Local Natives
Local Natives is an American indie rock band formed in 2008 in Los Angeles, California, originally emerging from high school friends in Orange County who previously played in groups like Cavil at Rest.[1][2] As of 2025, the band consists of Taylor Rice (vocals, guitar), Ryan Hahn (guitar, backing vocals), Matt Frazier (drums), and Nik Ewing (bass, keyboards, vocals), following the departure of founding multi-instrumentalist and co-vocalist Kelcey Ayer at the end of their 2024 tour after nearly two decades together.[3][2][4] Renowned for their kinetic post-punk rhythms, soaring three-part vocal harmonies, and buoyant, melody-driven songs that blend indie rock with afropop and folk influences, Local Natives gained early acclaim with their self-recorded debut album Gorilla Manor (2010), which featured hyperactive drumming and intricate guitar work.[5][6][7] Subsequent releases, including Hummingbird (2013, produced by Aaron Dessner of the National), Sunlit Youth (2016), Violet Street (2019, produced by Shawn Everett), Time Will Wait for No One (2023), and But I'll Wait for You (2024), showcase their evolution toward more experimental and collaborative songwriting, often reflecting themes of time, loss, and personal growth amid the challenges of the pandemic era.[1][8][9] The band has built a dedicated following through dynamic live performances, including standout shows at festivals like SXSW and their own Greek Theatre headline in 2021, while actively engaging fans via platforms like SoundCloud for sharing demos, stems, and remixes that highlight their creative process.[1][10]History
2005–2008: Formation and early career
Local Natives formed in 2005 in Orange County, California, when high school friends Taylor Rice, Kelcey Ayer, and Ryan Hahn began collaborating on music, initially under the name Cavil at Rest.[11][12] The trio drew from their shared suburban upbringing to experiment with indie rock arrangements, laying the groundwork for the band's signature harmonious style.[13] In 2006, the group expanded with the addition of drummer Matt Frazier and bassist Andy Hamm, solidifying their lineup and enabling more structured songwriting and rehearsals.[14] This period marked the band's shift toward frequent local performances at Orange County venues, where they honed their live energy and connected with early audiences through opening slots and small club shows.[15] They also self-released material, including demos that captured their evolving sound, distributing them at gigs to build grassroots interest.[12] By 2007, as members attended nearby colleges like UCLA, Local Natives—still operating as Cavil at Rest—gained traction through campus performances and word-of-mouth among students, fostering a dedicated regional following.[16] In late 2008, the band changed its name to Local Natives and relocated to a shared house in the Silver Lake neighborhood of Los Angeles, immersing themselves in the city's vibrant music scene to focus on recording.[14][17] This move facilitated initial recording sessions for new material, including tracks that would later define their debut, while they continued building their fanbase via Los Angeles-area college and local gigs.[12]2009–2011: Gorilla Manor and Hamm's departure
Local Natives recorded their debut album, Gorilla Manor, primarily in late 2008 at the band's shared house in Orange County and at Hot Pie Studios in Los Angeles, with production handled by the band members alongside engineer Raymond Richards.[14] The album was first released in the United Kingdom on November 2, 2009, through Infectious Records, followed by a U.S. release on February 16, 2010, via Frenchkiss Records.[18][19] Upon release, Gorilla Manor garnered widespread critical acclaim for its blend of intricate harmonies, rhythmic percussion, and indie rock energy, earning an aggregate score of 80 out of 100 on Metacritic based on 18 reviews.[18] Pitchfork praised the album's "rustic and yearning vocals" and "clattering percussion," awarding it an 8.2 out of 10 and highlighting tracks like "Wide Eyes" and "Airplanes" as standouts.[20] Commercially, it debuted at number 160 on the Billboard 200 chart and reached number 3 on the Heatseekers Albums chart, reflecting its breakthrough among emerging indie acts.[21] The lead single "Airplanes" was released in early 2010, accompanied by a music video directed by Mark Waring that featured the band performing amid whimsical, dreamlike visuals.[22] To promote the album, Local Natives embarked on extensive touring throughout 2010, including headline shows across North America and Europe, as well as opening slots for artists like The National and Ra Ra Riot.