An interview with Los Angeles based band Walla for our Indie Spotlight Series + the new video for their single “Nature”.
I can’t get enough of this new video by Walla for their song “Nature” off the EP of the same title. It’s a catchy song and the video just takes it to that next level.
Who is Walla?
Walla is a Los Angeles based band comprised of Ian Charlie, Alessio Balsemin, Mauricio Carcamo, Jonathan Hoonch Kim and Gabriel Nava Rodrigues. They describe their sound as a fusion of pop, funk, samba, rock, metal, folk, disco and psychedelia,
They’ve been making some positive noise on the indie scene having won awards two years in a row at the Artists In Music Awards (Best Indie Rock Artist & Best Alternative Artist). They’re hoping for a three-peat next year.
Billboard described “Nature” as “an upbeat blend of synth-pop and spiky guitar work, in the vein of groups such as Passion Pit or Vampire Weekend.”
Pretty impressive to get such a solid nod from Billboard but, if when you watch the video and hear the song you will see that it’s well deserved.
We had a chance to ask band member Jonathan Hoonch Kim a few questions about the band, their music and what’s next for Wallaas part of our Indie Spotlight Series.
You can check out their new EP “Gangsters of Suburbia” on iTunes.
You can check out their new EP “Gangsters of Suburbia” on iTunes.
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Describe your music for those who have never heard it
It’s a fusion of pop, rock, disco, funk, and psychedlia. We try to take elements of music we are inspired by at the moment or in the past so our sound is constantly changing and evolving along with us.
Tell us about about your song “Nature”
This song is a self-parody about how I (jonathan) thought I was some kind of “thug/gangsta” while growing up in middle class america. I remember my friends and I rolling up in parking lots with our four door family sedans thinking we were the baddest mfs on the block. Now that I’ve grown older, it’s hilarious to look back on myself and laugh at all the times I’ve acted like I was something I wasn’t.
What inspired you to pursue music?
It was mostly because I hated every job I’ve had in the past couple of years. There was always a need for a creative outlet and music was the only thing that satisfied that craving.
What hase been your greatest career accomplishment so far?
Last year, we ranked top 10 on hype machine for 2 of our songs, and because of that we started to get lots of press and offers from labels.
What has been your biggest challenge?
The biggest challenge is to continuing to pursue our dreams of music even though we face so many failures, challenges, and obstacles everyday.
There are so many factors to keeping a band healthy, sometimes it can get as dysfunctional as an ‘arrested development’ episode. But it’s really our passion for art that keeps us motivated and persistent.
Who is your favorite artist?
Wow too many, but one artist that we all collectively admire is Queen.
What’s your career goal for the year?
I’ll use the lyrics from our song Nature: “try to make it out here alive”
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