Ever feel like going back to the 90s and spending a sunny California beach day with friends? Throwing your favorite cassette into your car radio and coasting with the windows down? NandoInTheBando sets the perfect vibe with his debut album, Nuisance!, a seven-track exploration of the human experience, loneliness, and separation in a world that’s more digital and seemingly connected than ever.
“I wrote a majority of Nuisance! during the first half of 2021 and had completed the album in August,” Nando tells TREMG. “I had the finished album sitting on my laptop for a few months and only showed a few close friends the album before deciding to release it on all platforms. So, in a way, it kinda feels like letting out a big secret out to the world!”
Nuisance! flickers between modern hyperpop and 90s surf rock, showing off the young artist’s duality as well as the tumultuous back-and-forth of life in the digital age: we want connection in our loneliest moments, even if it’s just through a screen (see the fast-paced “Myspace”), but miss the simplicity of the past when icons like James Dean were dominating pop culture. Dean even inspired an entire track – “James Dean,” which marks the halfway point of the project. Lyrics like “I feel like James Dean, like in the 50s” get drowned out by autotune effects and distorted guitars, which mirrors how social media and the internet sometimes lead us astray from the simpler things in life and the more “put-together” moments of the past that feel too distant to relate to today’s young adults.
“I randomly decided to watch a bunch of James Dean movies and sorta became obsessed with him after watching East of Eden and Rebel Without A Cause,” Nando explains. “I live in Salinas, California – which is where East of Eden takes place – and I found myself really resonating with James Dean after watching that film. James Dean often played the disillusioned angsty protagonist in the movies he was in and I personally feel a lot like that in my real life. James Dean also died in a car crash while on his way to a race in Salinas. The song ‘James Dean’ is a homage to both James Dean and my hometown and I feel like his persona really fits the vibe of the album as a whole. “
Throughout the album, Nando expertly plays with duality to show the back-and-forth of his feelings and send the listener right into the mindset he’s describing. A notable example is “Absent,” a misleadingly upbeat track where he owns up to the distance he’s put between himself and those he loves while trying to find himself and pursue his dreams. As soon as the track ends, you get a slowed-down version of the track with sludgier guitars giving it a more gritty feel. The project closes with the bouncy “totally tubular bop” that is “Anime Beach Episode,” which returns to the feel-good vibes of the earlier songs with a fluttery computerized voice that makes sure the lyrics and messages of carefree fun shine through.
“That was one of the first surf rock instrumentals I’ve ever recorded, which took me a couple of weeks in total to complete,” Nando shares.”I tried singing the lyrics I had written a few times, but I couldn’t hit the right notes or hold them long enough. I’m really into Vocaloid robotic singing like Hatsune Miku, and I decided I wanted that style of vocals on my song. I found a free program called SynthesizerV that lets you program Vocaloid vocals. It took me a few days to get a basic understanding of how SynthesizerV works, but once I got the hang of it I started adding my own lyrics. Overall, it was a long process but I learned a lot from it. I definitely wanna do more songs incorporating Vocaloid singing in the future.”
But perhaps the most memorable song on the album is its title track and opener, Nuisance!, which beckons “meet me by the ocean” before the album’s full surf-rock vibes kick in. The song is the perfect way to set the tone for a nostalgic project, with notes of individuality in the face of criticism. It’s everything that Nando stands for and sends the listener right into the sonic world he’s creating.
“The song that means the most to me right now would have to be the title track, ‘Nuisance!,’ because it sets the vibe for the whole album,” he shares. “The song is about having fun, being yourself, and not caring about what other people think about you! I think more people should take themselves less seriously and have more fun! Life is too short to be so serious all the time and why worry about what other people think? Just be yourself!”
Nuisance! is the kind of album that could only come from an artist as uniquely himself as Nando. Whether it’s his own music, helping give other artists a platform through the Lowpass Magazine project he runs with his sister, or even just sharing glimpses of his life on Instagram, you’re getting the real, authentic deal with any content Nando puts out. The record plays into the current buzz surrounding hyperpop and the nostalgic pop-punk revival without feeling played-out or derivative. It’s everything you want to hear from a rising artist finding their own footing, no matter what other people may expect from them.
You can find Nuisance! on your favorite streaming services now, and get to know NandoInTheBando on Instagram and Twitter! Keep reading for more from our conversation with the genre-bending future superstar.
Congratulations on your new album, Nuisance! How does it feel to finally let it out into the world?
Honestly, it feels amazing! I wrote a majority of Nuisance! during the first half of 2021 and had completed the album in August. I had the finished album sitting on my laptop for a few months and only showed a few close friends the album before deciding to release it on all platforms. So, in a way, it kinda feels like letting out a big secret out to the world!
