Grandmas House, a band formed by three friends during their university years in London, has released their debut album, Baby You’re A Winner. The trio—Yasmin Berndt, Poppy Dodgson, and Zoe Zinsmeister—initially had no prior musical experience, with Dodgson and Zinsmeister studying fine art and Berndt pursuing film. Their journey into music began unexpectedly, fueled by a shared passion for the burgeoning left-field guitar scene in the capital and inspired by seeing other women performing in bands.
An Unplanned Musical Beginning
The formation of Grandmas House was a serendipitous outcome of university life. Meeting in their first year, Berndt, Dodgson, and Zinsmeister found common ground in their appreciation for the vibrant London music scene, even though none had formal musical training. Dodgson recalls a pivotal moment watching The Big Moon perform at Kingston’s Banquet Records. “It was seeing other women in bands. That was our oh-my-god moment – we can do this,” she stated. This realization spurred them into action. Dodgson decided to learn the drums, initially practicing with stacked cardboard boxes in her university room before acquiring a secondhand drum kit. Berndt dusted off her childhood guitar, and Zinsmeister, initially studying fine art, would later learn bass guitar on short notice for a significant gig.
From London to Bristol: Building a Sound
After completing their studies, the band relocated to Bristol, a city also experiencing a surge in musical talent with bands like IDLES gaining prominence. Grandmas House began performing in local venues, eventually expanding to include a second guitarist, Polly Jessett. Jessett, who was playing in another band, first encountered Grandmas House performing upstairs at the same venue where her own band was playing. “As soon as our set finished, theirs started, so I ran upstairs to watch. I’d heard their name around before,” she explained. This organic growth and collaborative spirit became the bedrock of the band’s identity, distinguishing them from a typical origin story.
DIY Ethos and Collaborative Creation
The band’s self-taught approach to music, devoid of formal training, fostered a unique collaborative process. “We’re all self taught. Music theory was not even in our orbit,” Dodgson commented. Instead of rebelling against established rules, they learned by listening intently to each other. “We all learnt just from playing with each other and going off of each other’s energy. It sounds cliché, but our sound came from just exploring our instruments together, sat in a room together,” Zinsmeister elaborated, with Jessett adding that playing live was also crucial to their development.
Their very first performance was a 15-minute set at Bristol’s The Thunderbolt, a gig they were offered after merely mentioning they had started writing songs. Despite initial nerves and imposter syndrome, the experience proved invaluable. “We were so nervous, but you just have to play live and see how it feels. That helped so much with learning. The nerves make us better players anyway,” they noted.
Baby You’re A Winner: A Sonic Evolution
Years later, the intimate collaborative energy that defined their early days now fills larger stages, from opening for IDLES in Athens to performing at SXSW. This principle of four friends in a room, listening and creating, remains central to their process, even in the studio. Their debut album, Baby You’re A Winner, produced by Ali Chant, is the culmination of intense work, with the band sometimes completing a song a day. The recording sessions allowed them to deconstruct and refine their existing material, revisiting earlier ideas with fresh perspectives.
The album is characterized by its recognizable Grandmas House sound—gritty guitars and dynamic drumming—but elevated by Chant’s meticulous production. Tracks like “DOG” showcase the band’s aggressive edge with driving guitars and sharp vocals, while “Spring” offers a more melodic and atmospheric conclusion, featuring lush harmonies and a mellow riff. The album navigates a dynamic range, shifting between distortion and harmony, momentum and space, allowing each song to breathe.
Navigating Challenges and Artistic Growth
Poppy Dodgson’s personal health struggles, including a prolonged period of illness due to Topical Steroid Withdrawal and family bereavements, significantly influenced the album’s creation. “I was in a mentally tough place; it was a crazy time. I couldn’t drum and I knew that I couldn’t not keep doing the band because we’d worked so hard,” she explained. The pressure to maintain momentum in a fast-paced industry, even when physically unable to, led to some team members departing. “It heavily influenced the direction of the album,” Dodgson added.
Despite these challenges, Baby You’re A Winner is far from solely defined by hardship. It is a rich tapestry of emotions, encompassing love, grief, loss, infatuation, frustration, and enduring friendship. Dodgson observes, “If you sit and listen to the album from the start, you can hear us progressing.” Berndt concurs, stating, “We’re still very much connected to our earlier music, but this album feels the most like us. It’s how we want to sound. This is Grandmas House.” The band sees the album as a testament to their growth and their ability to capture their desired sound, a rare continuity across their EPs.
A Future Forged Together
The same experimental spirit that fueled their early days continues to drive the band. “We put everything there,” Dodgson shared, reflecting on the album’s emotional honesty. “It’s really what we were feeling as we wrote it with all the different subjects of what we were going through. We’re so proud of it. It feels really surreal that it’s here.” The members emphasize the importance of mutual support, with Berndt adding, “And each other’s.” Nearly a decade after learning their instruments together, Grandmas House continues to evolve, driven by collaboration and a shared vision.
