Wunder Wunder

“For me it’s a standalone project that I’m very focused on,” says Shanahan. “It’s got its own merits, its own sound and we want to continue making it that kind of thing and keep focusing on this and putting albums out.”

Miami Horror started roughly eight years ago as a one-man electronic project by Plant. Shanahan entered the fold at the tail end of the recording process for 2010’s debut album, Illumination, primarily helping out with production. He’s since become an integral member of the band’s touring lineup, but prior to Wunder Wunder he and Plant hadn’t worked together in a songwriting capacity.

“We also did a remix album for Miami Horror called Lucid Stream and that’s where we started to realise we both like similar sounds,” he explains. “So [realising that] made us want to do something on this line, that’s a bit more band-orientated and song-orientated.”

Once Shanahan and Plant identified their symmetrical sensibilities, the Wunder Wunder project began to evolve. However, the pair’s earliest creative dabblings were conducted without much conceptual intent.

“It started off with Ben writing a little thing for ‘Coastline’ and I just sung over the top of it,” Shanahan recalls. “I was doing drums in Miami Horror and I was wanting to get off that and do songwriting. I used to be a guitarist and I produced with Miami Horror, so I had a craving and an interest to get back into it. I sung over the top of that and I was like, ‘Oh, that sounded good,’ and things just kept popping up – little ideas, little songs.”

At first, Plant and Shanahan considered using some of this material for Miami Horror’s forthcoming second album. However, it was soon clear an entirely new project was necessary. Despite their determination in reaching this decision, they have maintained a relaxed creative approach.

“It’s definitely a very organic process, where songs will just pop up and then we fit that in,” Shanahan says. “That was a big thing, just allowing it to flow, as opposed to sitting down and being quite strategic. You can be conceptual with things, but it was more about connecting to a flow; quieting your mind down and just letting songs come to you and not stressing. That’s where a lot of good creativity comes from.”

This Zen-like songwriting approach is evidenced on Wunder Wunder’s new album, Everything Infinite.The recordpossesses a dreamy haze, which has its roots in ’60s and ’70s psychedelic pop. Additionally, it bears semblance to 2013 releases from kinsmen Jagwar Ma and Cut Copy. However, Shanahan says the direction of Everything Infinite was largely the product of playful imaginings, rather than concerted stylistic aims.

“There’ll sort of be a character and a colour to it,” he explains. “So a synth might sound like a little fat man or it might sound like a weird little creature or a guitar might sound like a dream. [It’s about] just making sure that you don’t stop an idea from going where it wants to go – you allow it to go into directions and play with it and enjoy it. It’s almost like the idea’s taking you for a ride. That’s probably one of my favourite things to do – just get lost and taken away for a while.”

Speaking of getting away, Miami Horror formed in Melbourne but for the last couple of yearshave been based in Los Angeles. These days, the band functions as a four-piece collaborative unit, rather than an outlet for Plant’s creativity alone. The outcome of this transition will be showcased on the group’s second album, which is due for release early next year. Shanahan explains how important the move overseas was for inspiring his newfound creative vigour.

“Having gotten away from Melbourne and some of the people I know, it’s good to go somewhere and remove yourself from the past and what you think you are. Los Angeles and California is a very dreamy, laidback place, so it all came together to make this project. I feel like the whole thing represents a blooming for me, as a songwriter and going away to Los Angeles and getting my confidence up. Now that I’ve realised that and we’ve made this album, I feel really strongly about it.”

Thankfully, they haven’t forgotten their roots. Both members of Wunder Wunder have just returned to the Southern Hemisphere and will make their Australian live debut next week. While it’s still a very new project, Shanahan says they’ve already spent plenty of time getting acquainted with the stage.

“We’ve been playing in America for a year. We did a tour with Washed Out and Crystal Fighters. We’ve been really able to develop that energy live. We’re really excited to bring it here because we’ve got the show all sorted out. The energy of it is much more enthusiastic – it’s not just us standing around thinking we’re cool. We like to put a lot of positive vibes into the room.”