For any musician or artist, when it comes to creating their craft it is all about finding that sweet spot to make people take note, or at least stop and listen. For Human Future that sweet spot was found in becoming more collaborative as a unit, and with six moving parts to the band, which is spread out across the south of the country, this was essential in keep the band alive and for their new EP, ‘Flat Earth Blues’ to see the light of day.
Speaking to Already Heard, guitarist and synth player Stephen Trepak explains that for him, the new record was a lot about letting go and letting the rest of the band in to create something they can all be proud of.
“I wrote the album (‘Spectrum’) before the band was fully formed, and is a bit of a concept album,” said Trepak. “It is essentially about me coming to the realisation that as an adult I might be autistic. and a lot of things gather up. And if you follow the album you can tell that it is about certain parts of my life.
Flat Earth Blues by Human Future
“However, I tried to explain what my intent was when we had all the member together and they wanted it to be more collaborative with it, even though I came to the table with a whole album written. And I can see why that is a bit difficult to comprehend.
"I was being very insular and I have realised that over time, and with the new EP it has been the most collaborative piece by far. There was a potential that I could have lost them as friends if I continued doing things the way I had. That could have been a reality, that the band could have fallen apart because they could have thought I was being too controlling.”
As a result, the band has produced a five track EP with demonstrates their progression since the formation in 2011, as well as acting as a showcase for the varied and eclectic taste of music and how that has influenced their music. But, one thing Trepak said the band should not cut corners on was the idea behind Human Future.
He continued: “I view Human Future as an experimental band. We needed to stick to the thematic idea of what the future of humanity is and we needed to push that forward collaboratively, and that is something I believe we should compromise in our music. If that didn’t happen, then we may have well have stopped the band. We needed to do it as mates to make this band what it is and continue in the direction we see it.”
With ‘Flat Earth Blue’ being released through Truthseeker Music – the label which Trepak runs with fellow band mates Alex Leat and Phill Short – the band hope this could potentially elevate their stature in the UK music scene.
“Any artist who is making something in some concrete form, who says they don’t want to be seen isn’t being honest with themselves or just being plain deceitful,” adds Trepak. “I would love people to hear the art that I have created. There is still that small child and excitement in me that wants to share my work. I wanted to be the David Lynch of the music world and just create the weirdest possible music I could. This is a hobby and a passion for all of us and we want to share that with whoever wants to listen.”
For many people looking in, may think that releasing all their music through their own label is a bit of an easy way out, but Trepak explains that it means the band are fully responsible for themselves and no one else. “There is a very limited interest in people releasing us, so we thought why not release it ourselves. That is with the rest of the label as well because we don’t have to answer to anyone else. You know the Illuminati? Well, we are the new guys in town.”
‘Flat Earth Blues’ EP by Human Future is out now on Truthseeker Music.
Human Future links: Facebook|Bandcamp
Words by Tim Birkbeck (@tim_birkbeck)
