With their blend of classic pop and sugary, Midwestern-sounding indie rock, Mazes met up in Manchester in 2009. Guitarist Jarin Tabata had moved over from the States, drummer Neil Robinson hailed from New Zealand, and guitarist Conan Roberts (head of D.I.Y. label Italian Beach Babes Records) and vocalist/guitarist Jack Cooper (head of the similar D.I.Y. label Suffering Jukebox Records) were both born and raised in the U.K. The four moved to London after starting Mazes, and released several 7" records and homemade cassettes before recording their debut full-length, A Thousand Heys, issued by Fat Cat Records in 2011. ~ Jason Lymangrover