Comprised of keyboardist Kelcey Ayer, guitarists Ryan Hahn and Taylor Rice, drummer Matt Frazier and Andy Hamm on bass, the band’s collaborative efforts are a group effort. The title of the album comes from one of two houses in the band shared (the other one was located in Silver Lake). Gorilla Manor had an Orange County zip code and became, not just a journey for the band, but an incredibly influential time for the group, as well.

Hamm talks about the house, how they construct their sound, and all that went into Gorilla Manor.

Link: http://www.thelocalnatives.com/

You have this wonderful blend of elegance and primitiveness within your songs. Did that come naturally or is that something the band developed over time? OR, is part of the elegance its primitivism? How do you perceive that and how does the band keep that continuity?

We write all of our songs in a live setting and feel things out as we go.  We’ve never had the opportunity (or money) to be able to work and write while in the studio. I think apart from that its that even though all of us individually take influence from different sides of the spectrum, we all universally love and respect good music. Hence, we are very critical of ourselves and will look at each part very closely.

How hard did you have to work on your vocal harmonies? How did the vocal talent fall into place for the band?

I think that the multiple vocalists simply stemmed from the fact that there are five people in the group that contribute to the writing. When you have more than one person that can sing and write songs it eventually ends up that way.

Group collaboration is important to the band. How did that affect Gorilla Manor?

Its safe to say that every one of the songs on the album wouldn’t have ended up like it did without each band member’s contribution.

There is also a tight bond with the members. How did that become an important factor to the development of the band and where you are today?

We have been friends and playing together for a couple of years before forming Local Natives. Looking back over our short history as a band thus far, I can definitely say that becoming good friends first, before becoming a serious band was very important in writing the album and touring together.

California’s essence and history is synonymous with the concept of the “extraordinary.” How has California been or not been a factor to Gorilla Manor? The album title is a homage to the house where you all lived. Tell me about that influence and what that time meant for you?

There was actually two houses. First of which was in Southern CA where we wrote a good chunk of the album together. I had been living in LA for a bit and convinced the guys to move up and we found a nice place in Silver Lake.  That’s where the remainder of the album was written and finished. Being around each other that much helped a lot in learning how to write cohesive songs that came from so many different sources.

Why include a cover of Talking Head’s “Warning Sign?” What does that song mean to you?

We really just needed another song for our live set as we only had like 5-6 songs finished at that point. I had been on a Talking Heads trip at the moment and came across Warning Sign. After reading up on them I felt a lot of connections, aside from the music, between what we were trying to accomplish as a band and what I would read they were going through in their early stages. It just felt like the right band and the right song to take a shot at. It was never meant to end up on the album.

There is a re-occurring feeling of “longing” and “wanting something you cannot have” within the album that appeals to both your softer and livelier side. What drove the songwriting with this album?

There’s not a conscious theme that we went for on this record. Some songs were written a year and half ago and some 5 months ago. Much of the lyrical content is based on life experiences each of us was going through at the time the song was written.

Now that Gorilla Manor is out, looking back at it, what does the album mean to you and the band?

Its only been out in the UK for about four months and just came out this week in the US. Too soon I think for any reflection. Trying to concentrate mostly on moving forward rather than looking back right now. Still a bit surreal.

You have gotten what seems to be as much European fanfare as the U.S. with the release on Rough Trade and now Frenchkiss. Why the combination of the two and how did that all develop?

It just so happened that after getting a little attention at least years SXSW, we found the right people to work with overseas before we did in the US. We very much wanted to find people who were like-minded and would let us keep doing what we were doing. We are a very hands on band. Infectious and French Kiss felt right.

Will the band keep pursuing the sound that is now invading the eardrums of indie kids around the globe? How are you moving forward and what can we expect in the future?

I doubt that when we start writing the next record it will sound like this one. I love the fact that I never know where a song of ours is going to go and am looking forward to evolving.