Which songs on the album took the fastest and longest times to create?
The song that took the least amount of time to write was probably “Myspace.” It was one of those songs where I just knew what I wanted and everything else sorta fell into place. I probably spent somewhere around 3 – 5 hours in total working on the song.
The song that took the longest to write was “Anime Beach Episode.” That was one of the first surf rock instrumentals I’ve ever recorded which took me a couple of weeks in total to complete. Initially, it was just bass, drums, and rhythm/lead guitars, but I knew I wanted to add vocals to the song. I tried singing the lyrics I had written a few times but I couldn’t hit the right notes or hold them long enough. I’m really into Vocaloid robotic singing like Hatsune Miku and I decided I wanted that style of vocals on my song. I found a free program called SynthesizerV that lets you program Vocaloid vocals. It took me a few days to get a basic understanding of how SynthesizerV works but once I got the hang of it I started adding my own lyrics. Overall, it was a long process but I learned a lot from it. I definitely wanna do more songs incorporating Vocaloid singing in the future.
Which song on the album means the most to you and why?
That’s a tough one! The song that means the most to me right now would have to be the title track, “Nuisance!,” because it sets the vibe for the whole album. The song is about having fun, being yourself, and not caring about what other people think about you! I think more people should take themselves less seriously and have more fun! Life is too short to be so serious all the time, and why worry about what other people think? Just be yourself!
Is there a certain lyric on Nuisance! that you’re particularly proud of?
On the song “James Dean,” the lyrics go:
I’m a rebel no cause
I’m in Heaven smoking with God
I like trouble, fast cars, yeah
That’s me just playing with my gun
I really like these lyrics because James Dean plays the lead role in Rebel Without a Cause and I thought it was clever to incorporate the movie title into the lyrics. I also feel like these lyrics quickly personify the character of James Dean.
Your music is a really fun blend of pop, rock, and hip-hop. Who were some artists who influenced the album’s sound?
The two big influences for me and this album have to be 100 Gecs and Wavves. 100 Gecs is a hyperpop duo, Wavves is a surf rock band, and I think my sound falls somewhere between those two artists.
Alongside Nuisance!, you dropped a music video for its title track, which is also your first music video overall. What was the planning process like, and what was it like on set?
Yeah! My sister and her boyfriend filmed and edited the “Nuisance!” music video. We filmed it in Monterey and really didn’t have a plan at all other than get a few skate clips and me playing the guitar. We stopped at the local skate park and we happened to see Jimmy Carlin (an ex-pro skater) and we asked him to be in the video. He was stoked and said “Heck yeah, I’ll be in your music video!” which was super awesome of him! After that, we walked to downtown Monterey while I was carrying my guitar and that part was kinda awkward because people would look over at what we were filming. There was a lot of VFX work done after the filming process which really took the video to the next level. Overall, it was a great experience and came out way better than I thought it would.
Shout out @7kikizinatree and @._phun for filming and editing!
If a song other than “Nuisance!” was going to be the album name, which song would you pick and why?
I think I would name it James Dean. I randomly decided to watch a bunch of James Dean movies and sorta became obsessed with him after watching East of Eden and Rebel Without A Cause. I live in Salinas, California – which is where East of Eden takes place – and I found myself really resonating with James Dean after watching that film. James Dean often played the disillusioned angsty protagonist in the movies he was in and I personally feel a lot like that in my real life. James Dean also died in a car crash while on his way to a race in Salinas. The song “James Dean” is a homage to both James Dean and my hometown and I feel like his persona really fits the vibe of the album as a whole.
We at TREMG love getting to know new artists who haven’t gotten the success or attention they deserve. Who are some of your favorite underrated artists at the moment?
Heck yeah! With modern recording techniques, there are more new artists than ever and that makes music a lot more exciting for me! Some of my favorite artists right now are Bleachh, Phixel, Slushh, Iris Day, and Eichlers! They are all super talented and wonderful people and definitely deserve a listen!
Is there anything else you’d like to mention that the questions didn’t touch on?
I just wanted to quickly shout out my Instagram @nandointhebando and my Twitter @nantendoswitch in case anyone wants to stay connected with me! Also wanted to mention that my sister and I run a local zine called Lowpass Magazine, where we document local talent hidden in Salinas. We [released] our fourth chapter on 2/22/2022, so be on the lookout for that! You can find the magazine on Instagram @lowpassmagazine! I also wanted to say thank you for taking the time to interview me!
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