- 12 minutes ago
Greta Van Fleet sit down with Billboard News to talk their first new music in three years—“Saw You Stand” and "Play Your Games," what it felt like to step away, reset, and come back “full steam.” The band also addresses the fan theory about a double album, breaks down the vision for “Palace for the People,” and explains how travel, cultures, and world rhythms shaped their next era.
They share what it was like making the album with producer Mike Elizondo in Tennessee, why it came together fast (for them), and how bringing in specialist musicians (strings, brass, percussion, and more) expanded their sound. Plus: the joy of returning to smaller rooms, what touring the album will look like, and a chaotic rapid-fire round.
They share what it was like making the album with producer Mike Elizondo in Tennessee, why it came together fast (for them), and how bringing in specialist musicians (strings, brass, percussion, and more) expanded their sound. Plus: the joy of returning to smaller rooms, what touring the album will look like, and a chaotic rapid-fire round.
Category
🎵
MusicTranscript
00:00Well, that's the rumor, the fan theory, right?
00:03That there could be a double album.
00:04Is there anything?
00:05Really?
00:06Would you like to speak to that rumor, debunk, or otherwise?
00:09Hello, we're Greta Van Fleet, and you're watching Billboard News.
00:18Gentlemen, thank you for coming in.
00:20And it's so wonderful to see you back, generally.
00:24And so I would like to start there.
00:25You have recently released two new singles, Saw You Stand.
00:30Saw You Stand.
00:35And Play Your Games.
00:42And this is your first new music in three years.
00:45And so how has it felt having just fresh music out in the world?
00:50You know, we took a break.
00:52We couldn't handle each other anymore.
00:54No, we definitely had to take some time off after all the wildness.
00:58The intense tour.
01:00Everything in moderation, right?
01:01But no, we're back, and we're coming back full steam, and it's a lot of fun.
01:07The descent into madness.
01:08Like, was that real?
01:09Like, did you actually really need to take a break?
01:11Yes.
01:12A little bit, yeah.
01:13Say more about that.
01:14With Greta Van Fleet, you know, we were teenagers, really.
01:16When we sort of, like, you know, had departed from Michigan, which is, you know, we grew up,
01:21were born and raised, you know.
01:22And we were teenagers, and it sort of happened quite immediately, you know.
01:27It was just sort of, like, struck by some form of electric violence or something, and off
01:32we were shot.
01:33And I think we really did get to a point which was quite intentional for us to go,
01:37all right, let's take a break.
01:39How did you know that it was time to get together and start making music again?
01:43We didn't.
01:45We just got too damn bored.
01:47Is that the reality?
01:49I mean, what do you guys think?
01:50I felt like I was losing my mind.
01:52Yeah.
01:52When it comes down to it, yeah, it was like, we don't know what to do with ourselves,
01:55you know what I mean?
01:56It was like, there was a point where it was just, like, we, you know, because when we're
02:00off tour, we don't really, we maybe don't see each other as much, you know.
02:03There's a bit of space, and there was a bit of time where everybody sort of attempts to
02:08live their life in a certain way, you know, or find a sense of, you know, individual-ness
02:16in that.
02:17And I think we started just sort of texting, calling each other, like, what are you doing?
02:21What's going on with you?
02:22I was like, it was like a couple weeks later, and it was like, hey, that would be a smashing
02:26idea.
02:26As if we were to do a record.
02:29And I was like, yeah, that's what we should do.
02:30It was instantaneous.
02:31It was a funny thing.
02:31It was pretty quick, but to Sam's point, it was like, yeah, we were just sort of restless.
02:35It was like, this is what we do.
02:36This is what we are.
02:37We kind of had the idea of Palace for the People before we took the break, so we kind of
02:41knew where we were going or what we were writing.
02:44Tell me where you were going.
02:45Like, what does this album do to kind of expand your sonic universe?
02:50Like, where is the place?
02:51Explore with different rhythms, explore with different sounds of the world, places we've
02:56been, things we've experienced over all the touring and all of that.
03:00I think it was our sort of experience seeing different people, places, cultures, ideas,
03:07philosophies that we became very much in love with the world.
03:09In many ways, Palace for the People was going to be a love letter to those faces we'd seen
03:14and the cultures we'd experienced and the ideas we'd inhabited, that sort of thing.
03:20Well, I love, as you're saying, too, it's a love letter to the world.
03:23You went out and saw the world.
03:24You're writing a love letter back to the world.
