The album was recorded remotely in studios in Austin and Los Angeles during the lockdown of 2020-2021

“Phases of the Moon” is the first taste from A Year at Home, out in early 2022. Oliver Future was founded in Austin by Noah Lit (guitar / vocals), Josh Lit (vocals and keyboards), Jesse Ingalls (bass and piano) and Sam Raver (guitar) in 2002. 

The band made several records in Austin before being moved to Los Angeles by their management company in 2005. The management company (and their stipends) disappeared quickly, and the band found themselves stuck, too poor to move home. Luckily they met Adam Lasus who had also just moved to LA via Brooklyn and just had a hit record with Clap Your Hands Say Yeah. 

He recorded the band and together they released Pax Futura which was picked up by KCRW and became a critical success. The band was a fixture at Spaceland and The Echo. They toured the country several times over and played Austin City Limits Festival. Additional highlights for the band include performances on Morning Becomes Eclectic, support from NPR Music, high-profile performances at SXSW and a set at Sunset Junction Music Festival. 

Then, in a perfect Los Angeles story, just as the band started recording their next record, a famous artist decided to abscond with the rhythm section. Jesse toured the world and won a Grammy, Josh, Sam and Noah stayed home and made another record as Oliver Future, 2008’s In Event of Moon Disaster. Shortly after the album’s release, they decided to disband and Sam, Noah and Josh found their way back to Austin. 

Shortly after returning to Texas, Noah and Josh became co-owners of Batch Craft Beer and Kolaches, a popular East Austin destination for craft beer lovers and foodies alike. 

The successful brothers and business partners were still eager to create new music and in 2019, they asked Jesse if he wanted to come back to Austin to play a show as Oliver Future. The show was a sold out lovefest at The Continental Club. While it was billed as a proper goodbye show, the fun of playing together was undeniable. 

Fast-forward to Summer of 2020 as the drudgery of lockdown and the pandemic continued, Josh, Noah and Sam started getting together to jam in their studio. The music instantly sounded like Oliver Future. They contacted Jesse, who remembered two of the songs they were working on before the breakup, Phases of the Moon and I Can’t Take It. The rest were written bouncing tracks over email and text. The final touch was bringing Adam Lasus back to mix the record. The result is what the band describes as the most effortless recordings they ever got to do. 

The music, just like the band, is a bit of an anachronism. Sam and Noah’s electric guitar riffs blaze over Josh’s vintage keyboards and modular synthesizers. Meanwhile Jesse’s bass keeps the groove along with session playing pro Jimmy Paxson on drums. Noah and Josh trade lead vocals, and blood harmonies. The result is modern but familiar. Sci-fi indie rock played in large empty venues. Album rock in an age of snippets. 

What do you think is the most important aspect of your life right now? 

Noah: I know we should probably say our kids, but I’m really into Italian wines right now.

Josh: staying alive

What inspired your latest single, “Flattened”?

josh: it just kind of came out. I thought it would be like putting pieces back together, but everything just flowed naturally. Musically working with Noah and some of my oldest, best friends in the world again was the greatest creative experience I’ve ever had. Oh yeah, and living through the last two years..

What makes “Flattened” so special in your opinion?

Noah: it’s robot doo wop 

Josh: Is it special? It captures an extremely personal time in my life, I hope others will relate to it and be able to reflect as well. 

What are some of the core messages on your upcoming album?

Noah: Oliver Future was post apocalyptic before it was cool to be so… I guess our main message is, We were right all along…

How do you think tik tok and social media are contributing to change an artist’s career?

Noah: What’s a Tik Tok? I guess we were there for the beginning of Social Media, then peaced out… now it all seems very tiring. I’m not sure about all this unfettered access, I appreciate a good gatekeeper, like you all. 

Josh: I never made it past MySpace 

Noah: Josh, you never made it TO Myspace!