Interview: Paul Smith Reflects on 20 Years of Maxïmo Park
By Sheldon Ang
After nearly two decades away, Maxïmo Park are finally heading back to Australia – a moment frontman Paul Smith describes as nothing short of overdue. “It feels like a case of now or never!” he says with a laugh. “Apparently, our last time in Australia was 14 years ago, which is far too long.” The band plans to make up for lost time, slipping songs from their more recent albums into a setlist that spans their entire career.
This year marks the 20th anniversary of A Certain Trigger, the Mercury Prize‑nominated debut that launched Maxïmo Park into the mid‑2000s indie spotlight. Revisiting those songs has been unexpectedly emotional for Smith. “The songs are bursting with emotions, so there’s a lot to deal with on stage each night,” he reflects. With two decades of distance, the material has taken on a new weight. “They become quite poignant, and I end up thinking of the person that I was back then.”
Despite the years, the album’s iconic singles, Apply Some Pressure, Graffiti, Going Missing continue to resonate with fans. Smith believes their longevity comes down to a mix of urgency and introspection. “We hoped the songs were both a document of their time and also timeless… there’s something very direct and urgent about them, but also reflective, thoughtful undertones.”
Preparing the anniversary reissue was its own surreal experience. “It surprised me how much of the archival material felt so fresh, like it was made yesterday,” Smith says. “It’s quite an unusual feeling to not remember a lot of what went on… when other things feel so present.”
That tension between past and present also shapes the band’s approach to the anniversary tour. Some early lyrics feel raw in hindsight, but Smith embraces that vulnerability. “Some of the lyrics are extremely angst‑ridden, but I’ve come to terms with it. It was okay to be like that in your early adulthood.”
Across eight albums, Maxïmo Park have maintained a signature blend of punk energy, pop precision, and literary flair, a blueprint Smith says still guides them today. “Each album has its own character, but it builds on that original blueprint. Hopefully, we learn from our mistakes and push ourselves a little bit further out each time.”
Setlists remain a democratic process, led by drummer Tom English. The goal is always balance: the hits fans expect, and the curveballs that keep things exciting. “We’ve always seen ourselves as a pop band at heart… but pop music is art, and we need to express ourselves too.”
Two decades in, performing live still fuels the band. “It’s not as purely hell‑for‑leather as it once was,” Smith admits, “but we tend to write songs full of energy, so we’ve made a rod for our own backs!” What keeps the fire burning? “The music itself! Having a real love for what you do is the best fuel for a performance.”
As Maxïmo Park prepare to reconnect with Australian audiences, Smith’s hope is simple. “Quite simply, I hope they take away a feeling of joy from the experience!”
Maximo Park to kick their Australian Tour this week.
LAXÏMO PARK 20th Anniversary Shows 2026 Australian Tour Dates
Thursday 23rd April – FREMANTLE, Freo.Social
Saturday 25th April – MELBOURNE, 170 Russell (Early show doors 6:30pm)
Sunday 26th April – ADELAIDE, The Gov
Wednesday 29th April – BRISBANE, The Triffid
Thursday 30th April – SYDNEY, Liberty Hall
Tickets On Sale: https://www.destroyalllines.com/tours/maximo-park