[23] The band made notable festival appearances, such as their set at Lollapalooza in Chicago in August 2010, where they performed songs from Gorilla Manor to growing crowds and solidified their live reputation for energetic, harmony-driven sets.[7] In April 2011, founding bassist Andy Hamm announced his departure from Local Natives, citing unresolved creative differences that had arisen during the band's intense touring and songwriting period following the album's release.[24] The band issued a statement emphasizing the need to move forward in a positive direction, marking the end of their original lineup configuration.[24]2012–2013: Hummingbird and Ewing's arrival
Following the departure of bassist Andy Hamm, Local Natives recruited Nik Ewing as their touring bassist in 2012, with Ewing also contributing on keyboards and vocals during live performances.[25] Ewing was announced as an official band member on October 11, 2013, at Austin City Limits. Ewing's addition provided lineup stability as the band prepared for their sophomore effort, marking a transitional phase in their development.[26] The band signed with Infectious Music for international distribution ahead of releasing their second studio album, Hummingbird, on January 29, 2013, through Frenchkiss Records in the US and Infectious Music elsewhere.[27] Produced by Aaron Dessner of The National, the album featured a more streamlined sound with reduced multi-tracking on vocals and percussion, emphasizing intimacy and sophistication compared to their debut.[28] Lyrically, Hummingbird delved into themes of loss, introspection, death, travel, and loneliness, reflecting personal doubt and emotional depth through details of everyday life, such as in tracks like "Ceilings" and "Colombia."[28] Hummingbird achieved moderate commercial success, peaking at number 58 on the UK Albums Chart and number 12 on the US Billboard 200.[29][30] To promote the album, the band embarked on an extensive headlining tour across North America and Europe in 2013, performing at festivals and venues that highlighted their evolving live energy.[31] This period also saw the release of the iTunes Session EP on November 5, 2013, featuring live recordings and covers that captured their performances from the era.[32]2014–2018: Sunlit Youth
Following the release of their second album Hummingbird in 2013, Local Natives took an extended hiatus to explore new creative approaches, traveling extensively to write material for their third studio album, Sunlit Youth. The band recorded across multiple locations, including Thailand, Malaysia, Nicaragua, Hawaii, and Ojai, California, between 2014 and 2016, allowing them to draw inspiration from diverse environments during what they described as a period of personal and artistic evolution.[33] This nomadic process, produced primarily by band members alongside engineer Brian Joseph, emphasized a shift toward broader sonic experimentation while focusing on themes of aging, reinvention, and personal growth.[34] The album reflects introspection on past experiences and forward momentum, with frontman Taylor Rice noting it captured conversations about youth and maturity amid the band's strengthening interpersonal bonds.[35][36] Sunlit Youth was released on September 9, 2016, through Infectious Music in partnership with Loma Vista Recordings, marking a polished evolution in the band's indie rock sound.[37] To promote the record, Local Natives issued lead singles "Past Lives" in April 2016 and "Fountain of Youth" in July 2016, both accompanied by lyric videos that highlighted the tracks' anthemic, reflective qualities.[38][39] "Past Lives" debuted as a yearning exploration of fate and connection, while "Fountain of Youth" embraced reinvention with upbeat percussion and soaring harmonies, setting the tone for the album's optimistic yet nostalgic vibe.[40][41] The album's release propelled Local Natives into an extensive world tour, spanning the US, UK, and Europe, with performances at major festivals such as Austin City Limits in October 2016 and End of the Road Festival in September 2016.[42][43] This period solidified their international presence, as the band navigated the demands of constant travel while incorporating subtle electronic elements into their live sets, enhancing the album's thematic depth of transition and resilience.[37] The touring schedule, which included sold-out headline shows and European legs through late 2016 and into 2017, underscored the group's matured dynamics, forged during the recording hiatus.[44]2019–2020: Violet Street and Sour Lemon
