The Mixed Bag Sound Of Northeast Party House

While fun-loving quintet Northeast Party House have only just released their debut Any Given Weekend, they're no strangers to the recording world, having made a firm impression with a string of successful EPs since forming in 2010. Reflecting on their earlier work, guitarist Jackson Shoe recalls,

“With our first EP we really had no idea what we were doing. We just had four songs vaguely ready and just put them out. Over the years we've put a single out here and there, but with Any Given Weekend it's the first time we've really focused on creating something and had a clear image of what we've wanted to achieve. It's a much more complete work in comparison.”

While rooted in dance, the record has been praised for its diversity of sound, which Shoe believes comes down to the band's vast array of influences.

“It's a real mixed bag. The five of us all write and we all have completely different tastes in music, from hip hop to techno to rock. For the guitar parts, Mitch [Ansell] and I are really big fans of Talking Heads and INXS so we tried to get some of those old-school, groovy riffs in there. Dance music is really the key influence for all of us though, so we wanted to get the bass lines really dancey as well as the beats. We have just tried to get a mix of chaotic rock and dance.”

With the boys now in the midst of their launch tour – their first run of shows this year – Shoe explains they'd busily prepared for the dates.

“Our bass player Ollie, who we get in just for the live shows, [only] just got back from Japan so we [were] rehearsing like crazy trying to make up for lost time while he was gone. Before he left we were rehearsing quite a lot, but now it's just bringing it all together, and I think we only just got there the night before the tour kicked off!”

Spending so much time in the rehearsal stages has meant the group has been able to consider all elements of their show, with Shoe revealing they may have some new tricks to surprise punters.

“There's a certain stage element that we've wanted for years but have never really managed to make it happen. It's something we've had to get shipped out from America and we've got some local guy working on it. [When] we first tested it it wasn't working and we were stressing that it wouldn't come together, but [then] I got a little movie sent to me from Sean [Kenihan – synths] of it working so we've been unveiling it at the shows – all I can say is it's exciting!”