03:26You're going to generate more love, more experiences through that project.
03:29And it's just this feedback loop that you guys are now in.
03:32It's a really beautiful thing.
03:33I would love to get a little bit more specific with where you made it.
03:37Tell me about just this recession.
03:39We don't remember.
03:40Someone has a memory.
03:42I know.
03:42One of you.
03:43It was actually really funny because we were saying, like, you know, we should go abroad
03:47to make this record.
03:48We should go to, like, Jamaica or, like, England.
03:51We were going to Nassau.
03:52Nassau, I think.
03:53Nassau.
03:54Was one of those.
03:54But then we met...
03:55We were all sort of, like, in Nashville.
03:59Yeah.
03:59Then we met Mike Elizondo.
04:02And Mike Elizondo has a studio in Gallatin, Tennessee.
04:04Not Nassau.
04:05Which is right outside of Nashville.
04:08That was exotic.
04:09Yeah.
04:10We met him and we fell in love with Mike.
04:12And we knew he was the right guy to make the record.
04:15And so we ended up recording it right outside of Nashville, right on home grounds.
04:20Yeah.
04:21How long did it take you to make?
04:23Hmm.
04:23Four weeks, man.
04:24Record short.
04:25Which is record short for us.
04:27I was going to say, that's more condensed than typical.
04:30Okay.
04:30We also had a lot of material left over.
04:33Or not left over.
04:34Just the stuff that we didn't want to put on this particular record.
04:36When you were arranging a thing.
04:38We made a lot of stuff.
04:39We made a lot of music.
04:40Well, I think it's interesting, you know.
04:42Because when we start to create, it's very difficult for anybody to stop us, you know,
04:48in that way.
04:48It's like a...
04:49Because what happens is it's just a force that's playing out.
04:52And there's this sort of frenetic kind of wildness that's like, just, this is what we're doing.
04:58And we're in that mode.
04:59That's the mode.
04:59We live it.
05:00And then we're breathing it.
05:01And we're existing in it.
05:02And so with Palace of the People, it was like that.
05:05You know, we were in the studio out in the countryside.
05:07And it was like, there was so much material coming about that, yeah, the record was made
05:13in a very, very short period of time, very quickly.
05:15And there was so much material left over from that, you know, that who knows.
05:20Well, that's the rumor, the fan theory, right?
05:23That there could be a double album.
05:24Is there anything...
05:25Oh, really?
05:26Would you like to speak to that rumor, debunk or otherwise?
05:29No.
05:30You know, I see where they got that.
05:31I don't think so.
05:32I see where they got that from.
05:33It's difficult enough doing one record, you know what I mean?
05:36To record one.
05:37Sure, but it sounds like you have a lot, as you're saying.
05:39We do have a lot of material.
05:40There's a lot of material, but there's always been...
05:41We're always writing.
05:42We're always writing.
05:42Yeah, but there's always been a lot of material in it.
05:44Okay.
05:45There's an arsenal in it.
05:46We'll leave it there.
05:47Unless there's something else you want to say.
05:48No.
05:49Go ahead.
05:51Okay, so how does this project expand on what you guys have done already with, you know,
05:55your previous albums and all of your music?
05:57Well, expand is a good word because it's always like some kind of evolution.
06:02In terms of our records, it's never abandoning an idea.
06:06It's building on it, you know?
06:08What's the point of doing another record if we're not, like, one-upping ourselves?
06:12I think that we're going somewhere else.
06:15Yeah, I think that was a natural evolution for us because I think...
06:18I would say one major thing that I believe differentiates this record from any that we've
06:24made previously is that we've gone into territories that we've never gone before.
06:28We were using, like, you know, all kinds of music, world music, cultural music.
06:33We were listening to Kuali and Sufi music from India and ancient Eastern European folk music
06:38and sort of that sort of contrast of things.
06:41We were filtering that type of music and, therefore, we were using those types of instruments
06:47and bringing all kinds of collaborations in, which we haven't done on previous records either.
06:51I mean, I think it's probably important to say that, you know, in some ways,
06:54we've played everything on our records and this may also be the first time we've brought in specialists.
06:58We had string players and brass players, beautiful instrumentalists
07:02that could achieve some of those sounds that we were looking for.
07:04Air Who players and...
07:05We had a Chennai player and we brought in a percussionist.
07:09That had to be exciting because your sound is already so big and grand.
