Galaxy Beach: A Retro Summer Under Alien Skies | The beach is busy with ordinary rituals, but the heavens are doing something else entirely. A ringed planet loiters too close, like a secret you are not meant to name. Somewhere between sunscreen and starlight, the day slips into another timeline.
The new side project of The Naked And Famous keyboardist/producer Aaron Short, Space Above formed during a time of ‘uncertainty’ for the NZ-based band in the lead up to their recent album Simple Forms, collaborating with Sam McCarthy (BOYBOY) and Maddie North (So Below) to create the indie electro outfit.
Their latest single ‘Let It Still’ is a futuristic warp of woozy, effervescent synths and sunken reverb that twists itself inside out before launching into a furious dub bass assault. It’s an all-encompassing electro-pop track that retains its atmospheric nature throughout, bearing some similarities with the anthemic euphoria of The Naked and Famous’ previous output. Super loud pop to get yourself lost in...
‘Let It Still’ comes from Space Above’s forthcoming album Still, out now. Read the review for The Naked and Famous’ Simple Forms here.
New Zealand natives Aaron Short (producer and member of The Naked And Famous) and Sam McCarthy (BOYBOY) founded the band collective after meeting in L.A., where they began exploring a deeper, more journey-based electronic sound based on their mutual passion for music that extends the mind and exceeds the 5 minute mark. Fellow Kiwi Maddie North (So Below) shared a taste for the dark and atmospheric, which saw her step in as co-writer and female vocalist, and Space Above was born. With a full-length album now circulating the world with infectious arrangements and melodies, Space Above are settling nicely in to the new home they’ve created and dubbed ‘spacetech’... We talk to Aaron Short about having no restrictions, extensive touring and baked beans…
TSH: How pleasing it to have this project arrive at a time when you needed a new creative outlet?
Aaron: It came about at a really nice time. It was right in between a chaotic time for The Naked And Famous, where there was this uncertain stuff going on and we were worn out from being on the road. I had some time off for about a year and found myself having an opportunity to explore a musical world with more of an electronic feel, whilst kind of letting go of the pop side of things. I guess I’ve just been waiting a long time to have this moment - to feel like it’s time to dive into this self-indulgent bowl of music and make some big cinematic pieces.
TSH: What sort of songwriters do you gravitate towards with this project in mind?
Aaron: I think specifically with this one, over the past few years, I’ve really been getting into electronic producers that have this incredible way of bringing a very human and organic nature into their music. Artists like Jon Hopkins and Moderat are definite influences. I guess most of the stimulus comes from the UK and European area of the world.
TSH: Did you require a creative spark for the music to come together? Or was it more free flowing?
Aaron: It was definitely organic. I teamed up with a couple of other musician buddies that are also from New Zealand and living in the same area. Sam shared the same mutual love for the underground electronic music of the world as me, plus he’s an incredible musician and songwriter. Naturally, the two of us started writing music together. It all felt so right. When a project is fresh, there are no rules and nothing to restrict you, which was really the beautiful thing about the tracks on this record. Everything felt natural and we were free to experiment without limitations.
TSH: What comes to mind when you overlook a track like ‘Hold In’?
Aaron: Not only is ‘Hold In’ the first track on the album, it was also the first tack that was written for this project. I remember that one came out of chaos going on around me. It was at a point when I had just rented this new studio space and set all this gear up. I sat and played with the intention of eliminating thoughts revolving around my brain. I wanted to switch of all the noise and clutter in my head and make something that almost immobilises you - makes you stop. I like how this track has really heavy lifts and drops that come throughout the track, whilst also having this soothing and sinking type of feel.
TSH: ‘Laniakea’ consists of darker tones and some vocal manipulation, what was the crucial foundation for this track?
Aaron: That was one that Sam started as a little loop. It’s weird because the original version of it ended up being almost ten minutes long. When you hear it now, you can hear the very subtle layers that keep coming in and out, almost as if they are parts of different songs. It was a very fun process to layer up this track with all these different parts. The main challenge with this track was to make it flow from A to B, and try to do it in five minutes, instead of ten.
TSH: Was ‘Beneath the Light’ the natural choice as album closer?
