Local Natives perform in The Current studio
September 08, 2023
Los Angeles band Local Natives released their latest album, Time Will Wait for No One, on July 7 of this year, and they kicked off their tour in support of the album with a show at First Avenue in Minneapolis on August 18.
While in the Twin Cities for that show, Local Natives band members Taylor Rice, Ryan Hahn and Kelcey Ayer visited The Current studio in St. Paul to play stripped-down versions of songs from the record, and then they hung around for a chat with host Ayisha Jaffer — during which, they revealed (among other cool facts) their desire to land that coveted star on the exterior wall of First Avenue.
You can watch and listen to the full session above, and read an interview transcript below.
Interview Transcript
Ayisha Jaffer: Hey, what's up? I'm Ayisha Jaffer here from The Current, and I'm hanging out with Taylor, Ryan and Kelcey from Local Natives. Thanks for being here.
Taylor Rice: Thanks for having us.
Ayisha Jaffer: So last year around this time you guys performed at First Avenue, and you're back kicking off your tour here tonight. Is there something about Minnesota that just keeps you coming back?
Taylor Rice: We have to always come back to Minnesota, yes! It's, I mean, this is like, we've been touring here ever since we started, and yeah, it's totally like in our top favorite places to come to. So it's a really great place to start the tour. And yeah, always happy to be back. We don't usually come every year, that's a lie.
Kelcey Ayer: I just want us to get the star on First Ave's wall. We don't play every year.
Ryan Hahn: It's like a punch card at like a Subway sandwich thing. Kelcey just wants to...
Kelcey Ayer: Yeah, if you play 10 years in a row.
Ryan Hahn: Yeah, you get the star.
Ayisha Jaffer: OK, so you heard it here: Local Natives want a star Well, it's so exciting, you guys have your fifth studio album out now, Time Will Wait for No One. And I know this wasn't like an easy album to make. There was a lot of transitions, families being made, and then being in each other's business to like, not talking to each other for a long time. So I'm just wondering, like, what was it, was it a moment, or just a series of things that made you guys choose to keep pushing forward and making new music together?
Kelcey Ayer: I mean, we just have such a long history that it felt like as bad as things got, it felt worth it to find a way forward. Because we're all friends first. So like we all met in high school; they went to high school together, I went to like high school close by in Orange County. And we all played music together first, because just like we love music. And we like each other, we became like, really good friends. So we're like, "Oh, let's just try to make it work." And then it turned into this whole thing of like, you know, our livelihood has become this, and it'll be 20 years we've been playing together next year. And yeah, it just felt like this was too special to walk away from, so it motivated us to push through. And I'm so glad we did. Because we have more new music from this period of time than we've ever had from like, any time working on a record before.
Ayisha Jaffer: That's really beautiful. And it's and it's wonderful too, because you guys are so talented together and individually. So I'm glad you're together. You chose to spend time together with each other. And I heard like, you know, we're talking about this this time period, it was a unique time period. And you kind of did something different for your songwriting process, but really like a return in a way because you were going back sort of to the days of Gorrilla Manor when you lived in a house together and playing in the backyard on your acoustic guitars. Is that right?
Taylor Rice: That is right. Yeah, I think like, you know, so Ryan, Kelcey and I are the songwriters and singers in the band. And like Kelcey just said, since we were 15, we've been like sitting down together, showing each other our songs. And then you know, collaborating very, very intimately and intensely, and Gorrilla Manor, we lived together. So it'd be like, wake up in the morning, sit down at the piano, mess around backyard with a guitar. And then this was totally a return to that, because we could only start getting together kind of in our backyards. And so it was another really like kind of cool, intimate, beautiful, small way to start the writing process again.
Kelcey Ayer: We tried to do like Postal Service, like, vibe of like, I send him a beat, he sends it, like something on top back. And we're really bad at that it turned out, where we can't do it like they can. But yeah, so we were kind of forced and it ended up working out way better, you know?