07:13Well, Mike actually put this, you know, because historically we've done all of our albums,
07:18the four of us, and that's it, essentially, you know, with some exception of some strings here and there.
07:22But he kind of brought it to the table with this idea that, you know, you're bringing in someone else's
07:27DNA
07:27that can achieve something that is impossible for you to achieve.
07:31Therefore, it becomes this thing that's larger than life itself.
07:34You know, it's a sound that you cannot be recreated again because it's just the DNA of all of you
07:38people
07:39coming together at once.
07:40And it sounds like you found that to be true.
07:42And it was very true.
07:43Yeah. Yeah.
07:43We had a lot of trust in Mike.
07:44You made the album.
07:45And I know that you did some smaller shows recently and performed.
07:48Yeah.
07:48And it had been a minute since you had been in front of an audience.
07:50How did that feel?
07:51Like riding a bicycle.
07:53Like foreplay.
07:53Oh my god, it was amazing.
07:56A bit like foreplay riding a bicycle.
07:57It was like sex.
08:00The venues we haven't seen in a very long time.
08:02Yeah.
08:03The Bowery for Existence kicked off the year.
08:05And it was a venue that we had played in our first year of touring as a band.
08:08So it was pretty cool almost ten years later to come back with the fifth album and to be able
08:13to be on that stage again
08:14but with a whole new discography and a whole new fan base, you know.
08:18And as different people that have seen a lot of things around the world and experienced a lot of things
08:22amongst ourselves.
08:23So that was pretty special.
08:25I know.
08:26I personally felt very special.
08:27It was special.
08:27It felt like we were a rock and roll band again as well.
08:29And also being right up next to the audience and the connection and seeing the faces is so powerful.
08:35Yeah.
08:35And it's very strange because an arena is a very different venue than a club.
08:39And a club, of course, is something magical there that you can't necessarily recreate in an arena venue.
08:46It's like this intimacy.
08:48It's been really lovely to reconnect on that human level in these clubs.
09:00What are the plans for the tour with this album?
09:03We're going to tour and we're going to tour a good bit.
09:07Let's just say a lot.
09:09How can you write a love letter to the world and not tour the entire thing?
09:12Sure.
09:12You have to take it out to the world.
09:13Well, can you imagine how crazy we're going without touring for this long?
09:17Well, no.
09:18I actually can't because I'm not a rock star.
09:20So how crazy are you all going?
09:21No.
09:21We like to move.
09:22We like to go place to place to place.
09:24We like to travel a lot.
09:26So, yes.
09:27It's going to be amazing when we get back on the road.
09:28And it'll be relatively soon.
09:30And in terms of what you're actually going to be doing on stage, is anything going to change in terms
09:34of production?
09:35You mentioned you have all these instrumentalists on the album.
09:38Are they going to be with you?
09:40Perhaps.
09:40We don't know.
09:42We've had many conversations.
09:43I don't think so.
09:44We don't like repeating things we've done.
09:46But I think in terms of sounds, music, and presentation, we always like to sort of move in the forward
09:56direction and do new things.
09:58We'll be doing that for sure.
10:00I would say it's going to be the four of us for now someday.
10:03I'm sure we'll do some big string adaptation.
10:06We'll do a big symphonic thing because we all love that so much.
10:12How do you get ready to go out and be on the road?
10:16We don't.
10:17We don't know.
10:18I'm still there right now.
10:20You never left.
10:21That's easy.
10:22I've been talking to my therapist about it.
10:24The mental prep is so important, but I never do it.
10:28They strap us to a rocket and they light the fire.
10:30Have you ever been on a road trip and you don't really prepare for the road trip mentally?
10:35No.
10:35The road trip happens to you.
10:36You know what I'm talking about?
10:37Yeah.
10:37And you're just like, oh God, this is happening and it's going to be long and it's going to be
10:41this way.
10:42There's only so much that you can prepare for, I think.
10:45Because it's going to be arduous and axiomatic and crazy and shit.
10:52We've done it sort of enough.
10:53What you guys do is very singular.
10:55What will we do when it gets too loud?
10:59We're going to tear it down.
11:01Do you feel like you have musical peers right now?
11:04And if so, who are they?
11:06I mean, I'm certain we do.
11:08I'm going to say no.
11:10Yeah, there's always so many.
11:12Let's say more.
11:12To be honest, there's always so many artists.
11:15There's a lot of artists that we appreciate and love, like modern artists, but I don't think anybody's
11:20from an objective perspective, I would say no.
