Interpol dive into grief and heartbreak on new single 'Gran Hotel'

Interpol have released an emotionally rich new cut from their upcoming seventh album The Other Side Of Make-Believe, titled 'Gran Hotel'.

The track follows on from ‘Toni’, ‘Something Changed’ and ‘Fables’ and “the lyrics to ‘Gran Hotel’ tell a story of grief and heartbreak, of a character processing loss" - according to frontman Paul Banks.

Ex Dum Dum Girls member Malia James helmed the accompanying video for the Interpol track.

"Working with a fantastic camera crew and with the help of two very talented actors, Malia created a powerful video that conveys the events that lead to that loss. It’s a work of art filled with mood and colour that we are very proud to share with you,” said Banks.

The Other Side Of Make-Believe lands on Friday, July 15 and has been described by Banks as “super fucking different” and being “imbued with pastoral longing and newfound grace”. The Manhattan band wrote and recorded most of it remotely throughout 2020.

To celebrate the launch of their seventh studio album, Interpol are set to launch a new global exhibition and pop-up shop. ‘Big Shot City’ will run from July 15-17 in London, taking place simultaneously in Los Angeles, New York, Mexico City and Tokyo.

Alongside the London ‘Big Shot City’ exhibition, the band will play a three-day run of sold out album release shows across the city.

Formed in 1997, the NYC rockers' original line-up consisted of Paul Banks (lead vocals, rhythm guitar), Daniel Kessler (lead guitar, backing vocals), Carlos Dengler (bass guitar, keyboards), and Greg Drudy (drums). Drudy left the band in 2000 and was replaced by Sam Fogarino.

Dengler left to pursue other projects in 2010, with Banks taking on the additional role of bassist rather than hiring a new one.

Check out the video for ‘Gran Hotel’ below.

Revisit Interpol's 2018 Hot Press interview here.