Ample House on “Regress” and Growing Up in Public

Glasgow-based indie trio Ample House have carved out a reputation for big-hearted anthems that hit like late-night confessions. Their third single, “Regress”, is their most emotionally charged yet: a soaring, guitar-driven release that pulls between hushed vulnerability and cathartic release. Self-produced and steeped in the band’s signature dynamic contrasts, it captures the uneasy beauty of stepping back to move forward. Fresh from raucous sets at King Tut’s and Tenement Trail and riding a wave of Scottish buzz, Ample House are proving why their brand of reflective indie rock resonates well beyond their North East roots.

“Regress” feels both cathartic and vulnerable — what was the turning point that made you want to explore stepping back instead of pushing forward in this song?

 I think the turning point came from realising that “moving forward” doesn’t always mean growth. Sometimes stepping back and sitting with old memories can be just as important. With Regress, we wanted to capture that feeling of letting yourself revisit things you maybe thought you’d left behind, realising they still shape who you are now. It’s not about being stuck in the past, but more about accepting it and letting that acceptance feel like progress in itself. For me, writing the song was almost like a release - a way of saying it’s okay to pause, to reflect and to not always be chasing the next version of yourself. It’s not all doom and gloom either - there’s something positive in finding that space, it can give you a clearer way forward once you’ve made peace with it.

Your influences range from Arcade Fire to Palace to FINNEAS — where do you hear those threads coming through most clearly in this new track?

The influences come through most in the dynamics of the track. When it swells, there’s that big, layered sound with guitars and drums pushing forward together, giving it that anthemic, expansive feel. Then it pulls right back into softer, exposed sections where the vocals almost sit on their own, bringing a sense of intimacy. The balance between those two extremes - letting a song breathe quietly then opening up into something much larger - is really what shapes the track. Regress felt like the perfect track to lean into that contrast and it ended up becoming a real blend of all our influences together.

You’ve produced and recorded the single yourselves — how does that DIY control shape the final sound compared to working with an outside producer?

It’s just how we’ve done things from the start. It’s worked for us so far and it’s one of those practices where the longer you stick with something, the more personal everything becomes. Every time we sit down to work on something new, we end up exploring vulnerabilities that wouldn’t come out in a strict studio schedule. We totally get what outside producers or co-writing can bring, there are plenty we’d love to work with in the future. But for now, this feels like the most honest way for us to make music.

 From King Tut’s to Tenement Trail, you’re building a reputation on Scotland’s live circuit. How does playing live in Glasgow’s scene feed back into your songwriting?

Playing live in Glasgow, whether it’s King Tut’s, Tenement Trail or intimate stripped back gigs is honestly what keeps us going. Seeing people turn up to our shows, singing along, showing support - that energy is massive for us. It pushes us to keep going, experiment and think differently about the next songs we write. Being in a position to play these incredible venues and festivals is something we don’t take for granted at all. So at the end of the day, it’s simply the support we get from playing our stuff live and feeling that connection that feeds back into our songwriting.

 There’s a theme of self-reflection running through your releases — “Better Person,” “Good Health,” and now “Regress.” Do you see Ample House’s music as a kind of ongoing journal of coming-of-age?

 In a way, yes, but it’s never really structured in that way - the songs go in whatever direction reflects the feeling at the time of writing. Truth is, there’s a lot of points to discuss or write about when navigating your 20s, But the more reflective side has felt right for our music so far. Even in recent writing, I feel a pull from the past - maybe I just need to experience more or touch some grass. But It feels important to be honest in the music, to sing about what’s on my mind and how things shift over time. I like the idea of calling it “coming-of-age,” because there’s always a sense of growth in the process. Even in the more vulnerable or difficult moments, There’s always something hopeful to hold onto - something for someone else to latch onto…