Neverlyn - Sound In The Signals Interview
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| frankie |
First, thanks for the interview.
Neverlyn: Of course. Thank you for inviting us.
Can you tell me how you formed the band for those who may be unfamiliar? How did you initially become interested in music?
Nisha Rangel: The beginning of Neverlyn started back in 2013 when Anna and I met in college. We initially started out as an all female band for the first year our so, but has now developed into the band you see today over the course of almost ten years. (Wow lol). We’ve been working at this for a while and have seen many people come and go but I’m very happy with our current line up; we all have such a drive and passion for music. I think each of us has their own experience but for me it started with middle school band. I loved playing saxophone so much and I also just loved bands, I wanted to move into something to replicate what I heard on my iPod, so I got into choir and begged my parents for a guitar until I finally got one at 16. Then I just became obsessed with trying to learn my favorite songs on YouTube and it helped me build a foundation to soon try to write my own music later.
Anna Neitzel: Like Nisha said we met in college when I was 16 and she was 19! I graduated high school early to pursue music, and I always knew I wanted to start a band. I grew up in a musical household. My dad is an old road head who used to tour in the 70s/80s with the Bay Area classic rock band Y&T and he would tell me his stories when I was growing up about touring with The Runaways, Kiss, Mötley Crüe, meeting Freddie Mercury. Just these legendary stories about traveling and mishaps and excitement and friendship and I just knew that was my path, but I’d be on stage. My parents really fostered my love for music and an appreciation in art. My dad raised me on bands like The Who, Blue Oyster Cult, The Beatles, Motörhead. I’ve never really known a life without music and it’s hard for me to imagine one at this point!
Karah Lenzi: For me, I have this specific memory of when I was eleven. My uncle took me to guitar center and I remember him asking, “which do you wanna play? The drums over there or the guitar?” And I said guitar, so he bought me my very first acoustic for like $180 and that’s kinda how it all got started for me. I never looked back.
You recently announced a tour with Honey Creek. How did that tour work out? What are looking forward to most about it?
Anna Neitzel: Initially we were only supposed to play one show with Honey Creek in Oakland last year, but their tour got rescheduled because of COVID, and with all of the change ups they asked if we’d want to do more west coast dates and we said most definitely! Our bands initially became friends because of a mutual friend, Luca, who shared our music with one another! (Thanks Luca!!!!) I’m personally most excited to see our friends in far away places. I miss them more than it feels like my heart can bear. It’s also Karah and Mitchell’s first time touring with us so we’re all really really excited about that!!!
Nisha Rangel: I can’t wait to play Beauty Sleep live, especially the newer ones from the deluxe version because everything got shut down right at its release, so we missed the chance to, and I’m also excited to see our friends in other states. Now that things are reopening and concerts are coming back we finally have that opportunity again and we’re all so stoked. It’s been way too long.
What can fans expect from the live show? Do you have any surprises planned?
Neverlyn: We hope people have a great time and just enjoy our energy on stage the same way we can enjoy an audience. We have such a great time when we get to play, and we hope that’s something that comes across. Surprises? Hmmm maybe a special cover or maybe a new song? You’ll have to come see us to see. ;)
You've been working on new music. What can you tell me about the writing and recording process so far?
Neverlyn: It feels like we’ve finally found our footing in the direction we want to take our sound. We’ve been pushing ourselves in the studio and trying to write things that are unique but cohesive to the project as well. We’ve been working with Steve Klein again whose seen our growth and gets what we’re trying to accomplish with the new songs and we’re all so happy with it thus far.
Do you have a particular song that you're most excited for people to hear? Why?
Nisha Rangel: Hide or Shame. Hide because it’s got a retro emo vibe, mixed with a punchy chorus that comes in so hard, it’s gonna get those head bangs. Shame because it’s one of the strongest things I think we’ve written as a band that is a little outside of our typical genre comfort zone, but we add our own flare to it so it still is very much a Neverlyn song.
Anna Neitzel: I’m most excited for people to hear Shame. The song itself is written about something really close to my heart, and it feels like there’s healing every time I sing it. Almost like a little piece of the pain from that situation gets taken out of my chest, covered in gold, and lovingly sent back home to where it belongs. I’m excited for other people to hear it, and I hope it can bring the same type of healing and comfort that it brings me.
Is there any chance that you're working on an EP or album? If so, what can you tell us about it so far?
Neverlyn: We’re working on an album. Overall it feels a lot more mature, and dark and emotional. After something like the pandemic, we all went through a lot of highs and lows and I think this album reflects a lot of that and feeling lost in the process of figuring it out. Being able to reflect on the experience and write about it has become so cathartic in moving forward and getting back to what we love to do.
Thanks for taking the time to answer the questions. Do you have anything else that you would like to add?
Nisha Rangel: Buy our shit and support your local scene!!
Anna Neitzel: SUPPORT YOUR FRIENDS SUPPORT YOUR SCENE YOU’RE NEVER TOO COOL TO BE NICE TO PEOPLE
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