Ayisha Jaffer: So better together, kind of together in the same space, yeah.
Ryan Hahn: Yeah. Yeah, I think so, yeah.
Taylor Rice: It's just our like, way of connecting and being musicians in a physical space in a room together, the energy of that. You know, I think a lot of musicians do just work remotely or send stuff back and forth. But for us, there's a magic in being in a physical space and making something together that you really can't recreate in another way. And yeah, I think it's like vital to Local Natives' writing process.
Ayisha Jaffer: Was there anything else that was different or that you learned from kind of returning back to this process that you'll take into the future?
Taylor Rice: You know, how much time do we have? Like, we learned a lot. We learned a lot of things, like I think this time period — like for almost everybody on the planet, right? — was this moment where life stopped, and like everything with this huge reset button and you had to take a look at your life and sort of sometimes you're just coasting along with like, the way that things are. And this was a really amazing moment to kind of like take stock, look in the mirror. And I feel, yeah, really proud of us that we came together and were like, "Let's reopen, like, everything about the way that we work and be super honest and vulnerable with each other." And I feel like there was a really kind of like beautiful openness to the collaboration that we ended up landing on in making this record that, you know, we've always had like a great collaborative spirit, but I just think there's like a little bit more like ego and tightness and holding on in the past to kind of like, it felt a little more like politicking in a way to make songs together. And yeah, this was like a really cool way for us to like, let go in a way that actually brought us a lot closer together.
Ayisha Jaffer: I love that. And you can kind of hear it reflected in your album as well. And, I mean, this is exciting, so you've got this writing process has brought you closer together, which means you're just gonna tour better together. I'm excited you're starting here. You also worked though, with John Congleton to record this album. So I'm wondering how you guys for one, that's like a perfect pairing. And then how you found each other. And then how that experience was working together on this album?
Taylor Rice: Yeah, we found John, really through Sharon Van Etten.
Ryan Hahn: Yeah, yeah, we were big fans of that record that he did with Sharon [Remind Me Tomorrow, 2019] and the one he did with Angel Olsen [All Mirrors, 2019]. I think those were the two that kind of popped into our heads. And yeah, we just kind of met in Taylor's backyard and kind of talked about our vision for the album. And yeah, I don't know, I think we like got along really well and yeah, it felt really good. I don't know, sometimes we laugh like looking back, like, he kind of got roped into almost like having to be like, de facto, like therapist at times; like, not necessarily like counseling us, but like, dealing with us working out our stuff together, like kind of, you know, in a different room of the studios and stuff, but ended up being really good.
Taylor Rice: Yeah, he's an amazing producer. And I think like, so many of the things, especially looking back, that we did together are just like really special and helped us. One thing that John does, I'll just to get specific, is he's like, "All right, like, what's going on here? Let's like, let's see what's happening. We'll start making a vibe, together." And like if it's not working, he's just like, "Well, this isn't working. Let's let's throw it out."
Ryan Hahn: And start over from scratch. Yeah.
Taylor Rice: Which kind of was like forcing, in a way, that was part of the thing that kind of forced us to really help all get aligned, work on the songwriting, like, get all that right.
Ryan Hahn: Because sometimes, if it's yeah, not clicking, you can kind of piece it back together, you know, with all like, the technology and stuff, but I think John was really good about being like, "Let's just start over and make sure the song is solid," you know, from the ground up. And I think that really helped us, like, make sure all the songs in the record just worked, you know, and instead of kind of frankensteining them.
Kelcey Ayer: You can see it a little bit with the session we just did, where it's just really stripped down. And I feel like the songs work in that setting. And like, you know, the full band setting, because it just like, it really does feel like a foundation, like if the song is not there, like, you can't really like build anything up on top of it. Because it just, it collapses. And you're just like, well, it's because you know, it doesn't have the right, you know, thing to stand on.
