rooks began their musical journey in 2015. Since then, the band has achieved over 200 million streams on their debut record, Rookery (2020), toured the world, and sold out hundreds of shows, expanding themselves larger than the German indie-rock scene.
Marking the release of their sophomore record, How Have You Been?, in February, the quintet completes the North American leg of their extensive five-month headlining tour next week in Dallas, Texas. Wasting no time, the band will be joining in support of Louis Tomlinson’s “Faith in The Future” tour across Latin America. This return to the road was not unfamiliar, as they had previously supported the cherished singer-songwriter in the States for a handful of shows last year.
Renowned for their electrifying and infamous rendition of “Tom’s Diner” and captivating collaborations with rock band AnnenMayKantereit, Giant Rooks have surged into the spotlight, garnering the admiration of millions. Their journey has been nothing short of meteoric, marked by a trail of successes and a growing fanbase.
Amidst this whirlwind of acclaim, The Knockturnal had the privilege of sitting down with band members Frederik Rabe and Finn Schwieters. Our chat occurred just hours before their highly anticipated second sold-out performance at Brooklyn’s historic Warsaw music venue.
As we arrived, we were greeted by hundreds of eager fans who had eagerly queued for hours before the show, their excitement palpable as they awaited the opening of the doors. Kicking off the show in advance of Giant Rooks, the support act and pop-alternative band Friedberg, consisting of Anna Friedberg (vocals, guitar), Emily Linden (guitar), Laura Williams (drums), and Cheryl Pinero (bass) electrified the stage, garnering hundreds of supporters that night.
Enveloped by a sea of devoted fangirls, I took note of how each fan was clutching sunflowers as a homage to the band’s ethereal anthem, “Pink Skies.” These floral tributes were eagerly thrown onto the stage during the performance of the song, spreading so much love and admiration for the band in front of them.
With two successful studio albums up their sleeves, Giant Rooks’ future is promising in the music industry.
Check out the full interview and photo gallery from the show below!
THE KNOCKTURNAL: Being that you’re in a band, you all have so many different musical inspirations, your first concert experiences, your first music experiences. Who do you think inspired you all collectively, or do you have any inspirations that inspired you all collectively as a band to this sound for this new album?
THE KNOCKTURNAL: I read that you guys wrote about 100 songs for this record. Given that you’re all musicians with so many different tastes in music and artists, how do you select and finalize 14 songs that represent you guys sonically and cohesively as a band?
THE KNOCKTURNAL: How do you build a setlist? Fans have their fan favorites. There’s always debate online about what songs are going to be played. How do you guys pick the perfect tour setlist, given that you have a new album out, your older music, and your fan favorites?
THE KNOCKTURNAL: For each show, you wanted to change it?
THE KNOCKTURNAL: How do you make sure that your performances stay exciting and creatively satisfying for you guys on stage while singing these familiar songs every night?
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