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When it comes to making catchy, minimalist pop songs, collaboration has been key for indie band Sylvan Esso. The duo first worked together when singer Amelia Meath booked producer Nick Sandborn to open for her previous band, a folk trio called Mountain Man.
After a few years of exchanging emails, they teamed up in Durham, North Carolina to record their electro-pop-focused debut album "Sylvan Esso," which was released in 2014. Breakout songs like “Coffee” and “Hey Mami” blended electronic beats and synths with smooth R&B-influenced vocals, and lyrics about love and heartbreak.
For Sylvan Esso’s latest album, "What Now," Meath and Sanborn build upon their formula of making multi-layered pop tunes. Hook-laden tracks like “Radio” and “Die Young” encapsulate feelings about the current political climate in the U.S., as well as personal sentiments about success and progress.
Here, the duo talk about their new album, share their thoughts on what artists should and shouldn’t be covering, and well as what’s next for them.