Aaron: It felt like the right way to wrap up the record. It’s an instrumental track with no vocals and it works around one continuous loop that builds and emerges, then floats up and drifts back down again. It was one of those tracks written with all the lights off. I was trying to not have my hands on the computer too much, or look at the screen too much; I wanted this track to take on its own length of time, so I waited for the right moment to call time on the length.
TSH: Were you aiming for a type of energy that evokes a very present feel with this record?
Aaron: Definitely. I mean that was what it was doing for me. The album was very therapeutic when I was writing it. I’m hoping on the receiving end it affects the listener in the same way it did for me.
TSH: There’s also a cool idea of individual artwork for each track on the record...
Aaron: Yeah, I feel Space Above is more about the sounds and where the music takes you, so we don’t want to put too much of a face on the music. I really want to push the imagery of what the sounds and music are creating rather than showing a few faces of the people that made it. So, I teamed up with an amazing photographer who takes these great shots of water and ocean based imagery. From a big pool of these pictures I decided working out which ones fit really well with the certain tracks. It was a really nice collaborative process.
TSH: What satisfied you most about your way of working on this record?
Aaron: Nowadays, everything is all about streaming music and not many people listen to albums as a whole. There’s this Spotify culture that are simply all about singles. However, there was something about this project that was so incredibly satisfying: I got to finish it, close the chapter on it and look at it in its entirety as a completed piece that fits so nicely. This album, to me, is proof that you can still make a collection of songs fit together well. I just hope people have the patience to listen to it in its entirety.
TSH: Do you have plans to present Space Above in a live format?
Aaron: That’s something that we’re still trying to figure out. It’s tricky right now because I’m right in the middle of an extensive tour with The Naked And Famous, so I’m booked up for some time. However, I really would love to tour Space Above on some level, even if it’s a one-piece thing like how Jon Hopkins does it. Obviously it would be great to do it as a three-piece too.
TSH: Is it a challenge to have a positive frame of mind in the midst of substantial touring?
Aaron: It does at times get stagnant and stressful, and that’s why the Space Above project is so important to me. It’s like a therapeutic way for me to turn off all of the other rules that are set in place when you’re working with quite an established act like The Naked And Famous. So, yeah, rather than fighting personal frustrations, it’s nice to just force that stuff into a project. You can have the freedom to express and let your mind sort of just relax.
TSH: You like to also keep up with the cardio, especially skipping…
Aaron: Ha! Absolutely. This is our third big tour cycle now and its funny seeing us go from the young 20 something party animals to wanting healthy food ordered. Nowadays, I’m looking for the nearest gym! It’s a total lifestyle change.
TSH: What’s the deal with your love for baked beans?
Aaron: Haha! I totally love baked beans. The full English breakfast everyday for me!
TSH: How’s spare time spent for you in Los Angeles?
Aaron: I personally have a strong love for dogs, so I do a lot of volunteering at dog shelters in my free time. It’s nice to give something back if you’re in that rare position when you have time free, and so I look to always do something worthwhile and good with my time.
TSH: What do you hope to achieve with Space Above in the near future?
Aaron: Space Above is fundamentally a DIY and self-released project. I’m dead set on spreading it as far and wide as I can: I want it to reach as many ears that will listen to it as possible. This project is not a money making project or anything like that, it’s purely a passion thing that I only hope gets received well on the other end.
Having surprised me a while back with the track ‘Fall Through’ (below), Aaron Short has just released a full album under the moniker of Space Above. ‘Let It Still’ is another beautiful cut from this record full of throbbing synths and lush electronics, which twists and turns in unexpected ways.
Better known for his work as producer and keyboarder with The Naked and Famous, Aaron here teams up with fellow New Zealanders Sam McCarthy and Maddie North to complete the trio of Space Above. It sounds like a winning formula to me, as you can hear yourself on the album ‘Still’ which is streaming in full on Spotify HERE.
Consequence of Sound called it “winning examples of when indie music taps into the perfect balance of accessibility and adventurism.”
It has the ease and peacefulness of dream-pop, the joy of exploring a broad sonic spectrum, and certainly feels like an album that will reward repeat listeners discovering its details and depths.
