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Simple Creatures

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Simple Creatures
Simple Creatures live at Good Things Festival (Melbourne, 2019)
Simple Creatures live at Good Things Festival (Melbourne, 2019)
Background information
OriginLos Angeles, California, U.S.
Genres
Years active2019–2020[a]
LabelsBMG
Spinoff of
Members
Websitesimplecreaturesmusic.com

Simple Creatures was an American pop rock duo that was formed by vocalist, bassist, and keyboardist Mark Hoppus of Blink-182 and vocalist, guitarist, and keyboardist Alex Gaskarth of All Time Low.[1][2] Based in Los Angeles, the duo released their first EP, Strange Love, on March 29, 2019. Their second EP, Everything Opposite, was released on October 11, 2019.

Biography

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2019: Strange Love and Everything Opposite

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Alex Gaskarth grew up a fan of Blink-182, and his group, All Time Low, eventually toured with the band on its 2016 California Tour. Mark Hoppus, the band's bassist, had become friends with Gaskarth over the years and the two had always spoken about collaborating at some point. Following completion of the California tour dates in 2017, Hoppus fell into a depression, and re-entered the studio hoping to record with artists he had always wanted to work with. He called Gaskarth first, and the two ended up writing several songs in the first sessions together.[3] The project, Simple Creatures, was announced in January 2019, with the lead single "Drug".[4][5][1] The duo's first extended play, Strange Love, was released March 29 via BMG.[6] The duo also announced a four date tour of the US and UK during March and April 2019,[7] alongside two music festivals in Europe during Summer 2019.[8]

In April 2019, shortly after the release of their Strange Love EP, the band confirmed in an interview that they have a second EP and a debut album ready to release in the near future.[9] On June 12, 2019, the band released "Special".[10] Later that day, Gaskarth confirmed that it will be off an upcoming EP.[11] The band later released a video for "Special", and announced their second EP, Everything Opposite, which was released on October 11, 2019.[12]

2020: Scrapped album and hiatus

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Despite teasing an album release for 2020,[9] no album came to fruition. Simple Creatures' official social media pages have been inactive since 2020 and no new material has been released since Everything Opposite, though in 2021 Gaskarth stated that there was a possibility of new music in the future.[13]

Musical style and influences

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Simple Creatures' musical style has been described as pop,[14][15] pop rock,[16] synth-pop,[17] electronic rock,[18] and alternative rock.[19] Hoppus and Gaskarth have described Simple Creatures' sound as "trash pop",[20] which Hoppus has defined as "ratty guitars, big bombastic drum loops, [and] buzzy synths."[21]

Both Hoppus and Gaskarth credited The Cure and its frontman, Robert Smith, as an influence on their first EP, Strange Love. "There were many, many times during the recording process that we referenced The Cure sounds, or the way that Robert Smith writes," Hoppus told Kerrang!. The music of the duo contains programmed drums, guitars, and synthesizers.[6] Hoppus credited his longtime influences the Descendents and Bad Religion as an influence, stating that he and Gaskarth both come from a "catchy punk rock background."[22] Lyrically, the duo hoped to imbue darker qualities and edginess into pop songs. "We’re both deeply sad people on the inside. That dark pop, goth, emo thing," Gaskarth said.[3]

Band members

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  • Alex Gaskarth – vocals, guitars, keyboards, production, engineering (2019-2020)
  • Mark Hoppus – vocals, bass, keyboards, guitars, production, engineering (2019-2020)

Discography

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Extended plays

  • Strange Love (2019)
  • Everything Opposite (2019)

Notes

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  1. ^ Simple Creatures has been inactive since 2020.

References

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  1. ^ a b Reilly, Nick (24 January 2019). "Blink-182's Mark Hoppus and All Time Low's Alex Gaskarth unveil new band Simple Creatures". NME. Retrieved 2019-01-24.
  2. ^ "Blink-182's Mark Hoppus & All Time Low's Alex Gaskarth Form New Band Simple Creatures, Debut First Song". Billboard. Retrieved 2019-01-24.
  3. ^ a b Heinz, Natasha (January 28, 2019). "Mark Hoppus Talks Simple Creatures Influences, Plans to Release Music". Alternative Press. Retrieved February 22, 2019.
  4. ^ "Simple Creatures". Simple Creatures. Retrieved 2019-02-21.
  5. ^ brownypaul (2019-01-24). "blink-182's Mark Hoppus and All Time Low's Alex Gaskarth debut new band". Wall Of Sound. Retrieved 2019-01-24.
  6. ^ a b "Simple Creatures Announce Debut EP Strange Love; Release Title-Track". Kerrang!. February 21, 2019. Retrieved February 22, 2019.
  7. ^ "Simple Creatures announce debut US tour dates". 98 Rock Baltimore. March 12, 2019.
  8. ^ Goeman, Collin (February 25, 2019). "Simple Creatures (Mark Hoppus, Alex Gaskarth) announce first show". Alternative Press.
  9. ^ a b "NEWS: Simple Creatures have a second EP and a debut album ready!". April 8, 2019.
  10. ^ Shoemaker, Whitney (June 13, 2019). "Simple Creatures release more trash-pop goodness with "Special"". Alternative Press.
  11. ^ Gaskarth, Alex (June 13, 2019). "Track 1 EP 2. I think".
  12. ^ Redrup, Zach (31 July 2019). "NEWS: Simple Creaturs become sock puppets in 'Special' video!". DEAD PRESS!. Retrieved 2019-07-31.
  13. ^ Carter, Emily (January 5, 2021). "Alex Gaskarth on New Simple Creatures: "At Some Point I Think There Will Be Something Coming Your Way"". Kerrang!. Retrieved April 24, 2024.
  14. ^ "Album Review: Simple Creatures – Strange Love — Kerrang!". Kerrang!. 29 March 2019.
  15. ^ [1] [dead link]
  16. ^ "Simple Creatures – Strange Love (EP Review)". Wall Of Sound. March 28, 2019.
  17. ^ Van Maaren, Anieck (October 14, 2019). "EP Review // Simple Creatures 'Everything Opposite'". Retrieved September 18, 2020.
  18. ^ Camma, Vinny (March 22, 2019). "College Punk Reviews Simple Creatures". Retrieved September 18, 2020.
  19. ^ "How Simple Creatures Saved Mark Hoppus' Life — Kerrang!". Kerrang!. April 2019.
  20. ^ "Meet The Creatures - YouTube". www.youtube.com. Retrieved 2021-01-26.
  21. ^ "Simple Creatures: Mark Hoppus & Alex Gaskarth On 'Strange Love' EP, Plus Blink-182 & All Time Low - YouTube". www.youtube.com. Retrieved 2021-01-26.
  22. ^ "How The Cure Influenced Simple Creatures". Kerrang!. January 28, 2019. Retrieved February 22, 2019.
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