"it’s so important that we keep supporting each other as much as possible. Otherwise, there will be no normality to go back to after all this madness."
Neon Islands are an indie-rock band based in London, UK. In this conversation, we discuss the meaning behind their recent single MOON taken from their upcoming debut EP. The band also share their experiences of being in lockdown and give their advice to anyone wanting to pursue a career in the music industry.
Tell us a bit about yourself!
We all got into music from different parts of the world, which we’ve always thought is quite an interesting fact about us. Two of us are Spanish, one English and one Maltese. We met at university in Guildford and formed the band shortly after freshers week! We were so lucky to find each other so quickly. We like to think about the Neon Islands as a place we take people to with our music. When people watch us live, they always say we create a space for everyone to feel safe, switch off and just have a bit of fun with our music and our lyrics. I think that’s the most valuable thing you can achieve as a band!
Do you have any artists who have particularly influenced your sound?
We have so many! Our sound is the result of so many different influences we all have. But I guess the common ground has always been represented by bands like Interpol, Talking Heads, The Strokes, Foals… we’re also very much into new music, and we are constantly looking to find amazing bands around us. Lately we’ve been a bit obsessed with Do Nothing.
How would you describe your music?
I guess the easier way to describe it is to say we make alternative pop/rock with an edge. However, a BBC presenter referred to us once as “Acid-washed pop”, and I kind of really like that.
Can you explain the meaning behind the lyrics for your new single MOON?
MOON explores the deep challenges that come from the day-to-day routine of a long-distance relationship. The main theme of the song is the confusion generated by the sadness of being apart. Starting a long-distance relationship is like going through a breakup, except for the fact that the lovers are actually trying to salvage the relationship, not to end it, which I always found very confusing!
Do you plan to release a music video for MOON?
We do indeed! We filmed it last September with our good friends Jack and Amber from Lonely Chief, who have done all of our videos. We are a bit like a little family. Keep your eyes peeled for the announcement!
Is there a specific process when it comes to writing and recording your music?
Writing is always a bit of a different process. I wouldn’t say there is a system in place that always works for us. It always depends on the song. For MOON, we just developed an idea from scratch in a rehearsal, and eventually it got a structure and became a song. Then I always like to take that home and write lyrics at night, in solitude. However, for this one I remember writing some lyrics down on the train on our way to play a show. So yeah, it varies every time. For recording, we like to get very involved in the production. Most of the time we have a clear idea of what we want things to sound like. But of course, we have a team of amazing people around us who help us with that too. Recording can get tricky if you don’t let an extra pair of ears in the room. A Spanish artist I really admire said something like “you never finish a song, you eventually just leave it”. I couldn’t agree more!
What are you currently working on?
MOON is the first single of a few others that are coming. We’re definitely in the middle of a process. But can’t really say anything else yet!
Would you say that lockdown has affected your creative process when it comes to writing and recording music?
Lockdown has been a very challenging time for everyone, specially for those in the creative industries. It has definitely affected us in the way that we couldn’t play gigs or rehearse. But I like to see the positive in it too! It has definitely pushed us to be creative in different ways, and we’ve had loads of time to write too. We are at a very important moment for culture right now - it’s so important that we keep supporting each other as much as possible. Otherwise, there will be no normality to go back to after all this madness.
What advice would you give to someone who may want to start a career in the music industry?
I think we’d just say don’t give up. If you have a clear and realistic idea of what you want to achieve, just go for it. Success takes time, and it definitely takes a long time in music to get to where you want to be. But my advice would be to stop focusing so much on the final goal, and focus on enjoying the ride because it is beautiful and it is so much fun - even if you get nowhere!
What is the best piece of advice you have ever received?
“If you have an idea and you’re not sure if it’s going to work, try it out. If it works, do it again. If it doesn’t, don’t”
Check out Neon Islands' new single MOON (linked below)
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