Real Estate's 'Daniel': the nostalgic sound of indie rock and musical evolution

25/2/2024

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Step into the ethereal world of indie rock as Real Estate unveils their latest sonic masterpiece 'Daniel'. With nostalgic nods to 90s sitcoms and tales of studio revelations, join us on a journey through musical evolution and the birth of a new era in indie rock.

BY HANAN, 2 minutes read

Real Estate. Credits V2 Records.

The band previously shared the album’s first single 'Water Underground' in tandem with a music video inspired by and made in collaboration with and featuring the stars of the beloved 1990s Nickelodeon sitcom The Adventures of Pete & Pete. Begin this year they share another taste of the album: 'Haunted World' and now they released 'Flowers.'

Real Estate's sonic tapestry and the evolution of indie rock

The chiming guitars and plaintive verses of 'Haunted World' summon the band that first emerged to acclaim in 2009, with Martin Courtney doing his best to sing his way around existential confusion. But in the chorus, dexterous instrumental harmonies (that’s Nashville ace Justin Schipper on pedal steel) and faint backing vocals propel the song anew, its tight hook snagging in a second. Tashian suggested they fortify the refrain and he was right.

A nostalgic ode to 90s sitcoms and studio surprises

Of the track, Courtney says, "‘Haunted World’ sounds like a 90s sitcom theme to us. Network execs - this song is available and we are ready and willing to sell to the highest bidder. We’re super happy with how this one turned out. We had a nice arrangement worked out before we headed to Nashville to record, but it really came to life in the studio. Sometimes a song will surprise you like that."

Elevating indie rock with Grammy-winning producer

The sixth full-length from New Jersey natives Martin Courtney (vocals, guitar), Alex Bleeker (bass, vocals), Matt Kallman (keyboards), Julian Lynch (guitar) and Sammi Niss (drums), Daniel sports 11 new songs recorded with GRAMMY-winning producer Daniel Tashian (Kacey Musgraves) during an ebullient nine-day spree at RCA Studio A in Nashville. The songs on Daniel are effortless but artful. They shimmer and radiate without hesitation or second guesses and they connect the uninhibited wonder of Real Estate’s earliest work with the earned perspective of adulthood. Daniel sounds like classic Real Estate, simply leveled up with the subtle but unabashed touches of a producer who has actually lived inside pop powerhouses.

A name, a sign, a statement

In Nashville, Real Estate shared a rental, cutting up in close quarters after the imposition of separation of these last few years. Several days into recording, they were discussing album titles when someone suggested 'Daniel', simply because it seemed like a good idea to bestow a human name upon a record. Was it for Daniel Tashian? Maybe. Was it the sign of a band that has now been around long enough to take its music seriously without taking itself or its perception too seriously? Absolutely.