New York City Based Band, Native Sun, Is Untamable

New York City based rock band, Native Sun, is incomparable in their natural frontman energy and ability to take full control of an audience. When playing live, the band is somewhat the embodiment of a ringmaster. Using their music as their edge, Native Sun leads the audience through an almost parallel performance to their own: chaotic energy, frantic jumping, electrifying moshing, a brief pause between songs, awaiting the next to let the music release them physically.  

As the show begins, the crowd seems timid and somewhat shy. Throughout the performance as Gomez sings, he gives commands into the mic, and the audience follows. Soon, the timid crowd becomes consumed by, and unable to resist the music, organically reacting to the band’s perfectly crafted cadences and Gomez’s distinct voice. All attention will be on Native Sun. 

The band consists of Danny Gomez (vocals and guitar), Jack Hiltabidle (guitar), Justin Barry (bass and vocals), and Nico Espinosa (drums). Their latest single, “Too Late,” was released in March of 2024. Similar to the rest of their discography, this single features a depth of dynamics and clean coordinated rhythms between each instrument. Often the music begins as fast as it will end, setting the tone as soon as a second passes. One commonality between every Native Sun release is its ability to hook a listener from start to finish. As the band will explain, either you choose Native Sun, or Native Sun chooses you. 

We sat down with Native Sun ahead of their show at Music Hall of Williamsburg. 

You guys began releasing music in 2017, could you give a brief synopsis about meeting and how the band started

Danny: The band kind of started at the end of 2017, early 2018 when we started playing live. At first, it was just kind of me and some demos that I had together that were what led to the route of what would become Native Sun. I wasn't really thinking about it or what was going to happen. I put out a couple songs and people started enjoying them and asking us to play. And through that process, I quickly met everyone that's here throughout the years as we solidified the lineup. I think the pandemic, as cliche as it is, was a big thing for us, in the sense that's when we really became a band. We didn't know what the world was, and we just thought it'd be better to lock ourselves in our own world. And that's what we created and became Native Sun. 

Nico: Yeah, and individually I actually met Justin at a different show many years ago. What was it like 2016, maybe 2017?

Justin: I don't know, yeah, He had just moved to the city. We knew each other, and we're playing in the scene and everything. Then I actually met Danny by going to a Native Sun show. We ended up living together during peak pandemic time and started working on stuff. And then kind of just fell together. 

Danny: Justin broke his tooth in a mosh pit that first time. 

Justin: The embarrassing thing was that it happened twice in the same day. So I was drinking a beer and it got elbowed into my teeth, two separate times. 

Danny: Yeah, that's what I like about this band. It's almost like the Sex Pistols in a way that it chooses you and you end up becoming a part of it somehow. Justin messaged me the next day and was like, “I think that was the best breaking of my teeth experience I've ever had.”

What were your initial perceptions at that first Native Sun show?

Justin: I felt that the songwriting was very solid, and I also think that the performance was very, I guess, confrontational in a way that I think is entertaining to watch and something that I enjoy doing as well. As far as it being for the performance, very cathartic, but also for the audience. I was drawn to that. And we also met Jack in a very similar way.

Jack: I saw them do a Stooges Halloween cover set. I remember talking to my friend at their house and I was like, “oh, there is a Stooges cover band and they better be fucking good.” I go up to the front of the stage and they start and I'm like, “alright, they're good.” And then I get up on stage and I grab the mic.

Danny: He almost broke my teeth by accident. I hadn't met him, and I was like, “who the fuck is that guy?”

Justin: So either Native Sun chooses you or you choose Native Sun.

I'm interested in talking about your EP that you released in 2022 “Off With Our Heads.” A very common perception of how other people think of punk is that a lot of the songs have the same structure, very formulaic. I was really impressed by this EP and the composition of each song, and how each one is kind of set apart from the other but all work together. 

Danny: We try. I think a big rule of thumb of this band is we don't repeat ourselves.

Talk to me about this EP. Were the songs already written or were they newly created for this EP? 

Danny: Well, that kind of goes back to what we were saying about the pandemic. When Justin and I moved in, and with Nico, we were all playing together. There was nothing else to do but just try to go for it and write songs. I think for two months we just wrote every day. And those songs are the amalgamation of that period. I think the diversity shows in that because I think everybody was lost in their own island. That's what I enjoy about each release we do and especially new music we have, is that there's always going to be a different side of Native Sun. 

