Neighbors :: Attention (Updated w/ Interview)

Neighbors
These two teenagers are from LA ('cause really, where else is there besides LA?) - they are barely out of high school, but they have already made some top notch music.  This song, "Attention," features some great harmonies and a simply but very multi-layered tune to keep it flowing smoothly; the use of banjos, autoharps and acoustic guitars really build a great summer feel.  It is (even if it's just one song) far better than Tennis, who I enjoy thoroughly, simply due to all the variety you get within the one song - when it breaks down from 3:20 on to the end and really, Augusta's vocals throughout are just simply beautiful.


Not to mention the fact that the video is done extremely well - the simple act of repeating them in one frame seems to add to the depth of the song - not to mention the fact that is just really cool.  The whole aura that both the room and they give off just makes everything about this song seemingly perfect in its own little world, even if they haven't done much else besides this song.  Check the video out below, and their Facebook page here.  Interview below as well.





Me: You guys are clearly just getting started on the LA music scene - what would you like listners to know about your band and your music?


Neighbors: We have a very personal relationship with our music and we're happy to know that people enjoy listening.


Me: How did Neighbors come together?


Neighbors: We became friends on a school trip to China.  We were 12 years old and bonded over mutual interests.  Since then we've been buds and started playing music together during free periods in high school.


Me: How would you describe your music? What are the writing and recording processes like for it?


Neighbors: Our music is an organic fusion of what we listen to.  We both love early American folk music, and a lot of doo-wop.  An average practice for us would be Dakota fiddling on the guitar and Augusta singin' different melodies until both lined up nicely.  Lyrics are usually drawn from personal experiences or fictional stories we wanna tell.  Some, like John Muir, are about people we love/ are inspired by.  Most of our friends play music which provides a great community to workshop our songs.  Now Dakota lives in Chicago our writing process has become more dependent on the internet connection.


Me: Are there any bands that influence your music directly? Or any that influence you to write something polar opposite?


Neighbors: There are so many bands that influence us. Some of our shared influences are the Everly Brothers, Harry Nilsson, Tammy Wynette, George Jones, Beach Boys, everything that Sublime Frequencies releases, Ry Cooder...the list never ends.


Me: Thanks so much for your time, and keep up the great work!




Here's some more stuff by them.
Latest tracks by NEIGHBORS
-- ______Me____