Feature & Video Premiere: The Tropics
It was probably a good sign that on my way to meet up with San Francisco band, The Tropics, my cab driver was a complete gem of a human. His name was Rashad and he convinced me that I could do anything with my degree, but he very much wanted me to go into the UN. Little did he know I was on my way to have brunch with a band. He went on to describe in detail how beautiful the city was at this time of the morning- he pointed out how the lights hit the windows and the bright blueness of the sky. “This is why I love working in the mornings.” I tipped him well and his smile was infectious. Who knew that I would be smiling a lot that day.
It’s not often that a band can trace its creation back to M&M’s, red wine, and Craigslist, but for San Francisco’s The Tropics that’s exactly how it all began. It’s that kaleidoscopic aspect that brought singer/songwriter Claire George with guitarist/songwriter Eric Silverman in 2011. The band soon grew to include Nate Skelton (bass), Ro Elston (guitar), and Kern Sigala (drums). Individually hailing proudly from Seattle, Portland, New Jersey, and the desert, these perspectives round out their large, yet intricate sound and enigmatic shows.
Meeting up with them at the Atlas Café in San Francisco, I found myself feeling as if I was among friends. We casually spoke of Eric being an extra in a 70s themed film and his love of making people happy. Claire regaled her storied last night over toast as the sun bore down on us all. Within all of them there’s a comfort in who they are as people. To be quite honest, within ten minutes of talking to them it didn't feel like I was meeting to speak with a band about a story- I felt like I was talking to friends about what makes music so, to put it plainly, rad. Each one of them adds a palpable charm and character- listening to the ep after our brunch, I couldn’t help but feel this even more.
Their music in particular is a genre defying folk rock with haunting, powerful and dynamic vocals- The Tropics disregard current music trends emerging from the Bay Area. Reviving classic pop and combining charmingly melodic synth lines, they deliver a unique sound that brings an unknown and yet-to-be-tapped musical perspective. Meeting with them convinced me of their sincerity, joy, and eagerness to keep on creating- a passion that sometimes falls flat for other artists out there.
This childlike joy is seen in their latest video for the track “Sleepless,” one of my favorites off the new ep. The Tropics gave Kick Kick Snare the exclusive first publish because what are friends for? I’m eagerly awaiting to see what they do next. In the meantime, I’ll be watching this video on loop and throwing my head back in laughter every time.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GyyCSXTkQJU