Local Natives

California’s Local Natives make hooky, nuanced rock that balances post-punk urgency with folk-tinged lyricism. The group had a buzzy moment in 2009 when their debut album, Gorilla Manor, attracted fans and critical praise for its vibrant mix of kinetic tribal rhythms and soaring falsetto harmonies. Since then, the band has expanded upon that sound, exploring a darker, more ambient aesthetic on 2013′s Hummingbird and adding synths and electronics into the mix for 2016′s Sunlit Youth. Both albums cracked the Top 30 of the Billboard 200. 2019′s Violet Street found them digging into a nuanced, ’70s adult contemporary vibe. It was an atmospheric style they further enhanced with 2023’s soul-influenced Time Will Wait for No One and its 2024 companion album But I’ll Wait for You. Originally, guitarist Ryan Hahn, singer/guitarist Taylor Rice, and keyboardist Kelcey Ayer (all of whom share vocal duties with Rice as the main lead) met while attending their Orange County high school and played together in various punk bands. After high school, they continued to play music while Rice attended UCLA. In 2008, around the time Rice graduated university, the trio recruited drummer Matt Frazier and bassist Andy Hamm, and subsequently moved to the Silver Lake neighborhood of Los Angeles, where they began to forge their highly collaborative sound. Local Natives’ debut, Gorilla Manor, arrived late in 2009 through U.K. label Infectious Records (with an American release coming early the following year by way of Frenchkiss). In 2011, Hamm parted ways with the group, leaving them a quartet. In 2013, Local Natives returned with their second long-player, Hummingbird. Led by the single “Breakers,” it showcased a darker, more atmospheric sound than their debut. Shortly after the album was released, it was announced that Hamm’s touring replacement, bassist Nik Ewing, had officially joined the band. As a quintet, Local Natives continued to tour in support of their sophomore release, which reached number 12 on the Billboard 200 as well as charting in parts of Western Europe. A third album, Sunlit Youth, arrived in the summer of 2016 via Infectious and Loma Vista Recordings, peaking at number eight on the rock albums chart. It found the group returning to a more upbeat style, punctuated by the addition of synths. The single “I Saw You Close Your Eyes” was released in early 2017 along with a cover of Fleetwood Mac’s “Tusk.” Local Natives returned in early 2019 with Violet Street, which was produced by longtime studio collaborator Shawn Everett (Weezer, Lucius, the War on Drugs). Included on the album were the singles “When Am I Gonna Lose You” and “Cafe Amarillo.” In May 2020, they released the non-album single “Dark Days,” a collaboration with electronic duo Sylvan Esso. At the same time, they were back in the studio, recording in Los Angeles with producers/engineers John Congleton, Michael Harris and Danny Reisch. The sessions resulted in the group’s fifth full-length, Time Will Wait for No One. Released in July 2023, the album was marked by warm, multi-part harmonies and a blend of atmospheric soul and indie rock influences. A companion album recorded at the same sessions with Congleton, But I’ll Wait for You, arrived in July 2024. Anchored by the singles “April” and Alpharetta,” it showcased an equally soul-infused sound. The album also marked the band’s last with singer/keyboardist Ayer, who amicably left the group that year following their tour. ~ Matt Collar