11:24What do you mean by peers?
11:26People that your music has connective tissue to, I would say.
11:30Very cool.
11:31Does it have to be of our generation?
11:34Yes.
11:35In the context of this question, yes.
11:38I...
11:38Led Zeppelin.
11:39Right.
11:40Next question.
11:42Yeah.
11:42Are they still there?
11:43No, I'm certain of it.
11:44I don't know.
11:45We're very unique.
11:47What we do isn't really something that other people are doing.
11:53There's a lot of artists doing a lot of unique things.
11:57We may be one of them.
11:59In terms of genre, there's a lot of great rock and roll groups.
12:05Incredible rock and roll groups.
12:07But I think it's because of the collaborative effort that is the four of us.
12:13The artistry that happens is rather unique to its time and place.
12:19I think retrospectively, we probably could say perhaps there is some sort of artistic connective tissue to contemporary groups.
12:27And there probably is, really.
12:29But nobody's, I don't think, doing what we're doing, nor are we doing what anyone else is doing.
12:33Well, I think to that point, it's like, the thing is, I think, you know, there's probably, again, there's a
12:42lot of brilliant rock and roll music.
12:43And I think in terms of the context of the question, I suppose, is like, yeah, there are peers of
12:51ours in the sense that I think, you know,
12:52that there are specific voices that are speaking for our generation and creating for our generation and forging the human
13:01history and the story forward, you know.
13:04But I think in this time specifically, which is quite unique, I think, in terms of musicality and influence and
13:11how that's presented,
13:13because we're no longer listening to the same records and we have access to everything.
13:17You know, this generation has access to every form of music, every genre of music.
13:21For better or for worse.
13:22For better or for worse, there's no limitations.
13:25I mean, you know, so I think in many sense that, yes, there are peers that we have that I
13:30think from, you know, I guess, social standpoint who are in rock and roll that are really doing things.
13:35But I think that from a, from just purely musical standpoint or creative standpoint, I suppose we're very different than
13:43a lot of our generation in terms of creation of that music, you know, and the presentation of it.
13:53That was fantastic.
13:55Should we also now do some silly questions about?
13:57Yes!
13:59We're going rapid fire.
14:01Some are this or that.
14:02Some.
14:03Just give the first answer.
14:04That pops into your head.
14:05True!
14:06Wrong.
14:06Shit.
14:08Wrong.
14:08E.T.
14:09Hometown dive or L.A. bar?
14:11L.A. bar.
14:13Dive.
14:14Dive.
14:15Dive.
14:16Diva.
14:17Diva.
14:18What does that mean?
14:19Oh.
14:19The Midwest or the coast?
14:20Midwest.
14:21Which coast?
14:23West.
14:25I've abandoned my roots, ladies and gentlemen.
14:27I go Midwest.
14:28Okay.
14:29All right.
14:30Hazy IPA or Pilsner?
14:31Hazy IPA.
14:32Hazy.
14:33Pilsner.
14:34Hazy IPA.
14:34Okay.
14:36Filming music videos or doing interviews?
14:39Music videos.
14:40Video.
14:40Sorry.
14:42You said it's up.
14:44There's a charge question.
14:45You know what you were getting your charge.
14:46I am genuinely curious.
14:48So, music videos.
14:50Music videos.
14:50Video.
14:51Golfing.
14:53Interviews, of course.
14:54Of course.
14:55Okay.
14:56On tour in the studio.
14:58Studio.
14:59Studio.
15:00That's tough.
15:01It is very tough.
15:02That is a tough one.
15:03I'm going to say...
15:04These are great.
15:05Would you rather be in drive or...
15:07The high of being on tour beats the highest of highs in the studio.
15:12So, I'm going to say tour.
15:13Okay.
15:13That makes sense.
15:14But the lowest of lows from tour is worse than the lowest of lows in the studio.
15:18Can I enforce my statement right here?
15:22Is that appropriate?
15:23Absolutely.
15:23Recording live albums?
15:24I will abstain from this one.
15:26She just likes recording live albums.
15:27Well, like Sam was saying, really...
15:29For the record, they're two different modes.
15:31They're very different.
15:32They're both beautiful.
15:33Really, I don't think I even said that much.
15:34That needs to be said.
15:35Yeah.
15:36First show of tour or last show of tour?
15:38Last.
15:40You're good at this.
15:41Sorry, I'm quick.
15:42Last.
15:43Last.