Justin: Yeah, I would say that we were pretty intentional about it. I think that punk as a genre can be very limiting. I actually don't even really consider ourselves a punk band. So when people ask we say we’re a rock and roll band. I think that it's more interesting creatively to be able to work outside of the box than be confined within it. 

Danny: The same people that made up punk were trying to not put restrictions on things. And the same thing you see with anything as it gets commercialized and capitalism, the set of laws that they're breaking against end up being enforced upon them and become that structure. And I think by not being a predictable band, that could be the punkest thing that you could do. 

Justin: I think we had other songs we were working on, but we were very, very intentional about what we chose to make as a complete piece of music. So listening to it front to back as opposed to dialing in on one specific song. And that's something that I feel we did successfully on the EP. Now we have a full-length record that aims for the same as far as having diversity but being a complete cohesive piece. But I think that we grew up on really appreciating a full album and it being a transformative experience, and that's something that we aspire to create for people.

Danny: I feel like a record hits on all the senses. You can touch it, you can look at the art, you can smell it. That smell of taking it out and that whole experience kind of why the romanticism with generations of past talk about records and getting into that connection. I think there's still a way to do that and adapt to the 21st century.

Nico: And to keep trying to do what we grew up listening to. We did the tracking live. So the songs were also some of the first times that we were in the studio together. After rehearsing so much, it was amazing to try to translate our live performances and all the rehearsals and just lay down on tape. Being able to know that sometimes we'll get through a tape, but it'll be one screw up someone did, and we have to redo the whole thing again. But it keeps it honest. It keeps it exactly what we want to do. 

Danny: Then the screw up becomes your favorite part. 

Nico: Yeah, I definitely screwed up one of the fills there, but it took a lot of convincing and they told me it’s perfect. 

Justin: I think that's a lot of the issue with things that come out today is that everything is so refined and perfected, whereas bringing in a human element and recording it live has worked for us so far. 

Danny: I feel like a lot of times people try to compare themselves to who's around them or who's in their scene. And to be honest, what matters to us is there are records that have come out for 50 years that have set the bar, and that's what we're trying to go for.

On that EP, my favorite song is probably “Walk.” In general, what is a typical songwriting process for you guys? Does it start lyrically, musically, or is it different each time? 

Danny: There isn't one, and I think that's the best way because it leads to a lot of the different song experiences. I feel like if it was the same format every time, it would just really get boring. And I feel like that's an important thing as a writer, trying to accept that there are no rules and that keeps it fresh. This new record that we have, a lot of songs came about in different ways. “Walk,” for example, since you picked that song, I can tell you about that one. That song came about more lyrically. Originally, I would write it in my head as I was walking late at night in New York around 4:00 AM when you go back home. That's kind of like my headspace, so rambling thoughts. That's what that song is lyrically, just the sporadic thoughts that you have in your head as the night comes down. And sometimes I feel like the biggest truths hit you without realizing at that moment.

What about “Too Late?” What was the process of that?

Danny: That one was a more classic band vibe. And you feel it in the song.

Justin: In the practice space we had a riff that was going. 

Danny: And then Justin was playing something that was the intro. 

Justin: Just letting it go in whatever direction.

Danny: My favorite songs are the ones that happen in 20 minutes. 

Jack: That was the first song we did together too.

Danny: “When She” for example, I wrote that song in 20 minutes. I remember people were like, “wow, this is the best melody you’ve ever written.” I was like, “fuck, I should write songs in 20 minutes more.” You're not overthinking it. I am excited to see what else is next. 

Justin: Again, to sort of go back to what we were saying about the genre, I think ultimately no matter what we write, it is going to be Native Sun because we wrote it. So it's coming through our lens and the things that we are inspired by and we like, which is always growing outward. So why limit ourselves, right? I think just trying to capture whatever direction and having multiple directions going at the same time but that are still feeling cohesive.

Jack: I think Danny too, your vocal style is very distinct. You put that on anything, it's going to sound like fucking Native Sun. 

Nico: Not only was this the first time we worked with Jack, but it kind of sparked this new wave of songs we wrote for the record too. It was one of the first ones that we were like, “okay, this is kind of the vibe we want to go.” Jack is in the band, we work with him and we're like, all right, perfect. Now we have a foundation where we can take off.

Jack: Yeah, they had basic tracking done for just about everything. And then with this album we worked with a producer that I worked with before. I wanted to bring the really super live energy from the band, because that's what I see when I see you guys live. We didn't want to restrict that in the recording process at all. Yeah, it was really a really good time. 