Ayisha Jaffer: Yeah. Well, working with him, now, I also heard you guys worked across like studios all across L.A., and I know that could mean you're in a cabin in Laurel Canyon, you're in someone's bedroom, you're in a historic space with golden toilets. So I'm just curious if you have any sort of studio stories on your journey.
Ryan Hahn: Oh, boy. I mean, it sounds like from the outside, you're like, "Oh, yeah, we just like had fun choosing all these studios," but a lot of it was just like boring logistics. It's like, "Everything's booked up, and we're just trying to find a spot," but it ended up being rad because we did get to go to places like, there's a place in the [San Fernando] Valley called Valentine where it's like, it's you go in and it feels like you're in like, you know, they haven't touched it since like the ‘70s.
Taylor Rice: Velvet walls.
Ryan Hahn: It's like Velour.
Taylor Rice: Yeah, it was like incredible.
Kelcey Ayer: It was a big Beach Boys spot, right?
Ryan Hahn: Yeah, the Beach Boys made records there, like, it just...
Taylor Rice: [We] made an amazing session there. It was really cool.
Ryan Hahn: Yeah! Ended up getting a lot of cool stuff for like, "Just Before the Morning." Like, I feel like actually some of the songs we put out first were the ones we worked on last, you know? There's a song called “NYE” that, we were in this like really cool studio called 64Sound in our neighborhood, and we were just kind of all playing together in a very kind of old-school manner for us. And yeah, I don't know. I'm trying to think of specific things.
Taylor Rice: Well, just another thing that came to my mind is like we did a lot of the record, especially with Congleton, at this studio in [Los Angeles neighborhood of] Echo Park called Sargent. And so it was kind of small and like neighborhood spot, you know? Like, we did some big like the Velour wall studio. And then we just had this kind of like house that's converted. And you can hear it on the intro of the album is the title track, "Time Will Wait for No One," and it kind of starts with like hearing us walking on the gravel. There's just one microphone set up outside in the front yard. And we're around one mic, the three of us singing, and you can hear like the helicopters flying overhead and stuff. So I feel like...
Ryan Hahn: The ambient noise, yeah, of being in the neighborhood.
Taylor Rice: It's just like an intimate part of like being in L.A., and that like being a thumbprint on the record. It can like feel that in it.
Ayisha Jaffer: Yeah, so it's like the environment and then like, inspiration from anything from a house to like, velvet walls, bringing that velvety sound.
Ryan Hahn: Yeah!
Taylor Rice: Totally!
Ayisha Jaffer: Well, you mentioned "NYE," and "NYE" I heard was born into fruition at your wedding.
Ryan Hahn: Yeah, that's right.
Taylor Rice: By an incredible wedding band.
Ryan Hahn: I mean, yeah, we have the tradition going now, and it's, like Matt [Frazier] is the only one in the band who's not married yet. And so I'm hoping we'll do it at his wedding. But yeah, so far, we all make up the wedding band for the for the guy who's getting married. And then you get to choose like your favorite songs. And so I chose like, songs by Oasis and the Strokes and stuff like — songs that I never honestly imagined these guys playing.
Ayisha Jaffer: Yeah!
Kelcey Ayer: He made me sing a Bee Gees song!
Ryan Hahn: He sang a Bee Gees song!
Kelcey Ayer: That was like way too high!
Taylor Rice: Kelcey always gets the really, like, impossible to sing high songs.
Kelcey Ayer: I sang Jackson Five at...
Taylor Rice: At Nik [Ewing]'s wedding.
Ryan Hahn: Way too high!
Taylor Rice: Yeah. I give you Talking Heads, though.
Ryan Hahn: But you know, they sounded so good. And it just kind of was this moment of like, maybe we could do a song like this? Like I remember ... I feel like it was TRL like when I was in like high school or something, I remember seeing like Chris Martin talk about like a Coldplay song that was like, fast. And he was like, "You know, it's like a fast Coldplay song is like saying it's like the warmest piece of ice," or something. I was like, I don't know, that felt like a self-aware thing from him. And I just remember being like, "Maybe Local Natives could have a fast song." Because like, we always seem to like kind of write in certain tempos. And I don't know, I just, seeing them play like the Strokes and stuff like that kind of was like, "We could write a song that's just different than anything we've done before."
