What’s Going On had the pleasure of conducting an exclusive interview with the dynamic Denver-based duo Elektric Animals, as they take us behind the scenes of their latest musical endeavors. With their electrifying single “Ready to Go” and their captivating new EP A Bear And The Bull freshly released via Open Your Ears Records, the duo consisting of Nick Sanders and Will Hubert are poised to make waves in the music industry once again. Join us as we probe the pair about their influences, what the music scene is like in Denver, and so much more!
JG: How did Elektric Animals come to be? Could you share a bit about your journey as a duo and what inspired you to create music together?
Elektric Animals: Will (Hubert) and I (Nick Sanders) have been in numerous projects together throughout the years. He’s been on guitar, drums, keyboards, and everything in between. When the band hit a rough patch and multiple members decided to quit, he and I had a tough choice to make. We almost decided on creating a side project which was going to be called A Bear and The Bull. It came down to us not being ready to give up on all of the work we’ve put into Elektric Animals. So we made a choice and continued this journey as a duo.
JG: Your sound is often described as a fusion of 80s new wave and big chart-topping 90s pop. Who are some specific artists or genres from those eras that have inspired your music? How do you incorporate these influences into your own unique sound?
Elektric Animals: As far as the 80s, we love The Cars, INXS, Depeche Mode, Tears For Fears, Talking Heads. The 90s it has to be bands like Third Eye Blind, Oasis, Eve 6, Gin Blossoms, Goo Goo Dolls. That Alt Rock takeover in the mid to late 90s. I think it just naturally happens in our writing. The 90s inspirations come through in my voice, lyrics, and melodies. Will’s writing naturally goes to layers of synths and catchy riffs. I don’t think we necessarily focus much attention on trying to capture those sounds and nostalgic feelings. Our bigger goal is to create music that can be appreciated no matter the decade. Which ironically is what music from the 80s and 90s seemed to accomplish as it is still cherished and loved by all generations.
JG: Your new single “Ready To Go” has been receiving a lot of attention. What was the inspiration behind this track and how does it fit into the broader narrative of your new EP A Bear And The Bull?
Elektric Animals: When I started writing for “Ready To Go,” I didn’t have a direction or anything in the forefront of my mind I wanted to address. So I let a stream of consciousness be the guiding light. In fact, I didn’t really put together the song or its meaning until long after it was recorded. Looking back on it, it’s a direct response to former bandmates. It’s me as self-deprecating as I can and am known to be. But, with that and with the entire EP there is always a sense of positivity and hope as well. A light at the end of the tunnel if you will. I never wanted a song to be too negative or on the opposite spectrum a song to be overly happy and inauthentic feeling. I wanted to create a balance as I feel with life. It can’t always be sunshine and rainbows but it also can’t always be cloudy with a sense of deep depression.
JG: Could you tell us about the creative process behind A Bear And The Bull? And what was it like working with producer Eric Everhart?
Elektric Animals: We keep it simple. Will writes the instrumentation and I write the lyrics and melodies. We shoot ideas and adjustments back and forth until it’s time to involve Eric. When Eric gets involved, it turns into which guitar amps, drums, auxiliary percussion, and bass tones are we using. He’s also a bit of a vocal coach and contributes his ideas there. Finally, he helps strip away anything that’s clashing or anything that is “too much”. We have a pretty great checks and balances system going on.
JG: Denver has a vibrant music scene. How has being based in this city influenced your music and your approach to creating and performing?
Elektric Animals: We don’t really fit in with the music scene here, which is totally okay. Denver is known for EDM, Bluegrass, and Jam band types. We don’t fit in with that but there are so many venues and music fans here that we make it work. It just makes us work harder to stay relevant and keep people coming out to our shows. We are extremely grateful to live in such an art-centric city.
JG: As a duo, how do you navigate the dynamics of collaboration and creative expression?
Elektric Animals: Deciding to carry on as a duo has been the most liberating and smooth our collaboration and creative expression has ever been. We both know what we are good at and in return, we rarely ever get in each other’s way. Will creates catchy and unique chord progressions and demos. Then I come in and lay down melody and lyric ideas. It’s always a really fun and enjoyable process.
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