Inspired #430 - Human Interest
East London's indie specialist Human Interest have just released their new EP 'Smile While You're Losing (An Audio Guide To Wellness)' via Nice Swan Records - home to the likes of English Teacher, Sprints and Chalk.
Comprising of lead singles ‘Shapeshifting’, ‘Better Press Repeat’ and latest effort ‘Nuclear War’, the group’s newest extended release showcases their phenomenal potential in full flow, with the alt-rockers’ silky harmonies and thrilling anthemic sensibilities piquing the interest of many throughout the emerging indie landscape in recent months.
They took a moment to talk to us about the inspirations behind their music.
Who are your top three musical inspirations and why?
This is obviously an extremely difficult question as my answer could vary based on mood or even the season. But I’ll go off the bat with three I can think of…
Velvet Underground - I love Lou Reed’s lyrics and vocal delivery and how much the music varies. There are some incredible intense brooding songs that almost unsettle you like The Black Angels Death Song but then you have these incredibly tender more doo wop inspired songs like I Found a Reason which are just too beautiful to comprehend. There’s stuff in that discography for all the moods that the ride of life take you through. I remember being younger, reading his book and finding out about his queerness and finding it comforting. Lou was this cool guy making beautiful music who happened to like girls and boys. I also love the minimalist in chord choices, it suits my music knowledge just fabulously.
I nearly said The Cure here but I’m gonna go MGMT. I’m on a real MGMT flex at the moment. They’ve just done their own thing from the start and never followed expectations. I think they’ve nailed aesthetic matching the music better than any modern(ish) band has done. They’re just little weirdos making music that excites me. The pop bangers of the first album never fail to just get me going and the sonics of it all are just impeccable.
Elliot Smith - What can I say about poor Elliot. He just breaks my heart. Sonically, you probably wouldn’t think it, but I am so inspired by him. I listen to him and I just want to write a song.
Also, I need to add in Courtney Barnett here. I adore how lyric-heavy her music is and I think she has the most wonderful way with words. There’s this amazing humour that coats all these beautiful sentiments. She was a big reason why I wanted to really give music a go. Also, she might be the coolest person ever. Dream support slot right there.
Is there a certain film that inspires you and why?
Straight up. Juno. That soundtrack literally changed my life. I bought it on CD from HMV and used to cycle around on my BMX swirling around the suburbs with my headphones on having my main character moment. It introduced me to The Moldy Peaches, Velvet Underground and Belle and Sebastian, and I will forever be in Elliot Page’s debt for that.
What city do you find the most inspiring and why?
It’s not a city but I would say Margate. Human Interest was born there and my time there was the most creatively fruitful time in my life. I think I did just shy of a song a week one year.
I’ve found it very difficult to write in London. Maybe there’s too much going on here for me to really dig deep as often as I used to. Rent was cheap there, I could get away with not working as much and I would just spend most of my days in my living room overlooking the sea just writing. Letting the mood of the ocean play a heavy hand in my flow. It’s strange. I really miss the feeling I had inside me when I was writing there. But I don’t have the desire to go back to it, for now at least. I think quietness and less distractions really does a lot for me. Maybe the next time we do an interview I’ll be out on the middle of nowhere on the verge of a masterpiece. One can only hope.
Who is the most inspiring person to you and why?
Again, this is just how I’m feeling today…
David Bowie - I’ll be honest, I’m not the biggest listener of his music, I think it’s amazing but compared to others I’m not consuming it in that same way. But I really love and admire the metamorphic nature of his art. I find it really interesting for an artist to have all these different forms.
I’d also like to give a special shout out to my wonderful band mate and best friend Tyler Damara Kelly. I’ve really struggled to keep going with music at a few points in these last few years and she’s been the one that’s lifted me back up every time. She always picks me back up and encourages. She’s the driving force behind this.
What were your inspirations when writing your new EP?
JUST. KEEP. SWIMMING
How would you like to inspire people?
Try to be as honest with yourself and others as possible. I would love for people to find solace in our music, like they’re not the only one that feels how they do. You learn that as you get older but those formative years can be a lonely time and it’d be amazing to help some confused kids get through it.
Also, anyone can write a song, just be fucking persistent with it.
