forthebeat interview: Family of the Year

Let’s get something straight: Family of the Year is not a reference to my own family in 1999, when my brother broke my tailbone and I got immediately sent to my room for saying the F word.

Family of the Year is an adorable Los Angeles group who makes folk-inspired indie rock/pop perfect for anyone who likes wuss rock, tambourines, harmonies, skinny boys, girls on keyboards, and drummers in muscle shirts.

I had the pleasure of catching them at Minneapolis’ famed 7th Street Entry on a gray March day, where their sunny California sound and sweet, hopeful lyrics left me in anticipation of their EP release and happy, summer days ahead. They may not be a family (okay two of them are brothers), but their genuine affection for each other is apparent and infectious (translation: Nora’s got a crush!).

Bonus: Prince himself stopped to check out the show. I believe that awards you an instant 100 cool points, but I’m not sure about the current Prince conversion rate.

Double Bonus: Their new EP, Through The Trees, is just $4.

Triple Bonus: You can get your own little piece of the family with a $5 donation that gets you a personal postcard from the road.

Quadruple Bonus: The sweet, melodic lament of summer love, Summer Girl

Family of the Year – Summer Girl

What’s your favorite FOTY song / which do you love performing live and why?
Currently, I’d say that Chugjug is my favorite song to play live and dance around to in general. During shows, some of us switch instruments for this song, which I feel keeps us excited and on our toes. I rarely play bass so its fun for me to have a Cassandra moment (you know, the babe bass player from Wayne’s World) even if it’s just in my head. Its got a big family feel to it, with the whole band singing together, which I think is a good representation of our present direction and what is making us excited and inspired right now.

What color would best describe your band’s aura/vibe?
We think of it like the color of the Golden Hour…that moment when the sun is just going down and everything looks awash with that bright gold light…

When or how did you first fall in love with music?
It’s so hard to remember where it started. When I was a tiny kid, I think I remember standing on my head in the living room, staring at some babysitters long fake fingernails while listening to Michael Jackson on cassette tape and thinking it was pretty awesome… but maybe it was earlier. Who doesn’t fall in love with a lullaby?

What is the most shameful song on your iPod?
“If Loving You is Wrong” by Faithless… I really have no idea how I came to like this, and no knowledge of any other songs, but it’s maybe the dirtiest song I’ve ever heard and for some strange reason I think it’s sort of brilliant.