Local Natives released their fourth studio album, Violet Street, on April 26, 2019, via Loma Vista Recordings.[45] The record, produced by Shawn Everett at his Los Angeles studio, delves into themes of emotional vulnerability, particularly the anxiety and fear surrounding the impermanence of relationships.[46][47] Tracks like the lead single "When Am I Gonna Lose You" exemplify this introspection, capturing the tension between joy and impending loss.[48] The album marked a collaborative return to the band's roots, blending lush harmonies with experimental production elements inspired by '70s adult contemporary sounds.[49] "When Am I Gonna Lose You," released in March 2019 with a music video featuring actress Kate Mara, achieved commercial success, peaking at No. 7 on Billboard's Alternative Songs chart.[50] Violet Street itself resonated with fans and critics for its atmospheric depth, though it faced promotional challenges as the world entered the COVID-19 pandemic.[51] In response to the global health crisis, Local Natives issued the surprise EP Sour Lemon on October 23, 2020, also through Loma Vista.[52] Recorded partially in September 2019 but finalized remotely during lockdown, the four-track release featured collaborations like Sharon Van Etten on the lead single "Lemon," reflecting adaptation to pandemic constraints through virtual recording sessions.[53][54] Songs such as "Statues in the Garden (Arras)" and "Future Lover" extended the vulnerability of Violet Street while embracing a playful, shape-shifting production style.[55] The onset of COVID-19 severely disrupted the band's live activities; their co-headlining North American tour with Foals, scheduled for spring 2020 to support Violet Street, was canceled amid rising uncertainties.[56] With traditional performances halted, Local Natives pivoted to virtual formats, including a one-off livestream concert from Los Angeles' Lodge Room on October 21, 2020, to celebrate Sour Lemon's release, as well as remote appearances on The Ellen DeGeneres Show performing "Statues in the Garden (Arras)."[57][58] These adaptations allowed the band to connect with audiences during isolation, highlighting their resilience amid the era's disruptions.[59]2021–2024: Time Will Wait for No One, But I'll Wait for You, and Ayer's departure
During the early 2020s, particularly from 2021 to 2022, the members of Local Natives faced significant personal challenges amid the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, including isolation that strained their long-standing band relationships, mental health struggles such as anxiety and depression, and life transitions like becoming fathers.[60][61] Frontman Taylor Rice described the period as a "useless slog," marked by emotional lows and a sense of disconnection that tested the group's unity, while others navigated loss and identity crises.[11] These experiences fueled a prolific songwriting phase, leading to the creation of two interconnected albums that served as a creative outlet for processing collective and individual turmoil.[62] The band's fifth studio album, Time Will Wait for No One, was recorded in historic Los Angeles studios and produced by Grammy-winning engineer John Congleton, emphasizing the group's signature multi-layered harmonies alongside dynamic instrumentation. Released on July 7, 2023, via Loma Vista Recordings, it was conceived as the first part of a larger body of work, with sessions capturing raw emotional intensity through post-punk influences and soaring vocal arrangements. The lead single, "NYE," a frenetic track premiered on BBC Radio 6 Music, highlighted themes of fleeting moments and emotional blur, setting the tone for the album's exploration of time's unrelenting passage. Complementing this, the sixth album, But I'll Wait for You, emerged as its direct companion, released on April 19, 2024, also via Loma Vista, with production incorporating experimental elements like physically spliced tape loops to augment the harmonies and create a more introspective, sparse sound.[62][63][64] Together, the albums delve into motifs of loss, resilience, and the tension between inevitable change and enduring bonds, reflecting the band's navigation of uncertainty and personal growth during their challenging period. Tracks across both records, such as those evoking nostalgia and emotional release, underscore a sense of waiting amid life's pressures, with the dual titles symbolizing forward momentum tempered by loyalty. Critics praised the cohesive vision and refined production, noting the works' emotional depth and evolution in the indie rock landscape, though reception was generally positive yet understated, with Time Will Wait for No One earning acclaim for its vitality and But I'll Wait for You for its subtlety. The releases achieved modest commercial visibility, aligning with the band's niche appeal rather than mainstream breakthroughs.