Your song “Sister” was released in 2017 and then re-released in 2022. In the 2017 version, the ending is a bit more tame than in the 2022 version. So I was wondering what was the decision to change and release the single?

Danny: So that one, the original version I played most of the instruments, minus the drums. We're big fans of bands like Brian Jonestown Massacre and things like that. Sometimes it's okay to try a song in a different way. You know what I mean? But the evolution of the song is kind of like what we'd always wanted it to be and be this Rolling Stones, kind of “Goats Head Soup” thing. And we were in practice one day and we just randomly went into that end and we were like, “oh, well now the song is different.”

Your latest release, “Too Late,” really guides the listeners from start to finish, and I thought it was a great song. With this single specifically, how do you feel like it adds to your previously released music under Native Sun?

Danny: We think it fully represents more intentionally what we've always wanted to produce, kind of energy and fuel wise. Making songs has always been trial and tribulations and that's what it is to be an artist. 

Justin: Well I would say, I mean in a very obvious way, I think that every time you go into the studio or you work on new material, you're learning from previous experiences and also building upon your own knowledge. So I think that we just went in with a little bit more knowledge personally and thoughts as to where we wanted the song to go and how we wanted it to sound. And because of that, we were able to also have the language to describe and work through it and be like, “well how do we get the mix this way? What if it sounded like this?” And sort of tailored it in that way. Then working with the producer on “Too Late,” Jonathan Schenke. I feel we built on “Too Late” in that same way, as far as how we can work within the studio environment, because we have this back catalog of knowledge and experiences already. 

It's been two years between your EP release and “Too Late.” In what ways do you feel like you've changed as musicians? What's been different with this release? 

Danny: Everything. We played a lot of shows. I just think we're all putting in the dedication and understanding that it takes. We're in this for life. It's a lot of work and understanding what that means and pushing ourselves to strive for more and be better with everything. I want next time we sit down and you listen to the record and you're like, “wow, this is a lot better than the last one.” 

Jack: I would say from a sonic perspective too, based on the album compared to “Too Late,” it takes that same direction, but it is bigger, it's clearer and it's better.

Justin: I think being fixated on what tones we want, just general production aesthetics if you will, and being very intentional about the choices that we're making.

Danny: Yeah, the songs are better too. 

Who are some artists that inspire each of you? 

Jack: Stooges. And then Fugazi. 

Nico: For me, growing up as a kid, I listened to a lot of Little Richard and Chuck Berry. I kind of always wanted to have some sort of frontman approach to playing drums. I've been listening to a lot of Misfits lately. They've been really heavy on my rotation so that's kind of been inspiring me a lot.

Justin: I would say Guided By Voices and Nine Inch Nails for me currently. Which are seemingly on opposite ends of the spectrum as far as production goes, but I think that both offer a lot in different ways.

Danny: I’d probably say Leonard Cohen and Nina Simone. I just think the more the punk spirit of things and not being the cliche punk way is what I really find impressive. I'm an immigrant to this country. I moved here when I was eight, nine. So someone like Nina Simone really inspires me to fight for people that don't have the most privileged backgrounds. And I think that's why I find sincerity and genuineness in the music.

What's coming up for you guys? What's next?

Danny: We're going to play in like an hour and a half. 

Justin: In all seriousness, a full-length debut album is to come. Definitely a lot more touring both in the US and Europe.

Danny: We've been out on the road for a month and a half, so the next couple weeks are going to be much needed. New album - I think put out one and then you don't stop. We've put out songs and a couple EPs and things like that, but it's all kind of been leading up to this moment and from that you don't stop.

Justin: I'm excited to work on new music, honestly. Get another album done. 

Nico: I've been listening to the record a lot in different formats and different moods. I really have been enjoying it. I know that I'm in it, but overall I'm proud of the work that we did. I'm glad that it's just going to one day be out. 

Danny: I'm very “get it done and move on.” But it’s good to take a second and appreciate all the work, blood, sweat, and tears for a year that you put into a thing. This is the first time we've ever done something that's more than six songs, and seeing that process of something come together, almost like a literal entity, it was really interesting. I just like getting lost in the madness coming out and then doing it again. 

Find Native Sun on Spotify, Instagram, and their website. 

All photos via Tori McGraw (@afterr.hourrs)