“Dark days”
It can be difficult to be in a band, or really, any kind of group where there's creative collaboration and you're supposed to act like it's a democracy. Because what do you do with an idea you love if no one else believes in it? That question is a big part of this episode with Local natives.
Local Natives is a band from Southern California. His First album came out in 2009, but the band's three vocalists and songwriters, Taylor Rice, Kelcey Ayer and Ryan Hahn, have been playing together since they were in high school. The lineup also includes Matthew Frazier on drums and Nik Ewing on bass. They have released 5 albums, including their most recent, Time will wait for no onewhich came out in July 2023.
But for this episode, I talked to Taylor, Kelcey, and Ryan about an old song of theirs:“Dark days,” which came out in 2016. It is their biggest song to date; It has more than 100 million views and has been certified gold. It is a duet with the Swedish singer. Nina Persson, of The cardigans. In 2020, they released a new version of the song, featuring Amelia Meath from the band Sylvan Esso.
I spoke to the guys here in the studio and to Amelia Meath remotely. And together, they told me the seven-year story of how the song was first made and ultimately remade.
You can buy or stream “Dark Days” hereand you can get other music and products from Local Natives here.
Illustration of Carlos Lerma.
For a transcript of this episode, click here.
Talking Heads – “This must be the place”
Fleetwood Mac – “Dreams”
Analog Ableton – synthesizer
The cardigans – “Lovefool”
March 2020 performance of “Dark Days” on Jimmy Kimmel Live!