[65][66][67] In April 2024, shortly after But I'll Wait for You's release, Local Natives announced the amicable departure of co-founding vocalist, keyboardist, and songwriter Kelcey Ayer, who had been integral to the band's sound since its inception. Ayer cited a desire to pursue new creative paths, expressing deep gratitude for two decades of collaboration, while affirming the decision was mutual and without acrimony. He committed to completing the promotional cycle, performing with the group through their 2024 tour, including the spring U.S. tour from April 27 to May 18, select summer festival dates, and fall shows, with his final performance on November 23, 2024, in Madison, Wisconsin, marking the end of an era for the quartet.[3][2]2025–present: Ongoing tours and activities
In 2025, Local Natives maintained a selective touring schedule as a four-piece band following the departure of co-founder Kelcey Ayer the previous year, adapting their live arrangements to highlight the remaining members' contributions while preserving their collaborative ethos. Their first performance of the year took place at the BloodRoot Ramble music and wine festival on June 7 in Healdsburg, California, where they shared the stage with Ziggy Marley, Richy Mitch & the Coal Miners, La Luz, and The Coffis Brothers; the event supported anti-gun violence initiatives through the Giffords organization.[68][69] The band emphasized live renditions of tracks from their companion albums Time Will Wait for No One (2023) and But I'll Wait for You (2024) during these shows, drawing on the records' thematic interplay of time, loss, and resilience to engage audiences in festival settings. Later that fall, Local Natives appeared at the Dreamy Draw Music Festival on November 8 in Scottsdale, Arizona, alongside acts including The Lumineers and Vampire Weekend; the band described this as one of their limited 2025 outings and potentially their final performance of the year.[70][61] As of November 2025, no new studio projects or major collaborations have been announced, with the group focusing on refining their democratic decision-making process in the four-piece configuration to shape future endeavors.[71]Musical style and influences
Musical style
Local Natives' musical style centers on indie rock infused with folk sensibilities, marked by buoyant rhythms, rustic vocals, and clattering percussion that evoke a sense of youthful exploration and emotional depth.[20] Their sound often incorporates wiggly guitar leads and euphoric chanting, creating an energetic yet textured landscape that blends raw drive with melodic introspection.[20] In later works, elements of psychedelia emerge through layered, swirling arrangements, while subtle electronic touches appear in production, such as looped tape effects physically spliced and manipulated by hand to augment their live and recorded dynamics.[72] A hallmark of their style is the harmonic vocal layering delivered by principal singers including Taylor Rice, formerly Kelcey Ayer, Ryan Hahn, and Nik Ewing, producing soaring three-part harmonies that intertwine in tangled ascents and lilting registers for an airy, immersive effect.[20][73] This vocal interplay, often described as both rustic and supple, forms the emotional core of their songs, enhancing the folk-inflected warmth while allowing for dynamic shifts from intimate whispers to anthemic swells.[20] The band's use of unconventional instrumentation further defines their approach, including syncopated bass lines, stately piano, expressive drum washes, and occasional horn arrangements that add rhythmic complexity and atmospheric depth.[73] Production techniques evolve from the scrappy, self-recorded vigor of early efforts—relying on drum rolls, cymbal washes, and agile guitar arrangements—to richer, more elegiac tones in subsequent albums, emphasizing subtle layering and mature restraint without heavy reliance on synthesizers.[20][73] Over their career, Local Natives' sound has transitioned from the raw, percussion-driven energy of Gorilla Manor (2010), which captured a sense of wanderlust and discovery through direct, optimistic songwriting, to the polished introspection of later releases like Hummingbird (2013) and beyond, where deeper production explores elegiac subtlety and lateral growth in texture.[20][73] This evolution reflects a shift toward broader experimentation while retaining core rhythmic propulsion and harmonic richness.[73][74] Thematically, their music consistently weaves personal and emotional narratives, delving into themes of love, loss, anxiety, change, and catharsis, often drawn from lived experiences like familial tragedy or relational introspection, to create resonant, narrative-driven songs that prioritize emotional authenticity over abstraction.[73][75][12]Influences and collaborations
