All band names are not created equal. The Monkees is weak. Led Zeppelin is heavy. Yes is boring, yet quirky. Thievery Corporation is genius.
Superhumanoids is up there with The Flaming Lips and Arcade Fire as one of the best-named active bands. No one really knows what a superhumanoid is, but its evocative, playful and slightly threatening at the same time.
Cameron Parkins, Sarah Chernoff and Max St. John formed Superhumanoids in Los Angeles in 2010. The past three years have seen their profile rise exponentially, as their homegrown, meticulously produced pop-rock tracks gained an international following and recognition by a number of high profile websites and publications.
In August, the band released “Exhibitionists,” their debut LP, to unanimous acclaim. The EMPT team has featured a handful of the tracks from that album already, and has fallen in love with the catchy, dreamy grooves.
We caught up with the band in the middle of their current national tour (schedule here…catch them in a city near you!) to hear their take on life, culture and their favorite Roy Choi restaurant.
EMPT: Does the label of “LA Band” mean anything more than the obvious physical location? What makes a band/sound “LA”?
SH: There is a specific culture here – the weather, the Mexican food, the people, the casual lifestyle. Musically everyone here is so diverse that all you can really know when reading “LA Band” is that you aren’t sure what style of music will come off the Soundcloud player once you hit play.
EMPT: Who do you consider to be your artistic contemporaries?
SH: Taylor Cohen, who directed our last video and is working on our current one. Evan Weinerman , who directed our earlier videos. Hassan Rahim who designed all of our artwork. Nick Walker who shoots all of our photography. Then the obvious bands and musicians we consider close friends – PAPA, Mini Mansions, Classixx, Local Natives, Kisses, Grouplove – the whole Innovative Leisure family.
EMPT: If HBO called and offered you the credit song slot on “Girls,” what would you say?
SH: Yes, thank you.
EMPT: What is your favorite beer brand?
SH: Corona in a can.
EMPT: If you weren’t in a band, what would you be doing?
SH: Making music in some form.
EMPT: Any bands our readers should be on the lookout for?
SH: All the above mentioned – also the new Body Parts album is very fiery and Jon Wayne‘s new jammers are next level.
EMPT: Kogi, Chego, A-Frame, Sunny Spot? (A bit of background on this question: Roy Choi is the founder of Kogi and is considered a catalyst for the modern food truck and fusion movement. He is a cultural celebrity in Los Angeles, and an avowed fan and friend of Superhumanoids.)
SH: A-Frame no doubt. We collectively had one of the best meals of our lives there. Kogi if you’re drunk.
Thanks, Superhumanoids! Find them on the interwebs at http://superhumanoids.com/ and @superhumanoids.