Musical brother duo Eighty Ninety, fresh off being shouted out by Taylor Swift on Spotify, talk about the process behind their new song

Eighty Ninety - the New York-based indie-pop project of brothers Abner (vocals, production) and Harper (guitar, production) James - are back with their new single, “Yourself,” out November 15th. 

Marking their first release since their self-titled debut album, "Yourself" is a pulse-pounding, emotionally charged track that captures the band’s signature blend of indie-pop energy and introspective lyricism. With its catchy sound and deeply relatable narrative, "Yourself" is set to strike a chord with listeners.

The brothers fuse intimate storytelling, ethereal melodies, and minimalist pop productions built on acoustic instruments and electronic sounds in a style they call "808s and telecasters" — a shorthand for both their music and their anything-goes mentality in the studio. Since their debut in 2016 with the EP Elizabeth—which featured their viral hit “Three Thirty”—the band has captivated audiences worldwide. With over 35 million streams, acclaim from Alternative Press, Billboard, and Rolling Stone, and syncs on Netflix and MTV shows, their music continues to ascend them to stardom.

After the long-awaited release of their self-titled debut album in late 2023, "Yourself" is the perfect next step in Eighty Ninety's evolution, showcasing their growth as artists while staying true to the sound that has garnered them a loyal following. The lads were kind enough to chat with us over email about this release, as well as the band name, collaborating musically as brothers, influences, career milestones, and, as we do here, their favourite memes.

Where did the band name Eighty Ninety originate? 

Over the years we've heard different interpretations — from decades to speed limits to radio stations and even a high-way somewhere in the US. We like them all, so we're gonna stay quiet about our personal interpretation.

How does being brothers and having grown up together affect your songwriting process? Is it always collaborative? Is there a split between lyrics/melody? 

The biggest impact it has is that we know each other so well the language of collaboration is mostly second nature. Abner is the primary writer, and Harper the producer, but that mostly intuitive communication allows us both to each weigh in on every part of the process. 

How do you think your sound has evolved since your debut album? Without spoiling too much, is this new single an evolution of your previous album, or are you going in a new direction entirely? 

For us, it's less about having a "sound" that evolves, and more about making sure we stay true to the songs that we're writing at any given time. So if a song calls for a more organic sound, we go that way. If it feels like it would be served by a more production-forward approach, that's the direction we go. That said, we've overall been gravitating toward more "realness" in the recordings. Longer takes, full performances, fewer samples. We've gotten more confident which has allowed us to be less attached to perfection.

What inspired the lyrics of this song? Is it inspired by a particular experience, or just the mindset you’re currently in? 

Both, really. "Yourself" is about the paradox of a real relationship — the idea that unless you fully give yourself over to someone - really let go - you will lose them. TLDR: You gotta let go to hold on.

What was it like to find out that Taylor Swift listens to your music? 

We had been fans for years (seen her on tour, etc). So it was, and continues to be, completely surreal. On top of that, it serves as a compass for our work. Every song we make now, we think, is this good enough for Taylor? Haha. But also that's the truth!

Who are your biggest influences, or another big artist you would love to take notice of your music?

I mean, if stevie nicks and lindsey buckingham wanted to reunite fleetwood mac and take us on tour we would not object.

And lastly, a SYNT classic, what is the last meme you have saved on your phone?

"Yourself" by Eighty Ninety is now streaming on all platforms!

about eighty ninety

Eighty Ninety is the project of NYC-based brothers Abner (vocals, production) and Harper (guitar, production) James. With 35 million streams, praise from Billboard, Ones To Watch, and Rolling Stone, and even a nod from Taylor Swift, the duo are undoubtedly one of indie-pop’s most exciting acts.

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