Q&A: almost monday Create A Sonic Snapshot Of The Good Life, With Nostalgic Debut Album ‘Dive’
HAILING FROM SUNNY SAN DIEGO, indie-rock/pop trio almost monday is your new favorite indie group, who write heart-warming, feel-good tunes that sound like an endless summer.
Childhood friends Dawson Daugherty (vocals), Cole Clisby (guitar), and Luke Fabry (bass) started playing covers in the back of a surf shop and are now making headlines and touring with the likes of The Driver Era, and have their first headline world tour soon to be announced.
For fans of Phoenix, MGMT, and The Beach Boys - almost monday write of the things they know best - good times, friendship, surf, and the bittersweetness of growing up.
The group has been making waves internationally, and has released their first studio record DIVE which delivers on warm, surfy tracks that make us feel like summer isn’t yet over (or ever will be).
DIVE serves as a snapshot of the identity of the group, and showcases all of their work to date. With elements of rock, pop, punk, almost monday are masters at creating playful renditions of familiar indie elements, with unique twists of bright guitars, funky synths, shimmery keys, and layered harmonies, all dancing effortlessly over stories about getting out and enjoying life. DIVE is full of timeless tracks that encourage listeners to appreciate the moment, and to not take for granted the people or places that bring you joy and peace.
The Luna Collective got to know Dawson, Luke, and Cole, to speak on their fast-growing fame and the making of DIVE out September 25.
LUNA: almost monday was formed when you were kids and out on the surf. How have you evolved as a group since its beginning?
LUKE: I think that we’ve developed and changed as individuals so naturally the music has also changed with us. I think we’ve become more comfortable with ourselves, which has helped us create music that feels authentic to us and where we’re from.
LUNA: DIVE is your first full length record, can you share some of the inspiration behind it, and any notable moments during the making of?
LUKE: We wanted to create something that would be akin to a Polaroid. A snapshot into our lives of where we are in this very moment. One notable moment from DIVE was the day that we wrote ‘she likes sports.’ Something that we did to get out of the studio and get some sunshine - was playing tennis. We played the morning of the session that ‘she likes sports’ came out of. We wanted to write something fun and carefree in the middle of heavy concentration to write for DIVE. I don’t think initially any of us thought that the song would actually make the album but I’m so glad we did, it's one of my favorites.
LUNA: Any favorite tracks or lyrics on DIVE?
COLE: I think my favorite track on DIVE would be “life goes by”. I feel like this song is all encompassing of our sound, and visually a good representation of the world our band lives in.
LUNA: Who/what are your main influences and sources of inspiration for writing/producing?
COLE: Sonically there’s a broad range of influences. On the more indie pop side of our sound I’d say bands like Phoenix, MGMT, and on the indie-rock side - bands like The Strokes, The Kinks, Blur, The Beach Boys. But we’re also always getting inspired by movies and just living life on tour as well.
LUNA: Do you write collaboratively as a group, or how does each member bring something unique to your sound?
LUKE: We do write as a group, it's something we’ve always done. I think it keeps things fresh and creates different possibilities of how a song can be written. I may bring in a track, or Cole may bring in a guitar line, or Dawson may bring in a melody. It’s inspiring to write with your friends, especially when they bring so much to the table.
LUNA: What would you say gives you that quintessentially California sound?
COLE: Other than some of the obvious sunny beach inspired lyrics, [lol] I think the sound comes from a lot of surf-guitar tones with spring reverb and fuzz, and production inspired from The Beach Boys, The Kinks, The Clash, and other bands we’ve grown up listening to, who were in surf films.
LUNA: How would you describe the current state of your local indie scene as you’ve experienced it? What’s the community like, and where is it headed?
LUKE: We started playing shows in the back of a surf shop when we started. Those shows were so important for gaining experience and gelling as a band. It’s cool to see other bands doing the same thing in their own way in San Diego. Festivals have been a good way for us to meet new friends and hear bands you haven’t heard before. Social media helps but it really doesn’t replace in-person hangs. We’ve been touring a bunch so it's honestly been a minute since we’ve been heavily involved in the local scene.
LUNA: What is your favorite venue to perform at these days? Any standout/memorable performances while performing your first string of music festivals, or while on tour with The Driver Era?
DAWSON: We played Madison Square Garden this summer and that's hard to beat. Playing a gig in a place as iconic as that is very humbling and special. We're on tour with The Driver Era in Europe and the UK right now and these venues have been so cool. We just played Barcelona last night at a spot called Razzmatazz and it was super fun, the fans out here are wild!
LUNA: Do you have any rituals as a group for celebrating milestones, or finishing a tour run?
DAWSON: Nothing particular. But we do keep track of our goals and bucket lists and whenever we do get to cross one off we might do a nice dinner, or go for a surf.
LUNA: ‘broken people’ was remixed by Sofi Tukker, any other upcoming or dream collabs?
DAWSON: Our dream is to work with Justice, they’ve actually been a big influence on us since day one. So to do something with them would be mental.
LUNA: What’s next? Any shows or upcoming projects that you’re excited about?
DAWSON: We are very excited about our debut album DIVE coming out. It's been such a dream to finally get to put it out, and we’re currently gearing up to announce our first headline world tour, so alot coming up and we're stoked about all of it!
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