As one-fifth of Grouplove, the L.A.-based band behind the hit singles "Colours," "Tongue Tied," and "Ways to Go," Hannah Hooper has being going non-stop since the group's Spreading Rumors tour kicked off three weeks ago. Hooper—along with bandmates Andrew Wessen, Ryan Rabin, Sean Gadd, and her boyfriend, Grouplove's lead singer, Christian Zucconi—has really been operating at a break-neck speed ever since the group got their first big break in 2011 with their debut album, Never Trust a Happy Song.
But, while we're big fans of the music, the one thing we can't get over is Hooper's next-level bodysuit game. From bold leopard print to full-on lace, the skintight onesies have become part of her signature look. Her growing collection of suits are the perfect sexy-meets-comfy outfit choice, Hooper says. But most importantly, they allow for some epic, stress-free headbanging.
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Before Grouplove makes a pit stop at Coachella this weekend, Hooper took a moment to talk to us about being Lady Grouplove, what's next for the band, and the story behind those fantastic onesies.
What's it like being the one woman on tour with all these guys?
It's really fun. We're touring right now with MS MR and they totally have a girled-out crew, so it's nice to have some girls around. It's a totally different change of pace because we've really only been touring with guys. On our bus it's just me and 11 guys, which is crazy. But I feel this friendship role, and girlfriend, and motherly role. I feel like I get a bit of respect from the guys with a kind of female wisdom, which is awesome. They turn to me a lot for advice on girls and clothes. We're a big family. I have a special place as a girl. It's a good place.
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Do you have a favorite song to perform live?
It changes a lot, but it's really been "Borderlines and Aliens," for this tour. A lot of it is that it starts off our encore and I do a lot of headbanging. There's something really expressive about the song onstage. I really relate to it where I'm at right now. "Borderlines and Aliens" just has a heaviness that I identify with right now.
There's so much energy that goes into every show with all that headbanging, and I imagine that you bring it every time. How do you keep up with that for all these cities?
I don't know. I think it has a lot to do with the audience and the sheer energy. It's a mix between adrenaline, fear, and excitement, and when you get out on stage and see all those people, it launches me into superhero Hannah.
So what's next? Are you recording or writing?
We're always writing. I think that's what keeps us so tight as a unit; we write on the road. We obviously go out, but a lot of nights, we kind of campfire style on the bus or in a parking lot, writing music, which keeps us having a communal vibe.
You wear some amazing bodysuits during your shows. How do you pick what you wear and how do you find them?
It's so random when I find them and I wish it was like some crazy designer that I discovered that I could shout out, but it's much more these kind of stripper online sites. Really low budget, low quality. It's taken me a couple years to understand, but the bodysuit is sexy and still covers me up, so I feel comfortable to really rock out when I'm wearing one. I'm not worried about a dress flying up or something ripping. I wore jeans for a while and they weren't comfortable. I slowly made my way into these spandex netted onesies. I wear them with sneakers—if you wear them with heels you kind of look like a prostitute. There's something really liberating about them; I feel almost like a superhero. It's become my thing I guess.
When you're preparing to go on tour how do you even go about packing?
I used to pack so much stuff; it was like I was moving every time I went on tour. Then I learned that the most important thing is that I have show clothes, four or five outfits. When I wore the skully suit [her signature skeleton bodysuit], I just brought that. And then I bring cute, comfy clothes, which is so L.A.
And you have the belt that pulls it all together.
The belt dresses it up! I really didn't do it on purpose, and praise to all the girls who do wear onesies or leotards, but I think they're just sexy and easily packable. It simplifies. There's so much that goes into a show, particularly for girls. What you're wearing, for me at least, can determine how the show goes. We do 90 minutes up there. I don't want anything popping out.
Well have you seen what Miley Cyrus wears on tour?
Yes I have, oh my god. I put a bodysuit over the bathing suit in case anything happens. I am impressed with her skills—she must glue those to her or something. I would expect it to like roll in, I would expect it to reveal areas.
If you see anymore bodysuits send them my way. I want to put the word out—I mean I went to Parsons in New York, I would love to link up with fashion students to see what they would design. Just make some crazy, amazing outfits…I end up going to kind of like club shops. Like they're either Halloween costumes or burlesque shops.
I hope some Parsons students read this and send you some crazy outfits.
Like 'Project Runway,' they do a special one for Lady Grouplove, and they would be like, 'Who?'
I think we should do this, I'm not joking.
I'm not kidding; I would be overjoyed. I will wear anything as long as it's a bodysuit. No daisy dukes, especially if the top is separated from the bottom, I've had a lot of tops fall off. That's how I'm wear I'm at now. If we do a bodysuit, I would be so down. So, if you're an aspiring bodysuit designer, get thee to Instagram and tag a look you'd create for Hannah to wear with #dressladygrouplove. Just stay away from 1991-level thongs.
