Popping Up: Basic Vacation

Mike Wass | September 4, 2013 9:00 am

Popping Up is our recurring look at new artists making noise on the music landscape. Because, hey — Madonna and Britney were once unknown, too.

When Neon Gold, the indie-pop label that blessed the music world with Ellie Goulding, Foxes and Marina & The Diamonds, gives a band their seal of approval, you can pretty much bet your rent money on them being worth checking out. New York City newcomers Basic Vacation not only got those influential tastemakers loudly singing their praises, their debut single “I Believe” has bloggers across the net throwing superlatives and drawing unlikely comparisons.

Chris GreattiJon Paul and Mike Montalbano have thus far been likened to Foster The People, Fun, Passion Pit and (inexplicably) One Direction. I would also throw in The Naked And Famous with, perhaps, a splash of Cloud Control to get some idea of their catchy calling card “I Believe”. This kind of effervescent indie-pop would be a baked shoe-gazer’s delight if the chorus wasn’t so relentlessly upbeat.

We were lucky to conduct the band’s very first on-camera interview for the latest segment of Popping Up and learned all there is to know about Basic Vacation. Watch up top.

MEMBERS: Chris Greatti (lead vocals/guitar), Jon Paul (bass) and Mike Montalbano (drums)

AGES: All under 21

HOMETOWNS: New York City and Philadelphia

SOUNDS LIKE: Insert acclaimed indie-pop band here. We’ll stick with Foster The People meets The Naked And Famous. But happier.

BIGGEST INFLUENCE: The band lists New Radicals, Tears For Fears, Kanye West and My Bloody Valentine as major influences on their sound.

THEIR NAME: When asked why they called themselves Basic Vacation, the boys drew a blank. It turns out they were just throwing together random words until something stuck.

THE STORY BEHIND “I BELIEVE”: Despite its breezy sound and serotonin level-increasing chorus, the song actually comes from a relatively dark place. It’s about not giving up on a relationship, even when the odds are stacked against you.

THEIR VIDEO: Will include lots of motions — emotions, slow motions and locomotions. Well, not really but the guys like to joke. It was actually filmed in a bar.

Do you want to learn more about Basic Vactaion? Let us know in the comments below, or on Twitter or Facebook!