Local lo-fi
The band — Ma (guitar and vocals), Sparkes (keys and vocals), Jules Fisher (bass), and Nick German (drums) — started playing together about four years ago, at a time when they were all starting to become disenchanted with playing in bands. "I think when we met we were all in the same boat, like — is there a reason to keep doing this?" says German. "But then we kind of dug each other and it's really been worth it."
Ma and Sparkes had been writing songs together for a few years, but bringing German and Fisher rounded out the band's sound and added a driving, sunny rhythm section that balances out the duo's honest — and, at times, melancholy — lyrics. The band's tendency to melt poetic apathy with almost poppy chord progressions creates a sound that can feel something like skipping the prom to go watch John Waters movies in your crush's basement.
Since releasing forget it, don't
"The other bands who played... they played because they had to or else they wouldn't feel right," says German. "That's why we started playing music in the first place, especially when we all started playing together, it just felt right."
The band's synchronicity comes through in its music — both on forget it and when they play live. While forget it was recorded entirely in Fisher's attic, the band's forthcoming record should get a more pointed sense of musical direction with Thomas in their corner.
From our 2019 Bands to Watch issue.
Detroit Metro Times works for you, and your support is essential.
Our small but mighty local team works tirelessly to bring you high-quality, uncensored news and cultural coverage of Detroit and beyond.
Unlike many newspapers, ours is free – and we'd like to keep it that way, because we believe, now more than ever, everyone deserves access to accurate, independent coverage of their community.
Whether it's a one-time acknowledgement of this article or an ongoing pledge, your support helps keep Detroit's true free press free.
We welcome readers to submit letters regarding articles and content in Detroit Metro Times. Letters should be a minimum of 150 words, refer to content that has appeared on Detroit Metro Times, and must include the writer's full name, address, and phone number for verification purposes. No attachments will be considered. Writers of letters selected for publication will be notified via email. Letters may be edited and shortened for space.
Email us at letters@metrotimes.com.