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Five Questions: The Morning Benders

Yes, the Morning Benders hail from Berkeley, California. Yes, every blog from Stereogum to Idolator has sung their praises. Yes, that should make them the most annoyingly hip, trendy band on the planet. And yet, one listen to this quartet's sunny, unassuming folk-pop is enough to melt even the most jaded hipster's heart. They were being cheeky when they declared themselves "a glowing flower of rock in this little musical garden we like to call Earth," but that's actually as good a description of the Morning Benders as you're liable to hear.

So who are these four young fellows from the People's Republic of Berkeley? We posed our five questions and learned a little more about the band every blogger is talking about.

1. Name a musician who has influenced your sound, but that people may not expect.

Bob Marley.

2. Who or what inspires you to make music?

Hard to say. I don't edit much when writing songs, so I guess they become a product of whatever is going on.

3. Was there a driving concept behind your new EP?

We didn't go into it with a concept exactly, but there was probably something going on because all the songs were new. After finishing it we realized all the songs break down or fall apart at one point or another before the end. I thought that was interesting.

4. What's the most exciting part of the actual music-making process for you?

Right after laying down all the parts to tape, hearing back the song for the first time.

5. If you could pick a dream band/artist/DJ to open for, past or present, who would it be?

Neil Young.

You can download two songs from the Morning Benders here—and order their EPs here.