Q&A: Your Neighbors is Embracing Chaos and Existentialism with "NO DICE”
YOUR NEIGHBORS THRIVES ON UNPREDICTABILITY - Their latest single, *"NO DICE," is an existential alt-dance track that showcases their signature blend of indie, pop, and electronic elements, all woven together with introspective lyricism. The song, which Walker Robinson describes as a reflection on the pursuit of an elusive euphoria, perfectly captures the chaotic energy that fans of Your Neighbors have come to expect.
Robinson opens up about the struggles and successes that shaped "NO DICE," from its numerous versions to its final form as an existential anthem. True to form, Your Neighbors continues to defy musical boundaries, experimenting with genres and styles, all while maintaining a deeply personal approach to songwriting.
As the band prepares to hit the road with Alfie Templeman on select dates of his U.S. tour, Robinson reflects on creative process behind "NO DICE," the balance between chaos and introspection in their music, and what fans can expect from their upcoming live shows.
LUNA: "NO DICE" is such a unique mix of indie, pop, and electronic. What was the creative process behind this song, and how did the concept of "chasing an elusive euphoria" come to you?
YOUR NEIGHBOR: This one started as a way poppier song, it's still got those elements in there but we couldn't make it hit with any impact without the guitars and distorted bass parts. This one probably gave us the most trouble on the album tbh, lots of different versions of it but this is what we landed on. I'm not sure the idea is even from me, this was a very "stream of consciousness" write. I think I had most of it written in an hour. I'm definitely no stranger to chasing highs, so it's probably just me reflecting on how many dead ends I've hit in that pursuit.
LUNA: You mentioned that the intro sample portrays a dogmatic religious figure. How did that idea influence the rest of the song, and what message were you trying to convey with this contrast between control and existentialism
YN: I think there's a lot of impact that religious culture has on people's view of existentialism. I come from a bit of it myself, but there's a personal balance that everyone has to strike to have peace with whatever is after this life. And then the meaning behind it all, if there is any. The album as a whole is me grappling with all of that, and kinda realizing that there aren't really any good answers. I feel like the best art presents the questions, and the observer comes to their own answers. So this song and the album as a whole is just a ton of question-presenting.
LUNA: There’s a chaotic energy that runs through "NO DICE" and much of Your Neighbors’ music. How do you balance that chaos with the deeply introspective themes in your lyrics?
YN: I feel like they both inform each other. A lot of instrumentals will prompt me to write a certain thing, and then the lyrics start to feed back into the track, and that reaction takes me back to the lyrics again, back to the track again etc. Eventually it just kinda lands at a final conclusion.
LUNA:You’ve described Your Neighbors as "throwing anything and everything at the wall, hoping something will stick." How do you decide which directions to take with each new release? Do you let instinct guide you, or is there a method to the madness?
YN: I guess there is to some degree, I can only really write about things that are related to my life. It all kinda started as a diary for myself, documenting my life in songs. So whatever the present stimulus is is what I write about. A lot of this upcoming project was thought up during covid and the year or two that followed. Lots of chaos for me in that time, so the music kinda reflects. Album 3 is shaping up to be a bunch of love (and the lack thereof) songs.
LUNA: You're about to join Alfie Templeman on select dates of his US tour. What are you most excited about for this tour, and how do you feel about introducing Your Neighbors’ music to his fanbase?
YN: I'm just super stoked to be on the road, I've developed quite a love for it after our recent runs. I think we might have to gear our set a tad for the more funkier sounds in our catalog, but I think there's a decent crossover that his fans will appreciate. As long as we aren't too abrasive
LUNA: What can fans expect from Your Neighbors live shows, especially with the chaotic and genre-blending nature of your music?
YN: We really lean on the live band performance when we play live. A lot of the songs are a bit of a re-imagination from what you hear in the studio versions. I've got some pretty killer musicians with me on the road, so I like to spotlight their talent as much as I can.
LUNA: You mentioned new music is coming this fall. Can you give us any hints on what direction you're heading in next, and will it continue to explore the existential themes we've heard so far?
YN: Yeah we've got an album on the way, pretty much all of my existential crises culminated into one 34-minute kick in the teeth. It's pretty varied in genres, but it follows a narrative that makes sense for all the bizarre left turns it takes. Fans that know and love "Smacked", another song from our catalog, will really enjoy it. I promise the "Chicken" fans will get their moment, but I don't think it'll be on this project.
LUNA: With so much experimentation in your music, is there a genre or style you haven’t touched yet but want to explore in the future?
YN: Honestly, I think we've danced around enough, I'm wanting to move towards a more "song-forward" approach with the newer stuff. The stuff I'm working on right now is a little more reigned in, and a little less heady. Mainly because that's where my life is right now.
LUNA: What’s the most important thing you hope listeners take away from Your Neighbors’ music, whether it’s "NO DICE" or any of your other releases?
YN: On a more shallow level I just hope that it's an entertaining listen. At the end of the day the listener gets to make it have as much or as little meaning as they want it to. I guess the deeper answer calls back to that point about presenting the question and letting the listener come to their own answers. I hope that my path of finding my sense of self and identity helps the listener find theirs as well.
LUNA: What intentions do you have for this fall season?
YN: After playing the shows I'm just gonna keep writing. I've found my stride with a couple friends in town and we've been making some pretty solid music. Other than that, I'm getting back into rock climbing.
CONNECT WITH YOUR NEIGHBORS
