When asked to describe the
ideal environment for listening to High Highs’ new EP, lead-singer and
guitarist Jack Milas answered, “Just before dawn, when the party has ended.” Following
2013’s dreamy debut Open Season and
an extensive year of touring, the Australian duo is set to release a three-song
EP entitled Ocean To City.
Jack Milas and Oli Chang
began making music together as High Highs in their native Sydney, Australia,
while working at the same recording studio. Chang found himself drawn to Milas’
writing style, and the pair plunged into a world of collaboration and
invention. They discovered the basis of a band aesthetic by marrying Chang’s
passion for electronic indie with Jack’s penchant for classic acoustic rock. When
Milas took an opportunity to work and live in New York, Chang joined, and the
duo settled in Brooklyn.
Since living in the
states, High Highs have toured with Vampire
Weekend, Empire Of The Sun, Sky Ferreira, and Stars. “Opening for bigger bands in
larger venues really gave us a sense of what works musically in big spaces,”
said Chang. “It's also been interesting to see people respond to big melodies
in a positive way.” No longer working full-time jobs, this new freedom and time
spent traveling the country also helped nurture these songs. “The music comes
from a place of seeing more of the world,” explained Milas. “There are powerful
moments and quiet moments, but we've tried to be honest in terms of presenting
something that we think is beautiful.”
To help engineer, mix, and
produce these new songs, they brought in Andrew Maury (Ra Ra Riot, Panama
Wedding), whose detailed and layered production style helped contextualize the
music. Chang commented, “Sometimes we get really down on an idea and he reminds
us that it's actually good. With a song like ‘Ocean To City’, we handed him a
bit of mess and he made sense of it.”
Despite the inevitable
expectations that build after a lauded debut, Milas dispels any fear of a
sophomore slump and excitedly adds, “It's going to feel really good to finally
share what we've come up with and re-open the dialogue with the people that are
waiting for this new music.”