Whether you frequent the club scene or dance alone in your kitchen – chances are high that you have grooved to at least one of Australian act, Miami Horror’s catchy new hits from their debut album, Illumination. We heard from founder and lead, Benjamin Plant, after their first ever L.A. performance. Read on to discover what he has to say about their genre, how he fits into dem skinny jeans, and which eccentric, niche celebrity the band got to hang out with while they were here.

SNMag: You are a relatively youthful group, how long after you adopted the moniker, Miami Horror, did Aaron, Daniel and Josh complete the formation? 
Benjamin Plant: About two years into [producing and remixing as] “Miami Horror,” the live band started to form.  We've now had the live band from the end of 2008.


SNMag: What are the origins of the name, Miami Horror?  Do you feel as though association with an American city – as opposed to your native Australia – lends to a broader, more global appeal?
BP: No, it has no connection to that.  I think “Melbourne Horror” would be pretty lame. The name stems from a visual background. Both “Miami” and “Horror” are iconic words and have visual associations.

SNMag: Speaking of your home country, it seems to be the breeding ground for electro dance pop acts. For that, we thank you, and ask why you think that is?
BP: I guess because we are so far away from everything we had no real scene established and were able to come out with our own, uninfluenced by the world.

SNMag: It seems, as we move deeper into the digital age, that there are less and less artists with acoustic origins – was electro dance pop your preferred genre, initially? Benjamin? Aaron, Daniel and Josh, too?
BP: No, we all came from different backgrounds, musically, and have been through many different sounds. It was mostly me who was into the electronica side.

SNMag: You have been compared, favorably, to Cut Copy. Are they an influence of yours? Any plans for a future remix or collaboration by or with the group? Any other bands/artists you're interested in working with?
BP: Yeah, they were an influence back in the day and I really like their music. Probably no collaborations at the moment though. I'd be interested in getting some form of a cover by Tame Impala, if anyone. They’re probably our favorite Australian artist at the moment.

SNMag: We see your Australian tour ended in June - any plans for an Illumination world tour?  If not, will you be performing elsewhere in the States or outside of Australia this fall? 
BP: Well we just performed 12 gigs in America. It was an introductory tour for our live show to America.  We plan to come back in the spring next year, around SXSW.


SNMag: Was this everyone's first visit to Los Angeles? We are a city of eccentrics - what was the oddest - unfortunately or enjoyably so - experience?
BP: A few of us have been here before, but still we find there are enough eccentricities and odd characters to last a lifetime. Our most memorable story was hanging out with Eric Wareheim from “Tim and Eric” at the strippers. We have a friend in common and they were going out so we joined them.

SNMag: How exactly do you get into dem jeans? Is it those sauna-like stage lights? The on-stage dancing? Let us car-shackled Los Angeles hipsters and music aficionados in on the secret. PLEASE!
BP: Salad, no junk food. In Australia the only junk food chains we have are from the US.  [He laughs.]

SNMag: Finally, do you get tired of what are bound to be incessant references to your home country as "Down Undah," in all its variations and attempts at accurately affecting your accents?
BP: Everyone here is pretty bad with accents. Most people can't tell the difference between the UK and Australian. Everyone seems like the accent though. We don't get tired of it. People find it interesting, as we'd do with Americans in Australia.

By JJ Wienkers