WAVVES
TEXT: Edward Smith  |||  PHOTO: Lauren Dukoff

Describing the aesthetic of his project, WAVVES, Nathan Williams says “everything kind of sucks, so just have fun with it”. His lyrics, although sometimes indecipherable due to his lo-fi recording techniques, reflect this sentiment while the music itself is just plain fun. While singing paeans about adolescent enthusiasms such as surfing, smoking weed, and playing video games he also delves into the darker side of youth with songs about alienation, boredom, and loneliness.

At the age of 23, Williams has released his third album under the WAVVES moniker, titled King of the Beach, after a meteoric rise with some serious bumps along the way. Recording songs at home using GarageBand software and releasing singles on the internet, WAVVES quickly became a favorite on the blogosphere, releasing an album in 2008 and another in 2009. While touring after the release of his second album, WAVVVES, Williams had a well-publicized meltdown at the 2009 Barcelona Primavera Sound Festival. Since then, he has replaced his rhythm section with drummer Billy Hayes and bassist Stephen Pope, (formerly the late Jay Reatard’s backing band) and released a more polished album (King of the Beach) with the help of producer Dennis Herring, who has produced two Modest Mouse albums and is known as a studio perfectionist.

With King of the Beach and its professional and polished sound, WAVVES will expand their following without losing too many of their original fans, who fell for Williams’ fuzzy, punk-rock aesthetic.




DISCOGRAPHY
Wavves (2008)
Wavvves (2009)
King of the Beach (2010)


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PRESS

“Wavves have the firepower to snap your neck with a double-dose of summer HEET.” —Tiny Mix Tapes

“He (WAVVES) shimmies between West Coast G-funk, slacker pop, surf rock and girl-group melodies, all bathed in a warm hissing, crackling fuzz that makes your average K Records release sound like it was recorded by Bob Rock.” —Vice Magazine




LINKS
+ Wavves’ Blog
+ Wavves on MySpace
+ Wavves on Twitter
 

Wavves "No Hope Kids" from Pete Ohs on Vimeo.

WAVVES @ SWEET TEA from Pete Ohs on Vimeo.