01Profile
A Wooze Photo
Wooze
Musicians — London
03Interview
Name, where are you from?
Theo Spark and Jamie She, based in London.
Describe your style in three words?
Hand me ups.
What’s the best gig you’ve ever been to?
A close call but probably La Shark, Corsica Studios 2012. It was such a special show for many reasons but they showed us what the perfect balance of showmanship and restraint was, and the importance of fun when all’s said and done.
If you could be on the line up with any two bands in history?
Mid-'90s Primus, so we could witness Les Claypool’s slapping in the flesh and arguably at its prime. And ABBA for the hits and the besequined glitz.
Which Subcultures have influenced you?
We’re both huge fans of City Pop and also anything that the members of Yellow Magic Orchestra have done collectively and individually, so I guess mostly stuff under the late-'70s Japanese pop umbrella. YMO, in particular, have really influenced us in terms of their aesthetic.
If you could spend an hour with anyone from history?
T: GG Allin for his table manners.
J: Ma Long for his table tennis.
Of all the venues you’ve been to, which is your favourite?
Last year we supported Metronomy at Vega in Copenhagen. It’s this beautiful mahogany panelled room and had this bygone era charm - we wood not have missed it for the world.
Your greatest unsung hero or heroine in music?
Bill Nelson definitely isn’t recognised enough, if anything for the sheer volume of quality work he’s put out. We’re really big fans of anyone who’s stuck to their guns through thick and thin over the years, like Daniel Johnston or even Anvil. The ironic thing about being a musician in the digital age is that while it’s the easiest it’s ever been to “release” music it’s harder than ever to actually stand out in the ocean of content being put out every day.
02Playlist
04Playlist Notes
The first track you played on repeat?
T: 'Running With The Devil' by Van Halen. My mum's friend made me a CD of his favourite rock songs when I was 8 and this track stood out. It also made me realise I could play bass almost immediately which I promptly did.
J: I listened to plenty of things on repeat without my being in control. The first thing I autonomously listened to on repeat was probably the 'Thomas The Tank Engine' theme, which I would rewind and replay on my VHS. I still loop it on my iPod even now.
A song that defines the teenage you?
T: 'I Don't Want To Get Over You' by The Magnetic Fields. I was an annoying hopeless romantic throughout my entire teenage years which in retrospect is cheesy and grating, but I remember playing this song religiously daily for what must have been 3 years or so.
J: 'The Fool On The Hill' by The Beatles. I started my obsession with yellow as a young teen and it somehow fused with my love of hills. I would walk up them, listening to this song, (and the rest of the album), in search of yellow objects.
One record you would keep forever?
T: The Beatles' 'White Album' has been in my top 3 albums of all time since the moment I heard it. It's also got one of my favourite ever songs 'Dear Prudence' on it. I've probably listened to this album more than any other but it never gets boring because of the way it meanders through different styles while simultaneously being quintessentially “Beatles” which is the genius of it.
J: My Fats Waller compilations. He's a magician, and he reminds me how much of a muggle I am, (in a healthy way).
A song lyric that has inspired you?
T: “Though as a boy I had bowl-cut brilliance that could carve up any conundrum / But now dunno how that could have possibly have been.” From 'The Club Of Fathomless Love' by Wild Beasts. This entire album has the most impressive and succulent lyrics I've probably come across, but this line in particular sums it up for me. The creativity and sensitivity in how Hayden Thorpe talks about something that could be as cliched as teenage bravado in this instance, and turning it into this hilarious and poetic vignette is something we've been really influenced by with our own lyrics for sure.
J: My favourite lyric doesn't actually exist, as I misheard it for years. It's in John Lennon's 'Real Love': "Seems that all I really was doing was waiting for you/love, only to be alone/afraid." (It's actually "Don't need to be alone, no need to be alone.") So yes, I'm essentially saying I'm bigger than Lennon.
A song you wished you had written?
T: 'Requiem' by Killing Joke if anything for that iconic siren intro. It also has one of the most iconic drum fills.
J: Just a small point - the songs I wish I'd written are ones I'm especially pleased were written by someone else. But I'd say 'Sitting By The Riverside' by The Kinks.
Best song to turn up loud?
'4'33"' by John Cage.
A song people wouldn't expect you to like?
T: 'Forest' by System Of A Down. Well, we fully expect people to think we like this, but this album is honestly up there with my all-time favourites, possibly for my sins.
J: 'Suit & Tie' by Justin Timberlake feat. Jay-Z. It gets boring after a while though.
The song to get you straight on the dance floor?
T: 'Armadillo' by Balming Tiger. Ideally, the dance floor would also be projecting their video too.
J: 'Murder On The Dancefloor' by Sophie Ellis Bextor. It's almost always a false alarm though, thank God.
Best song to end an all-nighter?
T: 'Doctor Jones' by Aqua. It's also the best song to start an all-nighter.
J: 'East Hastings' by Godspeed You! Black Emperor.
Any new bands you are into at the moment?
'I've Got The Feeling' by Pleasure Complex.
'What Men Want' by Sweat.
'Sleep Forever' by Jessica Winter.
