The Wild Now, the duo of Taylor Baker and Drew Walker, gives Popdose the honor of debuting the second single and title track of their upcoming EP, Afterglow. The EP (out in May) is already one of my breakout, most played records of the year. Baker’s delicious vocals slither over the band’s synth bathed indie guitar dance pop. While the duo hails from Austin, Texas (they met at a Local Natives show at SXSW 2013), their sound easily fits into the Los Angeles/Silverlake scene of my beloved Rilo Kiley.

Featuring dreamy vocals and a sinister synth riff, ‘Afterglow’, premiering here, gives the stellar new Goldfrapp album, Silver Eye, (also out today) a run for its money:

Of the track, the band says, “We challenged ourselves to create something experimental yet familiar at the same time, and the result paves the way for our new sound. The song is lyrically about accessing the creative space that’s hard to reach unless you let go of life’s distractions and allow your mind to go there.”

‘Afterglow’ arrives hot on the heels of the very playful ‘Run For Your Life’ and its visually inventive music video:

The track was produced by a fellow Austin pop breakout, Max Frost (currently signed to Atlantic Records, named one of Rolling Stone’s “10 New Artists You Need to Know” in 2014). The rest of the EP was produced by David Beck, who also helmed the band’s debut EP, Tides, released under the moniker Taylor & the Wild Now. Matty Green mixed the EP, he’s got one of those “are you freaking kidding me?” resumes having either mixed, assisted or somehow been involved with a stack of my favorite records of the past decade, including those by Delta Spirit, Charli XCX, Dua Lipa , Cheryl Cole, Goldfrapp, Adam Lambert, Lily Allen, Kerli, and Duran Duran. Yet another reason why I like The Wild Now so much.

You can pick up ‘Afterglow’ the single on April 7; pre-order it on Amazon MP3.

Afterglow the EP drops on May 19.

Connect with The Wild Now on facebook. Watch their website for current tour dates, new videos and more (including a free download of ‘Run For Your Life’ while it lasts).

This Saturday, they are opening for Popdose favorites AlunaGeorge. That gig and the rest of their dates (at press time) are below:

April 1 – Southwestern University – Georgetown, TX (Opening for AlunaGeorge) 
May 19 — 3Ten ACL Live — Austin, TX (EP Release Show)
May 22– Blue Canoe — Tupelo, MS
May 24 — Smith’s Olde Bar — Atlanta, GA
May 25 — Cobra — Nashville, TN
May 26 — The 5 Spot — Nashville, TN
May 29 — Pianos — New York, NY
May 30 — Rockwood Music Hall — New York, NY
May 31 — Kung Fu Necktie — Philadelphia, PA
June 1 — SoFar Sounds NYC — New York, NY
June 9 — House of Blues Houston (Foundation Room) — Houston, TX
June 10 — KIVA — San Marcos, TX

Tagged in:

,

About the Author

Keith Creighton

Keith is a music correspondent for Popdose and an advocate on women's empowerment, gender identity, and gender liberation issues. He is a monthly new-music contributor to the Planet LP Podcast and is a marketing writer by day for Sudden Monkey.

View All Articles