Local Natives' sound draws significant influence from the intricate harmonies and pastoral arrangements of Fleet Foxes and Grizzly Bear, which inform their own multi-layered vocal stacks and dynamic song structures.[76][12] The band also incorporates rhythmic elements from Talking Heads, evident in their early cover of the track "Warning Sign" from Gorilla Manor, blending new wave energy with their indie sensibilities.[77] Additionally, classic 1960s harmony-driven acts like Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young and the Zombies have shaped their approach to vocal interplay and melodic warmth.[78][6] The band's genre fuses indie rock with indie folk sensibilities, post-punk urgency in its kinetic rhythms, and subtle world music touches via Afrobeat-inspired percussion and grooves.[5][79][6] Key collaborations have marked pivotal points in their evolution, including production on their 2013 album Hummingbird by Aaron Dessner of The National, whose expertise in atmospheric indie rock helped polish their evolving aesthetic during a period of lineup changes.[73][80] Shawn Everett produced their 2019 album Violet Street, enhancing their textural depth. On the 2020 Sour Lemon EP, they partnered with singer-songwriter Sharon Van Etten for co-lead vocals on "Lemon," introducing a raw, intimate contrast to their typical harmonic density.[52] For the 2024 album But I'll Wait for You, John Congleton handled production on several tracks, contributing to its sparse, introspective sound. Local Natives have frequently shared festival stages with like-minded acts, such as Portugal. The Man at Austin City Limits in 2014 and Father John Misty at Audiotree Festival in 2018, highlighting their place within broader indie circuits.[81][82]Band members
Current members
The current lineup of Local Natives consists of four members following the departure of founding member Kelcey Ayer in late 2024.[3] Taylor Rice serves as the band's lead vocalist and guitarist, having co-founded the group in 2005 and contributing to its core songwriting and performance style throughout its history.[83][66] Ryan Hahn, a founding member since 2005, plays guitar and provides backing vocals, while also acting as a multi-instrumentalist who supports arrangements across guitar, keyboards, and other elements in live and studio settings.[84][83][11] Matthew Frazier handles drums, delivering the foundational rhythm section since joining the band in 2006.[26] Nik Ewing performs on bass, keyboards, and vocals, having joined as a touring member in 2012 and becoming a full-time member in 2013 to expand the band's sonic palette with keyboard and electronic elements.[26][85] In their ongoing tours, such as the 2025 BloodRoot Ramble festival appearance, the quartet adapts their live setup to maintain the band's signature harmonies and layered instrumentation without additional touring support.[61]Former members
Local Natives' former members include bassist Andy Hamm and multi-instrumentalist Kelcey Ayer. Andy Hamm served as the band's bassist from 2006 until his departure in March 2011, contributing to their debut album Gorilla Manor (2009). His departure occurred amid personal challenges, including deteriorating relationships within the group, which influenced the band's transition to a new lineup and sound for their follow-up album Hummingbird (2013).[86][87][88] Kelcey Ayer, a founding member since 2005, handled vocals, keyboards, guitar, and percussion, co-leading vocals and contributing songwriting across all albums up to Time Will Wait for No One, But I'll Wait for You (2024). Ayer announced his amicable exit in April 2024 to pursue solo ventures and personal exploration, citing the demands of band life and a desire for new creative space after nearly two decades. He performed his final shows with the band during the fall 2024 tour leg.[2][89][90] These departures significantly shaped the band's dynamics: Hamm's exit prompted a reconfiguration of their instrumental roles and a more streamlined quartet formation, fostering tighter harmonies and experimental production. Ayer's leaving marks the first major change since 2011, allowing the remaining members to reimagine their live performances and future material while maintaining their core friendship.[2]Discography
