Electro-pop duo and married couple Park Haven explore the complexities and entanglements of romance and relationships in their first EP, ‘Fragile’.
The husband and wife, based in Sydney, created the duo called Park Haven out of the curiosity they had regarding whether they could merge their very differing musical backgrounds of musical theatre and indie rock and obtain a brand new sound. The result has been shown to be poppy vocals, guitar riffs and 80’s-influenced instrumentals including synthesizers, drums, and guitars that give us constant twangy riffs.
The couple took advantage of the 2020 lockdown to work and refine the sound they started experimenting with the previous year. The resulting singles and EP that followed those releases reflects their aptitudes, synergy and their love for pop and 80’s music.
The EP Fragile was recorded and self-produced in the couple’s home, and was later on mixed and mastered by record producer, Nick Franklin, at Rolodex Sound in Sydney.
The EP works as an exploration and deep dive into romantic relationships and the different ways in which feelings can develop or slowly fade away. Made up by five tracks, it tells different situations in each song and provides a point of view for different stages of love, infatuation and maturity. All the songs contain staple Park Haven elements while showing slight differences as these elements are presented in both poppy and in R&B-inspired tracks.
Starting off with the lead single ‘Problems’, we’re introduced to a relationship where one person is putting all the effort in the relationship as their partner ignores any issues between them. Presented in a lighthearted way, with a cheerful guitar and lovable vocals, the track gives off the feeling of being unable to stop loving someone despite noticing their lack of interest in improving the relationship. The sound is reminiscent of The 1975’s more pop-leaning songs, so fans of similar artists should enjoy this track.
Problems works superbly as the lead single, as it introduces the listeners to the idea that not all the relationships they’ll listen about will be in their prime or lovey-dovey, all while giving us a sound that fits nicely in the middle of being slow-paced and an energetic song.
On the other hand, ‘Waiting’ is a song with a slightly more pronounced sound, counting on its drums to provide an easy-to-get-into main beat. With the occasional appearance of dream-like synths, Waiting feels as though you’re having a night out with friends to get your mind off of everyday annoyances. This song will definitely suit the taste of fans of Dua Lipa and Fickle Friends, as it contains the same addicting energy and groove found in the former’s Future Nostalgia and the latter’s You Are Someone Else.
The adrenaline from the previous track vanishes as we’re greeted with a more slow-paced but equally hard-hitting track. ‘Killing Me’ has a heavier focus on the drums and the serious, emotional vocals as the rest of the instruments take a background seat and let these two elements take the stage. With lyrics that show the inner strife of loving and hating a person, as you struggle to decide what is the best path to walk on, Killing Me discusses relationships that end of a bittersweet note.
Sometimes ending things is the right choice if you want to make your partner and yourself happier, and that important decision is given the seriousness it deserves in this track. Despite the gloomy and ambiguous ending, where it’s clear that there will be pain regardless of the choice made, the song and its memorable guitar riffs can be enjoyed as a smooth break in between two groovy tracks.
To cheer their listeners up after Killing Me’s heart-breaking theme, the EP quickly glides back into the electro-pop sound with a tinge of tropical pop in ‘Perfect’. Presenting elements from both the second and third tracks, Perfect contains a right amount of realism and optimism. The energizing tune and honest lyrics are a sweet combination that takes you on a dream cruise on its way to paradise. Undoubtedly addicting, this song
‘Hoarders Paradise’, the last track, completely veers away from the 80’s influences and the pop sound we’ve been enjoying in the previous songs. Feeling like a more mature and serious version of what the rest of the EP presented, the indie and slightly gritty sound is more akin to modern music as the lyrics warn the listener about their heart.
Only a year into their career, Park Haven has already displayed their high aptitude in a variation of genres — especially standing out with their different styles of pop. With the recent rise of retro love and appreciation, the duo has arrived just in time to appeal to today’s audience. With this advantage and their undeniable talent, Park Haven’s future keeps looking brighter and brighter.
If you enjoyed Park Haven’s music and would like to stay updated, be sure to check out and follow their Facebook and Instagram accounts. To listen to their music, you can head over to their Spotify profile.
You can also support the artist by streaming and sharing their music, which can be found in the following Playlists: Female Rising Stars, Alterindie State Of Mind, Fresh Singles, Indie Only and Aussie Scene Nowadays.
P.S. If you enjoy discovering new artists and fresh new music you should subscribe to Less Than 1,000 Followers and follow the Playlist with all the artists we’ve talked about!
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