After making a bold impression with a string of enticing indie-rock cuts over the last few months, LA-based outfit Indigo FM continue their impressive streak with the smooth and pulsing new jam ‘Anhedonia’.
Matching the same broad and shimmering direction they have been producing so far, which takes its cues from Arctic Monkeys, Muse, and The Black Keys, ‘Anhedonia’ is a fine example of their work to date. Offering up more warm and sweeping hooks, alongside some blissfully enjoyable vocals, it feels like these guys are getting better with every release right now.
So with their new single doing the rounds, we had a quick chat with them to find out more about their background and what has inspired them most over the years.
Words by Chris Bound
Discovered via http://musosoup.com
Chris) Hi guys, how are you today?
Indigo FM) Doing good! This is Esteban by the way (lead singer). Just trying to stay cool in this recent heatwave we’ve been having in LA.
For those that haven’t heard of you yet, how would you best describe your sound and who have been your biggest influences so far?
Our sound is constantly evolving but always broadly within the indie rock/alternative spectrum. All four of us have a lot of different tastes and influences so it makes for a very interesting melange and references. Some bands/artists we currently like include Mutemath, The Neighborhood, Maximo Park, Cigarettes after Sex, Wilco and Ariel Pink. That gives you an idea of how diverse our sound can be. We usually tend to agree more on what we dislike.
Do you remember what the first song or album was that made you want to start a career in music?
For me it was two songs that I became aware of around the same time. I was 12 and was just starting to download music off the internet instead of my parents cd collection and I came across “Layla” by Derek and the Dominos and Jimi Hendrix’s cover of “All along the watchtower”. The first time I heard that solo that was it for me, I knew I wanted to dedicate my life to the pursuit of music.
You have just released your new single ‘Anhedonia’. Can you tell us how that track came about? Is there a story behind it?
Connor (lead guitar) and I were trying to write a song a week around October of 2020. I was listening to a lot of Franz Ferdinand so I started jamming on the bass with just the isolated drum loop of one of their songs (don’t remember which). Connor translated the verse and chorus chords I had into some cool scrappy guitar riffs and then we both started coming up with melody and lyrics. Since it was written during quarantine, as musicians I guess we were both feeling the gloominess of uncertainty about the future and the resignation of still wishing to be productive and positive so the song is about the tension between those to moods. After we had a working demo with guitars, scratch vocals and some synth elements we brought it to Patrick (bass) and Johannes (drums/production) and whittled it down to the final version over the course of a couple of months.
And was there a particular style you were looking for when you wrote it?
Not really but we did end up referencing a lot of different “vibes” when we were building the demo and the subsequent rough mixes. There’s a little Weezer, The Raconteurs, Muse, Franz Ferdinand, Oasis, even Nirvana etc. in there but personally I think it has a very distinct Indigo FM sound that’s hard to pin down.
Can we expect a new EP, or even an album from you in the near future?
We have a few exciting projects we plan on releasing before the end of the year! Our next single “Daffodil” is slated for release August 20 along with an accompanying live music video. We have 3 more singles that we’re currently producing that will be released shortly after. In addition, we will be releasing a live EP featuring 3 songs that were recorded at Clear Lake Studios in Burbank California along with 3 live music videos.
The coronavirus outbreak has obviously affected everyone’s plans, but what have you got in store for the rest of the year?
Covid permitting, we are looking to play a few showcases and line them up with our future releases. Other than that, the focus will be on pumping out the next few songs and start writing for an EP or potentially a small album with an aim to release next year?
And finally, what is the fondest memory you have since you started this band?
There have been many but in recent memory I think recording the live music videos at Clear Lake was a great experience where all of us came together to pull off something really cool!