London Grammar is an indie pop band from England that formed in Nottingham back in 2009. The group, comprised of members Hannah Reid, Dan Rothman, and Dominic “Dot” Major, gained early recognition with their debut extended play, Metal & Dust, which Metal & Dust Recordings released in February 2013. Just a few months later, in September of the same year, their debut album, If You Wait, hit the shelves and quickly climbed to No. 2 on the UK Albums Chart. The British Phonographic Industry (BPI) certified it as Double Platinum.
In June 2017, London Grammar released their second studio album, Truth Is a Beautiful Thing, which achieved even greater success, securing the top spot on the UK Albums Chart. Their most recent album, Californian Soil, hit the shelves on 16 April 2021 and became their second consecutive No. 1 album in the United Kingdom.
Hannah Reid, the band’s vocalist, and Dan Rothman, the guitarist, both hail from London and crossed paths in 2009 at the University of Nottingham’s Ancaster Hall student residence. Rothman noticed Reid’s guitar skills and reached out to collaborate, and later they were joined by Dominic “Dot” Major from Northampton, who brought his keyboard, djembe, and drums skills to the mix. They chose the name “London Grammar” as it reflected their origin and conveyed the universal spirit of London’s diverse culture.
After completing their studies in mid-2010, the trio relocated to London to pursue their music career. Conor Wheeler started managing the band by the end of the year, promoting them through low-key gigs at local bars to refine their material. Their exceptional talent caught the attention of A&R representatives, leading to a contract with the Ministry of Sound, with Big Life assuming management duties in the latter half of 2013. During that time, they collaborated with notable producers like Rollo Armstrong of Faithless, Liam Howe of Sneaker Pimps, Tim Bran of Dreadzone, and Roy Kerr.
Their EP Metal & Dust garnered considerable interest and airplay on national radio, with the single “Wasting My Young Years” reaching No. 31 on the UK Singles Chart. London Grammar also featured on Disclosure’s album Settle with the track “Help Me Lose My Mind.” The band’s success extended beyond the UK, performing at ten European music festivals in the summer of 2013.
London Grammar faced some controversy in September 2013 when a Twitter post about vocalist Hannah Reid on Radio 1 Breakfast Show received criticism for being sexist. Despite the backlash, the band chose to stay out of the dispute. In the same year, they released their hit single “Strong,” which reached No. 16 on the UK Singles Chart and was later featured in the American TV series “Reckless.”
The band’s debut studio album, If You Wait, was released in September 2013, peaking at No. 2 on the UK Albums Chart and receiving recognition on various international charts. They also performed on Late Night with Jimmy Fallon, marking their debut on American television.
In 2014, London Grammar won an Ivor Novello Award for “Strong” and received two AIM Independent Music Awards – “Independent Breakthrough of the Year” and “PPL Award for Most Played New Independent Act.”
Their song “Hey Now” (The Shoes remix) was featured in an advertisement campaign for J’Adore by French fashion house Dior in September 2014.
As of the 2016 acquisition of Ministry of Sound Recordings by Sony Music, London Grammar’s music is distributed by Universal Music Group worldwide, with Because Music handling distribution in France.
