Get in, losers, we’re listening to an indie-rock band *before* they get mega famous and take over the world. Pretoria, the quartet from Chicago by way of Grand Rapids, is poised to be your new favorite, and we don’t say that lightly. With optimism-inducing melodies akin to Cage The Elephant, Foster The People, and MGMT, Pretoria is simply a breath of fresh air—one you relaxedly inhale on a laid-back road trip with an open sunroof. Featuring a bit of Midwest emo edge, this beachy, surf-rock outfit stole our hearts with “Emerseon, Everywhere,” ahead of the release of EP If We’re Pretending.
Alongside the release of their new EP, idobi Radio had the chance to catch up with the quartet to chat about the seven-track album, the Chicago music scene, road trip essentials, and more.
Plus, make sure to check out the band in a city near you as they embark on their If We’re Pretending summer tour.
You hail from Michigan and are now in the fabulous Chicago area. What did you learn from the Grand Rapids music scene that’s helped you blossom in the Chicago music scene?
Grand Rapids taught us that community is the bedrock of any music scene. You can practice, write, and record all day, but unless you put yourself out there and start forming relationships with artists and fans, you won’t get anywhere. And most importantly, never view these connections as merely a means to an end. The bonds you create in your local scene are often the best part about being a musician at the end of the day.
On top of this, Grand Rapids taught us the value of the DIY mentality. If a certain opportunity or resource doesn’t seem available in your city, you can always make it happen yourself. That can mean hosting your own house venue, recording in a basement home studio with whatever you can find, or even acquiring a screen printer and making your own merch.
What did you learn during the course of writing your first full-length, Where Will The Night Take Us?, that you applied to the process of If We’re Pretending?
We can be huge perfectionists, but there will always be something to “fix” and some little things that you have to let go. Sometimes the things we’re unsatisfied with end up being the same things that connect the most with other people, and you can never really know what songs/moments will mean the most to the listeners.
What themes or personal experiences did you tap into most during the creation of your forthcoming EP?
The move to Chicago definitely had a massive influence on the themes and emotions of the record. We tried to examine the full spectrum of feelings that come with leaving one’s hometown and exploring a new chapter. We’re also getting to a point where our day jobs and our band life have started to come into conflict, and the risks of committing to music hang heavy over the record as well. This mentality even bleeds through into the project’s depiction of relationships as yet another leap of faith with all the associated risks and rewards. The EP has a major “fake it til you make it” mentality, which is why the lyric, “If we’re pretending/Might as well get what we want,” seemed like the perfect inspiration for the record title.
What made singles such as “Emerson, Everywhere” the right piece to showcase to listeners ahead of the full EP launch?
“Emerson” felt like a nice bridge between our previous work and the new project to ease listeners in. We also had access to significantly more resources than usual at Chicago’s own Narwhal Studios, and this track felt like a great showcase for those new elements. On a thematic level, the song references Chicago-born artist Emerson Woelffer, whose work graces the cover of If We’re Pretending, so it felt like a natural pairing with the record announcement.
What’s your dream tour lineup?
The Strokes, Vampire Weekend, us, and a local magician opening each show.
What are your tour road trip necessities?
As for tour necessities, the backseat of the van has no headrests, so we rely on neck pillows for when we sleep and Celsius for when we wake up.
