DFest Preview: Native Lights
Photo: Jeremy Charles
As we prepare for DFest, we will be speaking with a few Oklahoma acts who will be playing this weekend in Tulsa.
Comprised of Johnathan Ford (Unwed Sailor), Bryce Chambers (Ester Drang), Aaron Hamby (Callupsie) and Nathan Price (Vandevander), Native Lights was labeled an indie supergroup upon conception. Although many supergroups are started as publicity stunts for short-lived runs, Native Lights is comprised of friends with plans on making a serious run as a band. The Tulsa band has an unique sound for this area of the country, taking cues from 1980s post-punk and shoegazing bands like My Bloody Valentine and Slowdive. Native Lights will tour this fall with Unwed Sailor and plans to release a 7″ single, followed by a full length.
Native Lights plays Saturday at 9:10pm on the Dilly Deli Patio.
How did this band come about?
All of us have always enjoyed playing music together in whatever band or incarnation we have been in with each other, so it was kind of a given for us to start Native Lights. We all really respect each other on a musical scale, and it just made sense for us to come together and start something new. Aaron, Bryce, Nathan, and I have always found it very easy to write music together…the songs really do come through like waves, almost effortlessly, so why not channel that and have some fun!
Do any of you feel like expectations for this band to sound like, or drastically different from, Unwed Sailor, Ester Drang or Callupsie?
No, we don’t feel any expectations. We are making the music we want to hear and play. I would say we would lean more towards making the songs to sound unlike any of our other bands, but that is just because we don’t want to be cover bands of our other bands.
What are your hopes for this band? Are you viewing this as a band to just be creative in and have fun with or are there plans to give this band a serious go?
We are taking on both those mindsets…I mean, of course we want this to be fun and creative…if we did not have those two elements in the mix, there would be no reason to do it. We will record records and tour as well, so we definitely are a serious band wanting to do serious band things…but in a fun/creative way…make sense?
How is recording going, where are you recording and when can we expect the album to be released?
We are beginning the recording process this summer…we are definitely doing some of the recording at Blackwatch Studios in Norman, OK…there are some possible El Paso recording session opportunities on the horizon as well…we plan on releasing a 7″ single this fall, with a full length following shortly after. until then you can hear our song El Rosa at our myspace page.
After living all over the country, you’ve recently settled back into Tulsa. How are things different musically from when you first left?
Things are drastically different than when I originally left Tulsa. I left in 1995…at that time we had the IKON, and I believe the Eclipse was there as well, which was great, but they were the only two smaller clubs that existed at that time. There were not near as many local bands at that time either. Now we have a whole scene of bands in town. I have been really impressed with the way downtown is going…with bars and venues like the Soundpony, Crystal Pistol, and the Marquee popping up. I do know that the Eclipse is coming back in August as well. Cains has been having some fantastic shows come through as well. I feel happy to be a part of all of it, and I am excited to see the arts scene grow more.
What other bands are you excited about seeing at DFest?
I am excited about some of our local bands…Fiawna Forte, Callupsie, Dead Sea Choir, Stevedore, Recorder. Mates of State are always great to see live.
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