MIND OF MOUSE

THE COACHELLA 50

#7. Neon Indian - Friday
Active: ’00s - Present

“Chillwave.” Let’s not call Neon Indian Chillwave. Let’s just stop saying people make “Chillwave” music. It just sounds dumb and awkward. Anyway, if you followed the trends probably in 2009 to early 2010, “Chillwave” was the “Blog-Rock” or “Indie Electronica” of then hay day. There were 3 names that tag along this imaginary genre which are Toro y Moi, Washed Out, and our very own Neon Indian. It’s unfortunate the other two didn’t get billed but that’s another story.

Described as bedroom Electronica, the kind that is programmed in the atmosphere of your bedroom (or any other empty room) while being solitary. Neon Indian fits that sort of expansive Electronica explosion that is laced with Acid trips as you push play for his records. His 2009 debut Psychic Chasms was a whirl with Neon Indian and his instruments zoning in and out. His synths were warm and playful like in “Deadbeat Summer” or “Should Have Taken Acid With You,” maybe even a bit borrowed from the past. All in all, Psychic Chasms was a hit.

For the follow-up Era Extrana released in 2011, his palette might have been similar sounding as the warm, nostalgic synths but he grabbed more tricks and techniques. Era Extrana is different in personality where Chasms might have been more playful and Extrana more mature and ambitious. With the lead effort “Polish Girl” being a more bold effort while borrowing some previous ideas with the household synths and toggling around with distortion. While the stupid genre label might keep him confined both physically and artistically, Neon Indian is energetic and something to groove to.

Listen to…

Albums
Psychic Chasms (2009)
Era Extrana (2011)

Songs
1. “Deadbeat Summer”
2. “6669 (I Don’t Know If You Know)”
3. “Should Have Taken Acid With You”
4. “Polish Girl”
5. “Hex Girlfriend“