'Halloween Is Over' by Grace Lightman.
03Interview
Name, where are you from?
Theo Spark and Jamie She, based in London.
Describe your style in three words?
Hand me ups.
What’s the best gig you’ve ever been to?
A close call but probably La Shark, Corsica Studios 2012. It was such a special show for many reasons but they showed us what the perfect balance of showmanship and restraint was, and the importance of fun when all’s said and done.
If you could be on the line up with any two bands in history?
Mid-'90s Primus, so we could witness Les Claypool’s slapping in the flesh and arguably at its prime. And ABBA for the hits and the besequined glitz.
Which Subcultures have influenced you?
We’re both huge fans of City Pop and also anything that the members of Yellow Magic Orchestra have done collectively and individually, so I guess mostly stuff under the late-'70s Japanese pop umbrella. YMO, in particular, have really influenced us in terms of their aesthetic.
If you could spend an hour with anyone from history?
T: GG Allin for his table manners.
J: Ma Long for his table tennis.
Of all the venues you’ve been to, which is your favourite?
Last year we supported Metronomy at Vega in Copenhagen. It’s this beautiful mahogany panelled room and had this bygone era charm - we wood not have missed it for the world.
Your greatest unsung hero or heroine in music?
Bill Nelson definitely isn’t recognised enough, if anything for the sheer volume of quality work he’s put out. We’re really big fans of anyone who’s stuck to their guns through thick and thin over the years, like Daniel Johnston or even Anvil. The ironic thing about being a musician in the digital age is that while it’s the easiest it’s ever been to “release” music it’s harder than ever to actually stand out in the ocean of content being put out every day.
04Playlist Notes
The first track you played on repeat?
T: 'Running With The Devil' by Van Halen. My mum's friend made me a CD of his favourite rock songs when I was 8 and this track stood out. It also made me realise I could play bass almost immediately which I promptly did.
J: I listened to plenty of things on repeat without my being in control. The first thing I autonomously listened to on repeat was probably the 'Thomas The Tank Engine' theme, which I would rewind and replay on my VHS. I still loop it on my iPod even now.
A song that defines the teenage you?
T: 'I Don't Want To Get Over You' by The Magnetic Fields. I was an annoying hopeless romantic throughout my entire teenage years which in retrospect is cheesy and grating, but I remember playing this song religiously daily for what must have been 3 years or so.
J: 'The Fool On The Hill' by The Beatles. I started my obsession with yellow as a young teen and it somehow fused with my love of hills. I would walk up them, listening to this song, (and the rest of the album), in search of yellow objects.
One record you would keep forever?
T: The Beatles' 'White Album' has been in my top 3 albums of all time since the moment I heard it. It's also got one of my favourite ever songs 'Dear Prudence' on it. I've probably listened to this album more than any other but it never gets boring because of the way it meanders through different styles while simultaneously being quintessentially “Beatles” which is the genius of it.
J: My Fats Waller compilations. He's a magician, and he reminds me how much of a muggle I am, (in a healthy way).
A song lyric that has inspired you?
T: “Though as a boy I had bowl-cut brilliance that could carve up any conundrum / But now dunno how that could have possibly have been.” From 'The Club Of Fathomless Love' by Wild Beasts. This entire album has the most impressive and succulent lyrics I've probably come across, but this line in particular sums it up for me. The creativity and sensitivity in how Hayden Thorpe talks about something that could be as cliched as teenage bravado in this instance, and turning it into this hilarious and poetic vignette is something we've been really influenced by with our own lyrics for sure.
J: My favourite lyric doesn't actually exist, as I misheard it for years. It's in John Lennon's 'Real Love': "Seems that all I really was doing was waiting for you/love, only to be alone/afraid." (It's actually "Don't need to be alone, no need to be alone.") So yes, I'm essentially saying I'm bigger than Lennon.
A song you wished you had written?
T: 'Requiem' by Killing Joke if anything for that iconic siren intro. It also has one of the most iconic drum fills.
J: Just a small point - the songs I wish I'd written are ones I'm especially pleased were written by someone else. But I'd say 'Sitting By The Riverside' by The Kinks.
Best song to turn up loud?
'4'33"' by John Cage.
A song people wouldn't expect you to like?
T: 'Forest' by System Of A Down. Well, we fully expect people to think we like this, but this album is honestly up there with my all-time favourites, possibly for my sins.
J: 'Suit & Tie' by Justin Timberlake feat. Jay-Z. It gets boring after a while though.
The song to get you straight on the dance floor?
T: 'Armadillo' by Balming Tiger. Ideally, the dance floor would also be projecting their video too.
J: 'Murder On The Dancefloor' by Sophie Ellis Bextor. It's almost always a false alarm though, thank God.
Best song to end an all-nighter?
T: 'Doctor Jones' by Aqua. It's also the best song to start an all-nighter.
J: 'East Hastings' by Godspeed You! Black Emperor.
Any new bands you are into at the moment?
'I've Got The Feeling' by Pleasure Complex.
'What Men Want' by Sweat.
'Sleep Forever' by Jessica Winter.
'Halloween Is Over' by Grace Lightman.
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