Today, Eighty Ninety — the NYC based alt-pop project of brothers Abner (vocals, production) and Harper (guitar, production) James — will release the official music video for their new single, “Better As Friends.” In keeping with the band’s musical style, the new music video is both cinematic and minimalist, juxtaposing the picturesque New York City skyline with intimate studio shots.
Watch “Better As Friends” Music Video:
“Better as Friends” is a dreamy mix of contemporary pop and hazy chillwave production propelled by a driving pulse that culminates in a yearning, widescreen chorus complete with soaring melodies, lush arrangements and the band’s distinctive guitar work. Following the brothers’ previous release, “Happier,” “Better as Friends” is the second single from Eighty Ninety’s forthcoming sophomore EP, slated for release in 2021. The EP was created in collaboration with Grammy-nominated producer Gian Stone (Maroon 5, Justin Bieber, Ariana Grande, Halsey, Dua Lipa).
Eighty Ninety first broke out with their hit 2016 single, “Three Thirty,” which climbed to #2 on Spotify’s Global Viral Charts and was closely followed by their debut EP Elizabeth. Since then, the duo’s music has garnered over 26 million streams, featured on numerous Spotify playlists (New Music Friday, Pop Rising, Indie Pop, Chill Vibes, Viral Hits, and many more) and was even hand-picked by Taylor Swift for her official Spotify playlist “Songs Taylor Loves.”
The NYC based duo’s songs fuse intimate storytelling, sticky melodies, and minimalist pop productions built on acoustic instruments and electronic sounds in a style they call “808s and telecasters” — a shorthand for both their music and their anything-goes mentality in the studio. “We let the emotional arc of the song, rather than any set of genre conventions, lead us to instruments and sounds,” the brothers say of their process.