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[H2] We will be profiling some of these businesses and organisations in a feature called 'Up Close in Cowbridge'.

[H2] This week, we're bringing you an interview with the father, son and daughter trio Last Band On Earth.

The last year of lockdowns and restrictions have seen us spending more time at home with our families than ever before.

While for some that might have meant more discord than before, one family living in Cowbridge has quite literally been living in harmony.

Meet Sebastian, Theo (age 12) and Gwenno (age 10) Elsenberg AKA The Last Band On Earth.

Together they've been recording music videos from their studio at home for their YouTube channel, where they've amassed over 95,000 views.

The Playroom

Sebastiaan is a self-employed musician, who until 15 years ago was making money playing gigs and functions.

"Slowly, we started when Theo got to about three, he started playing the guitar. So, we started making music together, and eventually Gwenno came along and as she grew up, she joined in," Sebastiaan told Nub News.

"We were we were doing kind of band practice every evening. Then I think we were at a picnic in and we started playing one of our songs, the three of us.

"One of mums from the families were there asked if I could do band practise with her children as well.

"That's how my next job started, which is doing band practise with children in my studio," he said.

For the last seven years, Sebastiaan has done just that. At The Playroom, children come in groups of three or four and learn to play pop songs together.

"So, it's not really a music lesson, because there's a lot of swapping around," Sebastiaan explained.

"It's best if children already have a different music lesson somewhere else, you know, that focuses on one instrument. Then they come in here into the studio, and, and we learn to play together.

"It's about playing the music they love with their mates, so they can get that 'aha' moment of understanding why their parents are making them practise piano.

"It helps them realise 'this is what it's for, so that I can play the music that I like, that I hear on the radio that I'm a fan of, together with my friends.'

"You see them playing and looking around the room going 'oh my god, this is amazing'.

"So, it's an auxiliary music lesson that complements the music lessons," he said.

The Last Band On Earth is born

Of course, when lockdown came into force Sebastiaan found his business, like so many others, unable to operate as usual. That's how Last Band On Earth officially formed.

"Much to their mortification!" Sebastiaan joked, nudging Theo and Gwenno.

"We were practising together, and then I can't remember why but we decided to film one song."

"I think it was so we could put stuff on the YouTube channel," said Gwenno.

One music video turned into two, and then into three…

"We were having quite a bit of fun planning them out," said Sebastiaan.

"The main thing that has kept momentum going is the YouTube channel."

"We get comments and likes from all over the world, so it's interesting to see what they think about our work.

"So now we're chasing the view count, we're a little hooked!"

With 630 subscribers and counting on the video platform, Last Band On Earth's covers get anywhere between 1,000 and 5,500 views on average, with their version of Hotel California reaching over 8,000 views.

"It's something to be proud of as a family," said Sebastiaan.

"It's not always easy, it is music after all. There have been times where we're bashing our heads against the wall.

"There's one song that makes us anxious to even think about now!"

The song in question is one of Gwenno's own compositions, which she enjoys creating: brainstorming lyrics and titles in her notebooks.

"It's fun. When we're trying to do something new, and then we do it. We can all play it and then it just sounds really good," Gwenno explained.

"It's fun when things change as well, and when we add new sounds."

Sebastiaan said Gwenno was needing less and less advice with song-writing, but she did confess her dad helped out with spelling now and again.

"The way she phrases sentences is one of her best quirks as a songwriter," Sebastiaan said of Gwenno.

"I have to pull myself back from 'correcting it', because it's not a correction I'd just be making you do it my way, when the way she does it is quite remarkable," he said.

"It's good to be able to play it together as well," said Theo.

"The fun part is that we are actually turning into a band," said Sebastiaan.

"I think that's what the YouTube channel shows, the development and how we deal with each song.

What does the future hold?

Looking forward to emerging from lockdown, Gwenno was excited about the prospect of playing live.

"I really want to play some gigs, and play our own songs," she said.

"We like to do songs that we like," said Sebastiaan, explaining how they pick which songs to cover.

"They also have to be playable, so that it brings out the best of our abilities.

"Something where we can do a good three-part harmony, three or four chords, and a part for drums, guitar and bass. That's the criteria.

"And we're beginning to settle on the instruments.

"Theo is coming into his own, and beginning to work out his own path.

"He's getting more adventurous with drum fills, and knows where to take the song up.

"His brain is more structural. He is the anchor of the group, that's his great skill.

"The best video we made so far is the Penny Lane/It's Getting Better mash-up.

"We were playing Penny Lane, and I started playing It's Getting Better, and before I knew it Theo had structured out the whole thing. I could tell he was thinking two or three seconds ahead.

"As soon as we came up to a point where we might change, to find out where it would change, Theo just did it organically," he said.

Right on cue, Theo and Gwenno began singing out the beat of their mash-up and nodding their heads along, illustrating how he made the connection.

"We can bounce ideas of each other," said Theo.

But of course, working with family members isn't always easy…

"That's something we haven't discussed yet though, sharing the credit and the money," Sebastiaan joked.

"I would share anyway!" Gwenno explained.

"I'd give a fourth to Theo, a fourth to Dad, a fourth to Mum, and keep the rest. Or maybe I'd keep half and you two share the rest," she said.

"We'd have to get the lawyers involved!" Sebastiaan concluded.

You can watch The Last Band on Earth's music videos on YouTube and Facebook .