SOOP (EP)

PEOPLE TAKING PICTURES

Released 12 June 2026

What Reality? Records

****-

A trippy, kaleidoscopic fusion of alt-rock, jazzy beats, hip-hop energy and electronica that melts all genre boundaries into a turbulent sonic soup.

 

People Taking Pictures is the visionary side project of Luke Parish, famously known as the guitarist for Perth’s heavy psych-rock champions Psychedelic Porn Crumpets. Based in Boorloo/Perth, Western Australia, this adventurous project allows Parish to step completely outside the roaring riffs of his primary band and explore an unbound sonic landscape. By merging the immersive, swirling textures of alternative rock with the syncopated, experimental energy of hip-hop, smooth jazz undertones, and vibrant electronic music, the project creates something entirely fresh - a powerful testament to Parish's versatile multi-instrumental prowess, reflecting a deep desire to reshape rigid musical boundaries completely.

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With the vibrant six-track EP SOOP, People Taking Pictures delivers a masterclass in experimental cross-genre exploration that remains remarkably cohesive despite its incredibly vast and ambitious stylistic reach. The record balances fuzzy psychedelia with sharp, urban rhythms.  Opening tracks 'These Days' and 'Violets' glide seamlessly between lush alt-rock melodies, groove-heavy harmonics and ragged hip-hop incursions, all held taught by an innate, sophisticated understanding of pacing. "Goblins" runs dueling machine-gun, hip-hop vocal leads that deal in greed, intolerance and the whole damn thing, over a luscious prog-rock backing. "Electricity" surprises with it's mellow funk and circular lyric: "Locks are looking for the keys / And when you love someone / You love someone / You love someone / When you love someone / When you". "Let This Be" employs a call-response vocal in a scorching appraisal of the state of the world. "Let This Be",another dystopia-shredding vocal duet gives way to the rapid-fire "In Record Time" that is in turn replaced by a saxophone solo that decays from wild abandon to mellow tones and segues into a smooth landing upon a bed of synths. 

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Throughout this satisfying journey, jazzy horn flourishes and warm electronic elements provide a rich undercurrent that keeps each track unpredictable yet deeply infectious. Along the way, POW! Negro's lyrics deal with some serious stuff -  the passing of time, oppression, the malaise of progress, greed and more - and  offers a solution: "Hit em with sound"!

 

Parish's intricate production beautifully ties these seemingly disparate sonic worlds together, utilizing clever sample flips and textured guitar layers to construct a truly immersive listening experience. SOOP may sound abrasive at first, but on repeat, a bold, kaleidoscopic statement is revealed, solidifying this project as one of Australia's most exciting, genuinely innovative acts.

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There's more...

People Taking Pictures Official

Bandcamp

Spotify

YouTube

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