Studio albums
Local Natives' debut studio album, Gorilla Manor, was released on November 2, 2009, in the United Kingdom via Infectious Music and on February 16, 2010, in the United States via Frenchkiss Records. It peaked at number 160 on the US Billboard 200 chart after 12 weeks and number 3 on the Heatseekers Albums chart.[91] The album received generally favorable reviews, with a Metacritic score of 80 based on 18 critic reviews.[18] The band's second studio album, Hummingbird, was released on January 29, 2013, via Frenchkiss Records in the US and Infectious Music in the UK. It reached number 12 on the US Billboard 200 and number 3 on the Independent Albums chart, while peaking at number 58 on the UK Albums Chart.[91][29] Critics gave it a Metacritic score of 77 based on 32 reviews.[92] Sunlit Youth, Local Natives' third studio album, came out on September 9, 2016, through Loma Vista Recordings. The record debuted at number 23 on the US Billboard 200 and number 85 on the UK Albums Chart.[91][93] It holds a Metacritic score of 75 from 12 critic reviews.[94] The fourth album, Violet Street, was issued on April 26, 2019, by Loma Vista Recordings. It peaked at number 11 on the US Alternative Albums chart and number 89 on the UK Album Sales Chart.[95] Metacritic aggregated a score of 76 based on 7 reviews.[96] In 2023, Local Natives released their fifth studio album, Time Will Wait for No One, on July 7 via Loma Vista Recordings. The album did not enter the Billboard 200. But I'll Wait for You, a companion album to Time Will Wait for No One, followed on April 19, 2024, also through Loma Vista Recordings. It explores similar themes of time and introspection in a more stripped-down format.[9]EPs and live releases
In 2009, Local Natives self-released a limited EP titled 5 Songs on handmade CDr, featuring early recordings such as tracks captured at Red Rockets Glare and the band's practice space.[97] This demo collection served as a precursor to their debut album, showcasing raw indie rock arrangements before signing with Frenchkiss Records.[97] The band's next EP, Sour Lemon, arrived on October 23, 2020, via Loma Vista Recordings in digital and 10-inch vinyl formats.[52] Comprising four tracks—including "Lemon" featuring Sharon Van Etten and "Statues in a Garden (Arras)"—the release stemmed from remote collaborations initiated in late 2019 amid the COVID-19 pandemic.[98] It highlighted the band's adaptability, blending original material with experimental production by Chris Coady.[99] In November 2021, Local Natives issued Music From The Pen Gala 1983, an archival covers EP tied to their contributions for the Apple TV+ series The Shrink Next Door.[100] Released on Loma Vista in digital, vinyl, and limited-edition cassette formats (exclusive to Record Store Day Black Friday), the four-track set included renditions of Roxy Music's "More Than This," 10cc's "I'm Not in Love," Gerry Rafferty's "Right Down the Line," and The Hollies' "Long Cool Woman in a Black Dress."[101] These soft rock interpretations were recorded during promotional sessions with actors Paul Rudd and Will Ferrell, emphasizing the band's affinity for 1970s influences.[102] No official live albums have been released by the band to date, though various session recordings from tours—such as KEXP and NPR appearances promoting albums like Hummingbird—remain available through broadcast archives.[6]Singles
Local Natives have released several singles throughout their career, often serving as lead tracks from their albums or standalone promotions. These singles highlight the band's evolving indie rock sound, with notable chart success on alternative and adult alternative radio formats. The following table lists key singles, their release years, associated albums (where applicable), and selected chart performances:| Title | Year | Album | Peak Chart Positions |
|---|---|---|---|
| Airplanes | 2010 | Gorilla Manor (2009) | UK Physical Singles Chart: Charted (2010) |
| Paste | 2016 | Sunlit Youth | No major chart entries |
| When Am I Gonna Lose You | 2019 | Violet Street | US Alternative Airplay: #16; US Adult Alternative: #5; US Rock Songs: #20 |
| Desert Snow | 2022 | Standalone | No major chart entries |
| NYE | 2023 | Time Will Wait for No One | No major chart entries |