Eighty Ninety: From ‘808s and Telecasters’ to Natural Vibes

Hometown: New York Metropolis
At the moment Primarily based In: New York Metropolis
Favourite Pastime: Abner: Yoga // Harper: Doomscrolling Memes
Favourite Artist(s): Tom Petty, Sparklehorse, Taylor Swift, Chet Baker, Third Eye Blind, HAIM

Who’s Eighty Ninety?

Hey, we’re Abner and Harper James. We’re brothers in an alt-pop indie band referred to as Eighty Ninety.

We grew up in a small coastal city and ended up in NYC. We would at all times performed music, however when Harper began working at a studio in Brooklyn, it felt like the appropriate time to see what we may do.

We did periods between work and late at night time till we produced our first tune, “Three Thirty”. At that time, we did not also have a band – we did not even know if we’d launch no matter we made.

We ended up with a sound that fuses extra intimate storytelling with pop-leaning melodies and minimalist productions constructed on acoustic devices and digital sounds. We named the model (partly as a joke – however it caught) “808s and telecasters”.

We determined we appreciated “Three Thirty” sufficient to launch it, so we put it on SoundCloud and Spotify and began emailing blogs. After a number of months, somebody at Spotify miraculously heard it and put it on contemporary finds.

From there, it jumped to the viral charts – and that is after we had been like, “I suppose we’re in a band now” — and began working earnestly on our first EP “Elizabeth”.

What’s the story behind your artist title?

We needed a reputation that would not field us into any particular style. One that may match regardless of the place our music led us.

There are numerous completely different meanings behind Eighty Ninety — we have heard numerous guesses, too — and we like all of them. Likelihood is we like your guess and that you just’re proper, too.

Are you able to stroll us by means of your artistic course of, from ideation to completed product?

We’re actually collaborative all through your entire technique of writing, producing, and even mixing.

Typically, Abner will herald a tune he is written (or began writing), and Harper is the hands-on producer sitting behind the desk taking part in many of the devices (give or take the occasional acoustic guitar or piano half) whereas Abner sings.

We’ll often have a dialog in regards to the general imaginative and prescient of the tune, any essential sonic or emotional concepts we wish to discover.

As soon as the manufacturing begins, we’ll throw out concepts and take a look at issues till they begin to click on, after which we’ll maintain honing the sound. Plenty of occasions, manufacturing will change into mixing with out us even realizing it, after which we glance up, and it is completed.

Generally we’ll herald pals (like author/producer Gian Stone or mixer/producer Andrew Muary) to collaborate after we really feel like their perspective would actually improve a given tune.

How has your music developed because you first began making music, and what modifications have you ever seen in your model or strategy over time?

Once we first began, we nicknamed our model “808s and telecasters”, which was each an correct description of our first single, “Three Thirty” and a shorthand for our anything-goes vibe within the studio.

We attempt to let the tune and emotion, not style conventions, lead the sound. We’re at all times strolling the road between natural, song-based music and extra experimental productions.

Extra just lately, we have been leaning right into a extra pure and fewer “programmed” strategy – as a result of it is what feels enjoyable in the mean time.

Are you able to inform us a couple of specific efficiency or recording session that’s notably memorable or significant to you?

The very first time we obtained collectively to work on a tune, we did not even plan to launch it, not to mention begin a band.

We simply had been having enjoyable, chasing down sounds and concepts that had been thrilling. We’re at all times attempting to carry onto that strategy as a result of we’re satisfied it results in the perfect outcomes.

@eightyninety8090 Small city children know 🏠🌌 #singer #originalsong #indieartist #swiftie #swifttok #songwriter #smalltown ♬ 10K Summer season Nights – Eighty Ninety

In case you may have your followers bear in mind one factor about you, what would it not be?

In the event that they bear in mind a time when our music helped them in any means – by means of a tough second, soundtracking a very nice summer time night time — that is actually the purpose.

It’d sound cliche, however it’s actually much less about how they bear in mind us and extra about whether or not our music helps enrich their life.

In case you may collaborate with any musician, alive or deceased, from any style or time interval, who would it not be and why?

It is gotta be Taylor. We’ve a lot respect for her as an artist, innovator, and songwriter. Even earlier than she added us to her playlist, we had been large followers (that was the cherry on high).

If we ever had the prospect to collaborate together with her in any means, that may be the dream. That is our message in a bottle!

What’s the most vital lesson or realization you have had thus far in your journey as artists, and the way has it influenced your strategy to music?

The extra you keep true to what excites you — quite than what you assume individuals would possibly wish to hear — the extra individuals truly reply to it.

It is actually excellent news, in our opinion. The extra pleasure it brings us, the extra pleasure it appears to deliver others.

What fictional character(s) do you each determine with probably the most and why?

Haha. Do not know if this counts, however rising up, everybody advised us our household reminded them of the one from that present The O.C. Perhaps as a result of dad is a surfer.

How has Playlist Push contributed to your progress as an artist?

Playlist Push is among the solely instruments we have discovered that does the one factor that actually issues: assist us get in entrance of actual individuals who would possibly like our music. We have seen actual progress and precise fan conversion from our campaigns with playlist push.

Use our Spotify Playlist Promotion or TikTok Music Promotion service.