15:43Last.
15:44But not because it's over, but because that is when we are greased up.
15:48We're locked in.
15:49It just feels so second natured that you're not thinking about anything.
15:52It's beautiful.
15:53I go last.
15:55Song you'd most like to cover?
15:57Ooh.
15:58Four Non Blondes.
15:58What's the name of that?
15:59What's Up?
16:00What's Up?
16:01That one.
16:02Okay.
16:02Daniel.
16:03Although there's probably a lot.
16:05I literally have a whole playlist of songs I'd like to cover, but that one's...
16:09That's really tough, isn't it?
16:10White Flag by Dino.
16:12Jeez.
16:13Great.
16:14Frank Sinatra's New York, New York.
16:15Cool.
16:16Daniel.
16:16Daniel.
16:16I could sing the hell out of that.
16:18Mmm.
16:19This is so tough with the ass, man.
16:21I got the ass, man.
16:22Yeah, until you have to get all musical.
16:24Yes!
16:24Now you're right here.
16:25Bridge over troubled water.
16:26Nice.
16:27Very good.
16:28Can you do it better than Aretha?
16:30No.
16:30Probably not.
16:31Tree of Life.
16:31I could drive.
16:33Favorite fan theory about the band?
16:35We're going to break up.
16:36Yeah, it's mine too.
16:37Ooh, man.
16:37What is the question?
16:38Sorry.
16:38Favorite fan theory about the band?
16:40That does a volume two to this shit or something.
16:43That's how it ranges.
16:45It's trending.
16:45It's trending.
16:46What a crazy concept that it is.
16:48It's so funny.
16:49Probably that Josh perms his hair.
16:51Yeah, that's trending.
16:53Anything else you'd like to say?
16:55Believe it or not.
16:58Shockingly no.
17:01What?
17:01Is this the end of the interview?
17:03It can be.
17:04I'm giving you the option.
17:04Come on.
17:05Can you give us one more rapid fire?
17:07Dream artists to cover your song.
17:08Ooh.
17:09Adele.
17:09Good one.
17:10Wow.
17:11Consensus.
17:12Gentlemen?
17:13I saw you stand.
17:14I'd love to hear that.
17:15Hans Zimmer.
17:16Okay.
17:17Cool.
17:18A.R. Roman.
17:20Oh, yes.
17:21Brilliant.
17:21Any more?
17:22These are fun.
17:23Lake Michigan or Lake Superior?
17:25Michigan.
17:25Ooh.
17:26Michigan hands down.
17:27We were just in Chicago.
17:29That's a good question.
17:30We were playing a show there, and then we were on Lake Michigan, and we were thinking,
17:32it's something to hear that's not even like, I don't even think it's just about sentimental.
17:36There's something that like Lake Michigan is energy-wise.
17:40Mr. Coast.
17:40Yeah, it's true.
17:41Anybody.
17:42Let's go.
17:43Look, it's a puddle.
17:44It's going to be on the west coast.
17:47That's a paradox.
17:48In the midwest.
17:48The paradox of the west coast.
17:50Hypocrite.
17:50It's different, you know?
17:52Late night or early morning?
17:53Oof.
17:54Early morning.
17:54Late night, for sure.
17:56Early mornings are filled with too many hangovers.
17:59Daniel.
17:59I'm not inherently a morning person, but I do appreciate a morning more than a night.
18:03I go out in the morning and see the dolphins swimming.
18:06Sunrise is the best.
18:07Early morning golf.
18:08In Lake Michigan.
18:08When you wake up to it.
18:10Perfect.
18:11Early mornings hangover, late nights getting one, so yeah.
18:14Act of achieving is better in my opinion.
18:17Jurassic Park or Jaws?
18:18Jaws.
18:19Jurassic Park.
18:19Jaws.
18:20Okay.
18:21What about you?
18:22Classic cinema or modern cinema?
18:24I'll die on that.
18:24Oh, my God.
18:25Classic?
18:26Yeah.
18:27Good answer.
18:28Classic.
18:28I'll go classic.
18:29I'll die.
18:30Guys, what a pleasure.
18:33Hey!
18:33Hey, y'all.
18:35Wait, was this being filmed?
18:37Oh, no.
18:37Scrubbing the pudding.
18:38Oh, good luck.
18:39I don't think you had to get handled this.
18:43Really good.
18:46Yeah, so much fun.
18:47Yeah, I appreciate your...
18:48Very insightful.