We’ve been waiting for what feels like decades to get our hands on Eighty Ninety’s debut album. And to know that the time is finally here, well we’re honestly losing our minds about it! Not only that, but we also got to talk to Eighty Ninety again about all that’s happened since we spoke last, and all the cool things that are about to come! So grab your favorite drink, or a snack, and hit play on ‘Stay Alive‘ as we buzz right on into this one!
Hello and welcome back to The Honey POP! We are so excited to chat with you guys again! Before we fully buzz in, go ahead and introduce yourself to our readers and let them know what Eighty Ninety is all about!
Hi! We’re Abner and Harper James, brothers who form the indie-alt-pop band Eighty Ninety. Our music is a blend of intimate storytelling and minimalist pop productions, combining acoustic instruments and electronic sounds. We call our style “808s and telecasters.”
Your self-titled debut album is finally almost here! It’s been a journey to get here as well. What does it feel like now that you’re closing in on the release date?
We’re extremely excited to finally share our debut album with our fans. The album represents a journey of falling apart and learning to put ourselves back together and capturing unexpected moments of joy along the way (in some ways that mirror both our personal experiences as well as the band’s). Releasing this album feels like sharing a deeply personal story with our audience.
The New Year is right around the corner along with this new Eighty Ninety era. What are some of your hopes, dreams, & goals for 2024? Anything cool Eighty Ninety plans you can or want to share with us maybe?!
For 2024, our main goal is to keep creating music — while we don’t have specific plans we can announce right now, we’re always working on something and can’t wait to share it with our fans.
You’ve said before that you love classic storytelling, but you also love some experimental sounds. And we’d say you constantly find the perfect way to pair the two. What are some moments from Eighty Ninety that feel like that for you? Or that you’re just beyond excited for everyone to hear?
Our very first song “Three Thirty” was a blend of what felt like almost a country song with more contemporary techniques like vocal glitching, 808 programming and pitch-shifting instruments. Our approach is to let the emotion and the story of the song lead the sound, rather than adhering strictly to genre conventions. This blend is something we’re continually exploring and refining.
The influence in your music from Taylor Swift is prominent, and we love the way she clearly loves you guys back. And as fellow Swifites ourselves, we can’t blame you whatsoever. But with that being said, if you had to play Taylor Swift one song off of your upcoming debut album, what song would it be and why would you pick it?
Choosing just one song for Taylor Swift is tough, but we’d probably go with ‘Ruins.’ It feels the closest to the indie soundscape she’s gravitated toward recently but still grounded in story (and one that takes place in a small town, no less). It’s such an honor to have her support and to connect with her fanbase through our music.
We love every single that’s going to grace the upcoming album, but something about ‘The Hard Way’ is so personal to us. Can you tell us about the creation and inspiration for that track?
‘The Hard Way’ is a song that’s written in the moment, a real-time conversation rather than a reflection on the past. It’s about unconditional love and the inevitability of coming back together despite hardships. With this one, we tried to capture the essence of commitment through tough times and the deep emotional connection that persists. We collaborated on it with an amazing writer Sarah Troy, who’s worked with a lot of artists we love. We’re really happy with how it came out.
The pen game in every Eighty Ninety song has always been insane, but it’s just been getting better like fine wine!! Which normally comes first – the lyrics or the instrumentals?
Our songwriting process typically begins with an outline of a song on a guitar or piano created by Abner. Harper then brings those ideas into the studio to bring the song to life. After that, we bang our heads against the studio desk for a hundred hours and somehow a song comes out, haha.
Bowery Beach Road felt like a beautiful way to look back on all the songs that made us fall in love with Eighty Ninety in the first place. What did that release mean to you guys?
Bowery Beach Road was a meaningful release for us as it allowed us to look back on our journey and the songs that have resonated with our fans. It’s a celebration of where we’ve been and a reflection on the music that has defined us as artists so far. In a different world (that didn’t involve COVID) it would have been our debut record — and we tried to sequence it so it felt like that.
What color would you say best represents your upcoming album’s overall vibe/aesthetic?
If we had to pick a color to represent our upcoming album, it would be a warm, soft hue—something that reflects the intimate and emotional nature of our music. We try to make songs that sound like sunsets.
Last one, we promise, but with the new era of Eighty Ninety about to fully start, what would you like to say to your fans who have been there along the way?
To our amazing fans, thank you for being with us on this journey. Your support means everything. People say that it feels like a cliche, but it’s one hundred percent true. We hope our music continues to resonate with you and be a part of your life’s soundtrack.
Thank you again to Eighty Ninety for taking the time to chat with us about all things past, present, and future! It’s safe to say we’ve been waiting for this day for a long time and we’re beyond stoked that it’s here! What has been your favorite single from the debut album so far? Let us know in the comments below! Or you can let us know on Twitter, Instagram, or Facebook!
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