WATERPARKS discuss their first London headline show, dreams coming true and their highly anticipated debut album.

If you have no idea who Waterparks are, then your life is about to change dramatically.

As for me, one of those bands who makes me want to dye my hair. Again.

But first things first. There was only one place to be on that Tuesday night (May 31st). London NW1 8AN. The Barfly. The place where all up and coming bands are drawn to, hoping to scatter their sounds across so they live in its walls forever. The place with a massive history of legendary groups playing there for a very first time in their music career. You can take Benji Madden’s words for it if you don’t believe me. He was the one telling everyone to come down to Waterparks‘ gig. This is where Good Charlotte played their first London show after all.

And this is the place where not only had Waterparks played their first headline show in London but also the place where they had played their first headline show outside the USA. And it was a big one.

When I was making my way to beloved Camden I was thinking that pop-punk certainly is not dead and it’s doing pretty well. Having arrived at the venue only confirmed my beliefs when I saw the eager fans waiting in the queue, some of them proudly wearing the Slam Dunk Festival T-shirts where the band had played earlier that week.

Houston-based trio didn’t hide their lively excitement about the evening too. I just saw the queue outside! – I hear the evident enthusiasm in Awsten Knight, the lead singer and guitarist of the group’s, voice. It’s our first time out of America! – he continues and unveils more from their exploration of London. We went to the Queen’s House, we saw the very big clock, we saw the guys in the red outfits and big hats… Someone should really add that to the city guidebooks.

We also had some fish and chips – Geoff Wigington (guitar) adds.

We exchange some thoughts on the city as the band share more fascinating sightseeing related stories. There’s also something about a language barrier (who would’ve thought, right?) and a lot of dogs of course. It wouldn’t be a Waterparks story without a dog in it, would it?

These lads came together around 2012 and since then they have been constantly creating anthemic and powerful pop-punk hooks, dropping one EP after another and warming up many hearts of their fast growing fan base.

Having emerged on the music scene with debut and self-produced Airplane Conversations EP (Apr 2012) and the follow-up Black Light EP (Jun 2014), Waterparks made a clear statement that they’d come a long way to make a lot of mess and a lot of noise. Blending youthful honesty and startling maturity of the lyrics, delivering arena-size tracks fully filled with heavy guitars, vigorous percussion and high-reaching vocals, they are clearly hard to go unnoticed. Not to mention the unmissable charm and contagious energy. All of that generates a unique dynamism between them and translates utterly into the live format.

Now, a few years later the band consider their progress and development since the very start.

We’ve been doing more and more with each release and it’s gonna continue to go that way – Awsten explains. I think before we didn’t necessarily have the means to try a lot of things but since we’ve got into home recording we’ve got a chance to try out new sounds. That contributed a lot to our expansion and style.

The trio’s latest Cluster EP, co-produced by Benji and Joel Madden, was released in January this year via Equal Vision Records. After having landed a spot as the opening band for Good Charlotte and getting under the wings of the Madden’s management company, Waterparks definitely are on the right path to the lifestyle of rich and famous. At least they’ve got pretty good mentors who know bits and pieces about it.

Either way, who hasn’t dreamt of hanging out with their favourite band?

Any highs and lows of working with the Madden brothers then?

I think the best thing is that they’re so stoked on us – the singer says. I mean the way we are so we can continue doing everything we want stylistically. And I think the worst part is… Ok so we grew up listening to them. I remember being in like fourth or fifth grade so now I really don’t want to let them down. It’s not actually the negative side to it but that’s the closest thing. We just want to prove them right for taking a chance on us.

As the conversation unravels, it turns out that the opportunity of working with the Maddens has been the highlight of their music career so far.

The moment when we literally packed our bags and flew to California, that was it – Geoff recalls. We weren’t planning on it for at least another few weeks and the Maddens got hold of us saying “You’re coming tomorrow”. We thought “Oh shit”..

And literally dropped everything – adds Otto Wood (drums). It’s been great.

Everything since then has been just phenomenal – the frontman sums up.

Nevertheless, I wonder. Any fights in the paradise?

Oh it’s terrible – Otto begins. We kick each other out of the band every day.

Yes, every day because we want our Wikipedia to look like a bunch of dots in the members section – Awsten clarifies.

It’s very strange between the three of us – the drummer adds.

Apparently, there’s much more to it. Not as easy as one would think.

We can’t sleep in the same room anymore because we’re trying to kill each other with pillows – says Awsten.

Basically, you get kicked out if you make a bad pun – Geoff adds.

It’s true but then we’ve got this system of checks and balances – Awsten explains.

You’re trying to work the swing vote and you bargain with the third party who is not involved with your squabble and then you get to be back in the band – Otto sums up. So that’s how it works.

Luckily, it works.

There’s one more vital thing you should probably know about Waterparks which is the fact that they’re here just to play a show with Ke$ha someday.

Any luck with that?

No luck yet but we’re really pushing for it – Awsten states. That’s been the consistent thing since the very beginning – “I wanna play with Ke$ha”. Probably just us opening for her but it’d be crazy to play at the same time. I would totally write a song with her and I would love to be her live band for like a month.

She’s amazing – I hear from the rest of the band.

And she is a really good songwriter – the frontman ponders. So no actual luck yet but we’re working on it. Ke$ha if you hear this hit us up. I would say my phone number but then if on the Internet things would get hectic for me. Sorry.

Houston’s pop-punkers are really hyped about the near future and there are a few good reasons for it – they just have released a live video for the track No Capes, which is amazing by the way, they are about to go on the Warped Tour and they recently have announced they are working on their first album – It’s been so hard not to talk about it! – the singer says – We’re trying to wrap it up before the tour and it’s sounding super fucking cool. With a review like that, just one question – Where do I pre-order?

Oh and they’re coming back to the UK in August with their pals Good Charlotte so you better be there. I don’t want to be the one to say “I told you so”.