The Subtheory Sounds the Alarm on Information Overload with "Things That Caught My Attention"

There's a feeling many people know all too well: spending hours consuming news, social media posts, opinions, and headlines only to realize none of it has actually been processed. On "Things That Caught My Attention," Oxford-based outfit The Subtheory transforms that modern condition into a dark, hypnotic listening experience.

Blending trip-hop, post-punk, and psych-pop influences, the band's latest release feels like the soundtrack to a mind overwhelmed by information. Thick basslines pulse beneath anxious rhythms while moody textures swirl around vocals that sound both detached and urgently present. It's a track that doesn't simply describe the chaos of modern life; it immerses listeners inside it.

Inspired by the relentless barrage of media, doomscrolling, and competing narratives that define contemporary culture, "Things That Caught My Attention" examines what happens when we absorb everything and process nothing. The song captures the exhaustion of living in an era where every platform demands attention, every headline competes for outrage, and every voice claims to have the truth.

What makes the track particularly effective is that it avoids becoming purely cynical. While much of the song explores confusion, manipulation, and social fragmentation, The Subtheory ultimately leaves room for hope. Beneath the darkness is a message about connection and shared humanity, suggesting that the noise dividing us may not be as powerful as we're led to believe.

Drawing from influences like Massive Attack, Portishead, Tricky, and Radiohead, The Subtheory continues to refine their distinctive sound, one that feels cinematic, unsettling, and strangely addictive all at once.

As the band prepares for the release of their second album, the follow-up to 2024's Shark Tank, "Things That Caught My Attention" arrives as both a warning and a reflection. In a world constantly fighting for our attention, The Subtheory remind us that sometimes the most radical act is simply stopping long enough to think for ourselves.

"Things That Caught My Attention" feels like a response to information overload and modern media culture. Was there a specific moment when you realized you were consuming more information than you were actually processing?

It’s hard to say if there was a specific moment; it felt more like a creeping sense of overwhelm.  We’re assaulted 24/7 by things vying for our attention.  It’s shaping the way we see the world, and it feels like we’re being told to perceive things in a certain way, to fit a certain agenda.  The truth can’t compete with the litany of lies and manipulation; it’s just not up to the job.   When we don’t know what is true anymore, it then becomes easy to believe nothing.  When we believe nothing, we believe anything.  If you can keep the people in a state of credulity, then nothing is beyond the realms of possibility.  That’s a long way to say that I feel like I’ve somehow sleepwalked into this.

The song explores themes of manipulation, doomscrolling, and living in what you describe as "post-truth times." Do you think people are becoming more aware of these influences, or are we getting better at accepting them as normal?

The documentarian Adam Curtis made a brilliant film called Hypernormalisation, which I think best describes the state of the world right now. We all know that these times are strange and fake, but we all go along with it as it’s easier than facing the complexities of the real world.  I think on some level we are all aware that we are being influenced by outside forces, but we choose to live a “simpler” life by accepting this.  The question we should be asking ourselves is whether our lives are better off than they were. 

Despite its darker themes, the song ultimately lands on a message of unity and hope. Why was it important for you to leave listeners with optimism rather than cynicism?

I don’t believe that any situation is too far gone; we hold the power ultimately.  It just starts with us realizing that we are stronger together than divided.  The issue we all have is cutting through the noise to get to the heart of what really matters.  Humanity matters, people matter.  I don’t pretend to have the answers, but I feel we have a much better chance of helping each other out and seeing things from each other's point of view rather than pulling up the ladder and building walls around ourselves.  Imagine how we’d treat each other if we realized we’re all connected?  Imagine what we could achieve?

The Subtheory draws from artists like Massive Attack, Portishead, Tricky, and Radiohead, but this track still feels distinctly current. How do you balance those classic influences with the realities of the world we're living in today?

We really are a melting pot of influences; each of us brings something different to the table.  I happen to take lead vocals on this track, but normally that’s Cate’s domain.  She brings an often fragile, ethereal melodic quality to our music; I just tend to lean more into the restless, shouty side of things.  I like to think of influences as roots of a tree that provide the foundations for what’s to come; we may be a little way away from them timewise, but we wouldn’t exist without them holding us up on their shoulders.

As you work toward your second album, what role does "Things That Caught My Attention" play within the larger project? Is it setting the tone for what's to come, or is it just one piece of a much bigger conversation?

On the surface, it’s quite different from what’s come before, but it’s really just reflecting a different side of the music we want to make.  Everything we do is real and from the heart, so if we feel something, we want to reflect that in the music.  It’s easy to get trapped into the idea of what a genre should sound like, but I want to make music that flows like a conversation or a series of conversations.  Related but not always exactly the same.  I wouldn’t want to limit ourselves by only sticking to our lane.