Introducing // Theme Park

What’s in a comparison? Well, Local Natives will snap your hand off if you throw a Fleet Foxes or Grizzly Bear parallel their way and Editors once claimed that they weren’t fans of Interpol or Joy Division, much to the guffaws of everyone who’d heard one of their songs. The truth is, no artist is an entirely unique entity. Each and every one of us is inspired, be it unconsciously or explicitly, by those whose work we read, view or listen to.

Theme Park are charming in that they actually welcome those comparisons. ‘Milk’, claims almost everybody, sounds a lot like Talking Heads. It’s not just the sharp vocal technique – it’s the percussion, the rhythmic guitar, the sheer catchiness of the song. Yet in The Line Of Best Fit’s interview with the band, we discover that the four-piece – still very much fresh out of the traps – are nigh-on delighted to share a sentence with the group, whilst at the same time keeping an eye on how to showcase the rest of their talents before anyone thinks to pigeonhole them.

It all starts this week, with the first single release on new Transgressive imprint paradYse Records, a double A-side of ‘A Mountain We Love’ and ‘Wax’ – two songs a good mile or so from a legitimate Talking Heads comparison. Then comes the band’s first gig at The Lexington on August 31, before the live show presumably gains some steam and the group can consider their next step. TLOBF caught up with two brothers – Miles and Marcus Haughton – to muse on the internet explosion that met ‘Milk’, and the band’s hope that interest will continue to rise.

So it’s A Mountain We Love and Wax, a double A-side. Why did you choose those two tracks?

Miles: The thing is, when we first put the two tracks online, ‘Milk’ was the one that really got people’s attention. And it was the case where we all sat down and looked through the songs we had, it was ‘Wax’ and ‘Mountain We Love’ where we decided “these are the ones where we feel we can hear ourselves as a new band. These are the ones that feel most like ‘us’”.

So do you feel that Milk didn’t quite reflect that?

Miles: No no, I think it does. I just think for some people there’s that little concern that perhaps it might sound like other things. And I think for us, we were concerned about making that first impact and making it as much of a new sound as possible. These two songs offer a slightly different flavour. I think the two tracks compliment each other well, and I’m pleased it’s a double A-side as well – I like them both and I wouldn’t wanna feel like we were pushing one of them back.

And you decided to do that one with Jeremy Warmsley – how did you come across him?

Marcus: Well Louis played in Summer Camp for a little bit, doing samples and keyboard stuff. And he sent Jeremy some songs. Jeremy liked them and said “let’s do this, come round”.

Miles: It was a case of: I think we sent over some four songs and Jeremy said he’d like do a couple of them. Before then, all we had was the demo we’d made at Louis’ house. It was just nice to sit down with someone where it didn’t feel like they were simply doing you a favour – we felt throughout that he was really into it. He had an immense knowledge of Logic shortcuts and at one point he said; “if there’s any justice, I hope this does well.” Apart from that it was just great to spend time with both him and Elizabeth .

Obviously it’s all starting on Monday. You’ve got things kicking off; you’re booked in for your first show at the Lexington. Are you refining your live show already and getting something prepared? Have you got any surprises? Special stage tricks?

Miles: People keep asking me that! I’m a bit worried. Oh god, they’re expecting, well, I don’t know what people are expecting! But I think it’s safe to say that nothing crazy’s going to happen. Obviously we want to make it a little bit of an event. So hopefully we’ll say something funny at one point, introduce people to the band. Hopefully lots of friends will come down so yeah, we’re very excited.

Marcus: We’ve been rehearsing for the last few months.

There’s the chance that it’s going to speed off and become completely surreal, I’d expect. But some of you have got experience in previous bands – that must help with it all.

Miles: Yeah I mean cause me and Marcus have been making music – well, we’re twins…

Marcus: …for our entire life.

Miles: Louis has probably had the most experience. He’s been touring with Bombay Bicycle Club – he’s got the most experience in terms of live stuff. So in that sense we know what to expect.

So it’s not totally surreal?

Miles: No but I think what is surreal is stuff like this, doing interviews. I mean we didn’t ever do stuff like press shots, but it’s fun! I think I’m nervously excited. It’s hard to get too pent up about how people are gonna receive the songs – so long as some people like it.

I’ve read that you came from the same school as Bombay, Cajun Dance Party, Yuck, frYars. Is that right? Were you all pretty close?

Miles: Those guys were in the year below – the school had a very good music department so all of us would say hello and jam and do those musical things. I think it was a combination of that and for instance, there was this really great jazz teacher called Fergus who Jack from Bombay and Robbie from Cajun Dance Party would play with, so that was really cool. Overall though it was a coincidence that we were all there.

You’ve already worked with Ben Garrett (FrYars) – is that something he’s actively looking to do more of with you?

Marcus: Well, we hope so! We think he will. It was really fun to work with him.

Miles: He’s got a great ear – the great thing about giving your demo to an outside ear is that hopefully, they will be detached from it and they’ll be able to make decisions that perhaps you couldn’t. And so you wanna be able to trust that person. With him, we know that he knows what we want to do and we’re both trying to aim for the same thing.

Marcus: He knows what direction we want to be going in.

Miles: It’s great to be working with someone where you don’t question his suggestions. He knows what we want and he’s really good at getting that. It’s just a cool environment.

I do want o ask you about the Talking Heads comparisons and how you react to them. Because in my head, I expect that you get annoyed by them. Is that right?

Miles: No, I think the first thing is that it’s an honour because they are one of our favourite bands. And I think personally, I have this thing where I think at least when a band’s starting out – whether it’s a band or a writer or a film – I think it’s nice to hear some influences at first. I think for the listeners, it gives them a pole in the middle, of sorts.

I think in ‘Milk’, mainly, it’s the delivery of the vocals. Plus I think we both share lots of rhythmical elements. Other than that, for instance ‘Wax’, for me – whenever I hear that I think it feels like the production of Swedish pop. Half of it comes from the fact that there’s a small sample out of our stuff that’s out there, and the other half is that yes, there are Talking Heads influences and they’re strong – hopefully people don’t mind!

I read a review of the Horrors record yesterday, comparing it to U2. I think there’s an example of a comparison being off the mark.

Miles: Well that’s the thing, there’ll be an element of a song, for example a drum sound, and it’ll get overblown. In terms of comparions, you should be looking at the heart of the song, what it’s about and where it’s coming from and it’s clear that The Horrors aren’t coming from the same place as Bono…For us though, it doesn’t annoy us at all. It’s fun to have people comparing us to anything.

Though have you ever seen the ‘Stop Making Sense’ film? Have you seen the way he moves on stage? Because that could be something to bring to the live show!

Miles: Hopefully that’s something the audience will bring, we want there to be rhythm and lots of energy.

You want there to be a carnival atmosphere?

Miles: Carnival, or at least people nodding their heads.The rehearsal studio we went to the last couple of times has a mirror in which you’re looking straight at as you’re playing. And whenever we think a session went well, half of it is from the movement. I’ll be holding a guitar, so I don’t know how much of the fun stuff I’ll be able to do.

Well David Byrne got them running on the spot, whilst he sprinted round the stage. That might be difficult to replicate at the Lexington but it’s an idea!

Miles: Well it’s all part of his character. It comes from completely what he’s about. So we’ll see what happens with us: I imagine it’ll be a little more boogie-ing here and there.

Marcus: Lots of grooving.