Love Parade

Scott Wallace
10th Jun 2015

Sydney via Newcastle band Love Parade have long been a fixture in Sydney's live music scene and they've just released their second album, the retro-leaning indie-rock maelstrom that is Shake on the Mission. Love Parade's chief songwriter Nathan Jolly was kind enough to tell us a little bit about the band and their fresh tunes. 

You’ve just released your second album Shake on the Mission. Did you suffer from the notorious “difficult second album syndrome”?

This album was actually super easy to make, as we knew exactly what we were aiming for, and had a clear idea of how we could achieve that. We certainly used the term "difficult second album" in our press for the record, although I'm not sure if it has elicited the sympathy we were hoping for.
 

What was the thought process behind choosing “Pretend” as the lead single?

To be honest, it just seemed like the most obvious single on the record. It's fairly short and sharp, and wasn't a huge departure from the sound of our first record, King Me.
 

You worked with Jay Whalley from Frenzal Rhomb on the record. Did he influence any shift in sound between this album and the last one?

He certainly did, although it was less a case of him rushing in and changing things, and more due to the approach we knew we wanted to take with this album: minimal instrument overdubs; live tracking of the band; noisier guitars; and working in a super-relaxed environment - all of which we knew Jay could facilitate. He worked with us on our first album, and we've know him for a fair few years now, so it was a logical fit - sound-wise and personality-wise.
 

Does the whole band have similar influences and tastes? What’s the band dynamic like when it comes to writing and recording?

There's a big enough crossover section of artists that we all tend to agree on -mostly due to us all having been friends before we formed a band - that when it comes to what sound we are shooting for, and what influences will guide that (ie: who to steal from) we all tend to agree. I write all the songs separately and demo then - it's usually fairly obviously who will do what where and how, and what will best serve the song.
 

Any advice for young people with some instruments and a dream?

Don't ask for permission; don't wait for gatekeepers to allow you entry, 'cos they don't exist anymore; record often and cheaply; never aim for what is 'cool' now - because by the time you get your shit together, it won't be - but if you accidentally hit upon it, hurrah; and work out what you want out of all this, and why you want it.
 

You can catch Love Parade playing live on June 20 at Annandale's Black Wire Records. Below, check out the video for the rip roaring and oh-so-catchy "Pretend."