Genevieve Libien is a singer-songwriter and guitarist from Denver, Colorado. She writes in an indie pop/pop alternative style about lesbianity, mental illness, and other musings, taking lyrical inspiration from literature and real-life experiences. She is influenced by Hozier, King Princess, and Taylor Swift.

Sad House Guest makes music because nothing else makes sense.

We are an indie-rock band based in the midwest with roots in Fargo, Minneapolis, Eau Claire, and Chicago. After gigging for a number of years as “Samuel Stein”, the name Sad House Guest was born about year into the pandemic to encompass our new fuller and ambitious sound. Our inspiration comes from popular bands such as The Front Bottoms, Death Cab for Cutie, Hippo Campus, Pinegrove, and Slaughter Beach, Dog as well as influences from jam bands, blues, and indie-folk/bluegrass. Our lyrics revolve around topics such as anxiety, hanging out with friends, and everything in-between. We have released two EPs since the birth of our new name (inspired by a line in “Fantastic Mr. Fox”). The first is Bugs in My Brain which was recorded during the pandemic and features 3 basement pop tunes followed by 2 slow folksy tunes. The second EP, Electric Veins, features the full band on 5 representative songs. Our live shows feature energetic playing, improvisation, and covers of 2010s anthems at any dive bar, basement, porch, brewery, winery, or garage. 

In fall 2022 we toured both EPs all over the midwest from Chicago to Fargo. During this tour we also performed a collection of songs which would eventually become our first full-length album “Can I Make This Lighthearted?”​

“The question that always comes up no matter what mood arrives and what I’m writing about is “Can I make this lighthearted?”. Half these songs are about love, whether it be romance, jealousy, infatuation, or just being with friends. Can I make love lighthearted? Well, yes. It seems obvious but I’ve had to learn to accept the goodness in these things rather than dwelling on the anxiety of them. A few songs, like tracks three and five, are a lot darker and deal with heavier topics. Can I make those things lighthearted? Well, no. Not right away. First I have to deal with them head on and come to terms with the feelings they bring. Only then am I able to sing about them while maintaining an overall sense of lightheartedness. We hope these ten songs strike some sort of chord with you, whatever that chord may be… probably a G chord, half these songs are in the key of G.”

-Samuel on the album concept, more about individual songs below. 

Thank you for listening.