Brooklyn’s own Native Sun is releasing their debut EP on November 17th. If you haven’t heard of these guys, stop what you’re doing and immediately check out the two singles released, then we can really dive into the interview.
Native Sun is a four-piece rock ‘n’ roll band with a sound that mixes the classic sound of bands like The Rolling Stones with a new, gritty, and loud psychedelic rock sound we’ve all grown to know and love. And with over 18,000 plays of their first single “Palindrome,” a lot of people are checking them out. Possibly due to Glassnote Records‘ putting the group on their Noteworthy 01 compilation, which highlighted emerging NYC bands like Plain Dog, Blasteroid, Grim Streaker, and more.
The group has shared the stage with bands like Petite League, Surf Rock is Dead, and a Jukely favorite, Warbly Jets.
We were lucky enough to ask them a few questions about how they do what they do.
Describe your sound in three words.
Danny Gomez: Rock ‘n’ roll.
Jake Pflum: Rock ‘n’ roll.
Alexis Castro: Rock ‘n’ roll.
Mo Martinez: Next question.
How’d the band get together?
JP: Met on Tinder.
You can definitely hear the influence of The Rolling Stones and Velvet Underground in your sound, what do you think makes bands like them resonate forever, as they have?
Everyone: They’re the complete package. Lyricism, melodies, raw energy, and aggression. They’re also able to produce tender and introspective songs that dig deeper and deeper into the human condition, thus never repeating themselves.
Favorite venue to see a show and favorite venue to play a show?
DG: Shea Stadium. It doesn’t exist anymore; it wasn’t the nicest place aesthetically (just how I like it), but the sound was great and still retained that edge. It was located in ‘warehouse central’ in Bushwick and felt like home with no rules.
Mississippi Studios in Portland. It looks like an old, beautiful theater, the classic 20th century American kind. It’s in a part of Portland you wouldn’t expect to see a venue like that.
JP: Baby’s All Right—love the attitude, love the sound, I’ve seen some of my favorite shows of all time there. Then when we played there, it cemented that it was my favorite venue to play at too.
AC: Music Hall of Williamsburg—some of the most memorable shows I’ve ever been to were there, but I haven’t been in a long time. I also haven’t played at enough venues to have a favorite.
MM: Webster Hall—saw the Allah-Las there. Chumani, Léon, GTO.
After the Love and Hate EP, are you thinking more EPs or is a full-length in the Native Sun fan’s future?
DG: We’re going to keep on writing and recording and figuring it out as it feels natural. We have 30 to 40 songs still to record and are writing more everyday. Question should be, when are we not going to have songs?
JP: We’ve got at least one more EP in us before we take on a full cohesive LP.
AC: What’s left to say? We have a lot of songs that need to come out.
MM: Look out for the double album.
Other than your own, what’s the best album of all time? (Possibly the hardest question ever).
DG: The Velvet Underground & Nico—it’s aggressive and beautiful; a perfect depiction of the unpredictability, lust, and ups and downs of life in the city.
JP: Paranoid or Paul’s Boutique or Rocket to Russia.
AC: Yup, you were right. This is impossible to answer.
MM: Physical Graffiti.
Who’s with you on your dream tour?
DG: Leonard Cohen and Caetano Veloso.
JP: The Beatles.
AC: The Doors! Jim Morrison and I would send it every night.
MM: The Jimi Hendrix Experience and The Grateful Dead.
You’ve got some shows coming up soon, which are you most excited about?
Everyone: All of them.
How do you find new music?
DG: I’ve gotten to the point in life where I just listen to the same albums over and over again trying to decipher and understand what makes them great, both the songwriting and intricate details—like painting a canvas… Gotta keep on listening to them more.
JP: New music tends to find me; all of a sudden I find out about new music and if it’s good it sticks around.
AC: That I actually like? I usually don’t. If I do, it’s thanks to algorithms or friends.
MM: Friends usually.
Anything else you’d like to tell the Jukely family?
NS: We’ve got an EP coming out November 17th and a show at Baby’s All Right with Dream Wife the night before. Native Sun is for the proletariat and children, bringing rock n’ roll back to the people.
Thanks so much guys!
Pre-order their new EP here!
Upcoming shows in Brooklyn:
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