Ayisha Jaffer: OK, and you picked a holiday that doesn't have enough songs. So, very appreciated.
Taylor Rice: Yeah, yeah, yeah. Nice. And put it out in the summer.
Ayisha Jaffer: Yeah! Gotta look forward to something, you know?
Taylor Rice: That's right.
Ayisha Jaffer: It's not too far away.
Taylor Rice: Yeah.
Ayisha Jaffer: "Just Before the Morning" is another song that we're playing here on The Current. And I know that was kind of born into you guys coming into the studio together, that creative energy kind of reflects beginnings. And so I'm just wondering, do you feel like you're entering a new phase of Local Natives?
Taylor Rice: Completely. Yeah. It feels ... you know, part of that is, like in our career, Kelcey just said, I think we're about to hit, that we've been together 20 years. So part of it, I think, is a necessity of like, evolution to be creative and have it feel exciting. And then another part is just like the stage of our lives, like everybody becoming parents. And you know, like that. Local Natives have always really written also a lot about our life experience. Like our records are very personal. That's what we write from. Like, we can't even really try and like control any kind of like narrative; the music really just comes from our life. And so, yeah, it's really like, it's cool. We're like growing up together, we always have, and now it feels like we're in a new phase of life together as well, and I think that's reflected.
Ayisha Jaffer: Well, and you mentioned before, Kelcey, about this is the era that has like the most amount of music that you've created together, kind of this transition has kind of inspired this pile of music that you're sitting on, and I'm just wondering, is there anything we're allowed to know about? I know you just dropped a new album, but is there anything else we can know about that for the future?
Kelcey Ayer: I think it's just that more new music is coming way sooner than normal for us. Honestly, this album was going to be a double album, but we decided to split it in half, and we're kind of finishing the second half right now.
Ayisha Jaffer: OK, so we might see you every year then here.
Kelcey Ayer: Like I said,
Taylor Rice: We're coming back next year for that star!
Kelcey Ayer: It's all motivated to get the star, so I'm gonna have us keep making more records like this.
Ryan Hahn: It's like the thirstiest that, Kelcey, god, man.
Kelcey Ayer: The quality will go down, but we will have
Taylor Rice: Kelcey, it's very earnest. I love it.
Kelcey Ayer: but we will have more records out.
Ryan Hahn: Yeah.
Ayisha Jaffer: No, I love it. Well, before I let you guys go, is there anything else you want our listeners to know?
Taylor Rice: That we love you and keep having us back every single year, thank you for that!
Ryan Hahn: Yeah!
Taylor Rice: Yeah.
Ayisha Jaffer: Well, Time Will Wait for No One is out now. It's waiting for you. Thank you so much Local Natives for hanging out with The Current.
Ryan Hahn: Thank you.
Taylor Rice: Thank you.
Kelcey Ayer: Thank you.
Video Segments
00:00:00 NYE
00:02:55 Just Before the Morning
00:06:34 Hourglass
00:10:13 Interview with host Ayisha Jaffer
All songs from Local Natives’ 2023 album, Time Will Wait for No One, available on Loma Vista Recordings.
Musicians
Taylor Rice – vocals, guitar
Ryan Hahn – vocals, guitar
Kelcey Ayer – vocals, shaker
Credits
Guests – Local Natives
Host – Ayisha Jaffer
Producer – Derrick Stevens
Video Director – Evan Clark
Camera Operators – Evan Clark, Josh Sauvageau
Recording Engineer – Eric Xu Romani
Mix Engineer – Cameron Wiley
Graphics – Natalia Toledo
Digital Producer – Luke Taylor
External Link
Local Natives - official site