When BROTHERS released their 2018 album, Zebra, the band had what might be considered a tenuous grasp on the double-edged sword of eclecticism. Spanning genres from Swamp Blues to Rock-infused Hip-Hop, at its best it could be considered a well-rounded album, or otherwise lacking a certain cohesiveness. Two years later, Taran and Tyler Guest are refining their sound, starting with their new single, “Neverland,” but not all at once.
The duo explains that they’re taking a new approach to production, and while “Neverland” is still clinging to the last remnants of their old sound, they’ve shifted to utilizing fewer “live” instruments as they shift away from their trademark hip-hop/rock tightrope and into a more pop-inspired sound.
“We were trying to build something new and find a creative outlet while not working our usual busy day jobs and having to be quarantined at home. This allowed us to collaborate remotely in a way we haven’t done before,” says Taran Guest.
The song is also, you guess it, a result of collaborating over the course of the COVID-19 pandemic. Where Taran and Tyler had both been taking time to work on solo projects (Troy Alistair and GUEST), they took the opportunity to work together on the new track. It also doesn’t hurt that Taran has just built a new studio space where he has been honing his music production skills.
“Tyler came to me with an idea about some of his internal life struggles during the COVID-19 Pandemic, and I was able to run with that idea to deliver an exciting cathartic experience for both of us,” says Taran. “This was a great way to reignite the flame that Tyler and I shared for years and a great learning curve to further develop my production – and lyric video – skills. It was fun, and I certainly hope it might lead to more work of this style in the future both with BROTHERS and in collaboration with other artists.”