Everything Everything’s Jonathan Higgs on Bear v. Shark

Everything Everything's Jonathan Higgs on Bear v. Shark

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It took only a single read through for Everything Everything frontman Jonathan Higgs to fall in love with the satirical absurdity of Chris Bacheldor’s 2001 novel Bear v. Shark. Its skewering of society’s modern reliance on technology and entertainment hasn’t left his brain since. On this episode of The Spark Parade Higgs explains his love for the book and how it inspired the complex backstory that underpins Everything Everything’s new album, Mountainhead. Listen above, or wherever you get your podcasts.

Higgs dissects what Bear v. Shark says about modern-day politics, as well as how the tone of the story feels like flipping through TV channels. It’s a technique he’s adapted into his own writing. “That’s basically how I write a lot of lyrics, I will basically switch tones in the middle of something,” Higgs says. “So, it will go from me trying to sell you something, using all that kind of language, to something very, very personal and distressing.”

Bear v. Shark had a heavy influence on Everything Everything’s newest release, so be sure to listen and find out why above, or on your preferred podcast provider. Also, make sure to follow and review to support The Spark Parade. You can also keep up to date with all our series by following the Consequence Podcast Network.

Host Adam Unze (The Opus) explores creativity in all its forms on The Spark Parade by asking musicians, artists, comedians, and other creators to share the single cultural work that has most inspired them. Whether it comes from the world of music, film, comedy, visual art, or literature, we all have something that sparks our own creative desires. On The Spark Parade, guests reveal the single piece of art that ignites within them to fire of creation.

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