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Local Natives has generated quite a buzz in the past year. Their album Gorilla Manor was released in Europe at the end of 2009, due to the fact that after last year’s SXSW the band gained much recognition by word of mouth. The U.S. finally got on board and released the album in February. A combination of beautifully layered three-piece harmonies and an array of rhythmic instrumental melodies makes Local Natives a truly unique band. Artist Advocacy caught up with singer and guitarist Taylor Rice just before the guys hit the road to perform at Coachella this weekend.

We’ve been on the road non-stop since last year’s SXSW.  We spent a lot of that time abroad in Europe, which was an incredible bonding experience as a band. We’ve got a lot tighter, and learned how to live not just in a house together, but in a van.

Did the crowd respond differently, did you notice them singing along to the songs more than last year?

The difference was incredible. Our first show at SX was the NPR showcase, and it was the first show we played in the US since our album was released by French Kiss. We couldn’t believe how many people turned out to see us play, and how many of them knew the words to our songs. That personally felt like a real milestone.

You guys have definitely given Silver Lake, CA a good rep. Did moving there from Orange County allow for a better, more musically creative environment to compile songs for Gorilla Manor?

Actually, we wrote the majority of the album while we lived in Orange County. It was important for us to hole up and really seclude ourselves from the world while we worked day in and day out in our rehearsal space creating the music. It was after we recorded and felt ready to share our music and play live as much as possible that we moved to Los Angeles, and that was the best decision we could have made.

What’s your favorite hangout spot in Silver Lake?

Spaceland and the Echo are two of my favorite venues in Silver Lake. They have amazing bands play all the time, and both venues were very helpful to us when we first moved to LA. You’d think the last place we’d want to hang out is a venue after the touring so much, but that’s where we’ve spent a lot of time on this break.

Do you see yourself living in Silver Lake down the road or have you traveled through a place on tour where you could see yourself potentially settling down?

I love Silver Lake and would love to live here long term. My favorite city elsewhere in the world is Barcelona, and I’d love to live there at least once in my life.

How was your experience filming the Take Away show? Were you familiar with the concept beforehand?

Filming a Take Away Show was a highlight of our European tour this winter. I’ve been a huge fan of La Blogotheque for years. They’ve turned me on to what are some of my favorite bands now; Grizzly Bear, Beirut, Andrew Bird to name a few. The experience was so laid back and off the cuff, we got some really amazing shots in the end. I am excited to work with them again when we go back to France.

Who is the most interesting person you’ve met on tour?

Sufjan Stevens was my number one musical hero of my college days. I met him at CMJ last year at one of our shows. It’s such a surreal experience to meet your idols, and we keep racking up similar crazy scenarios. We supported White Rabbits in November and Britt Daniel came along for the west coast shows [he produced their record]. We’re huge Spoon fans.

Does anybody in the band have a strange phobia or bad habit that disrupts the serenity of living and touring together?

Well, I am a really horrible, dangerous driver. I think it stems from a few car accidents I was in when I was little.  We all take turns driving, so there is a lot of stress when it’s my turn behind the wheel.

I know you guys dabble in art and graphic design. Who specifically designed the cover art for Gorilla Manor?

Andy our bass player did the cover and most of the art for the album, though Matt our drummer did the poster on the sleeve.

Who are some of your favorite visual artists?

Banksy is probably my favorite. I love how subversive and Ironic his work is, and what he represents. I am going to the LA premier of his film Exit Through the Gift Shop today.

Where do you guys buy your instruments?

I am extremely fortunate to have a step dad who obsessively collects Goya guitars. Goya was an offshoot of Fender that produced guitars for just a few years in the late 60′s and early 70′s. They were mostly made in Italy and are pretty rare, but my step dad owns dozens of them. They’re mostly classical guitars, but he also bought a few electrics which I’ve used for the last several years.

From the album, which song stands closest to your heart, and could you elaborate on its lyrical content?

That’s a difficult question to answer. I am proud of all the songs we put on the album, and I’m sure the answer would change over time. I think I can say that “Who Knows Who Cares” is a song that means a lot to me. It is the second oldest song on the album, and I originally wrote the lyrics when we were struggling to be a touring band. We were self-booking these tours, and many of the shows would literally have three people show up. But there were the occasional show where somehow a crowd of people would show up and be super into the music. Those were incredible times when we really felt unified as a band to put everything on the line and not know how things would turn out. “Who Knows Who Cares” is about that time.

When Local Natives was formed, were you guys initially aware that vocal harmonization and layering would stand out as the essence of the music, or did that occur naturally?

Singing with harmony was just a natural progression for us musically. Kelcey, Ryan, and I have been playing music together since we were kids, and since we all sang it just made sense to us to learn how to harmonize together. The three of us have been singing together for over 8 years.

Best beer you had on tour?

Guinness in Dublin, hands down. I am a huge fan of the black gold, and we nerded out and went to the Guinness factory on our last trip there.

Favorite band right now?

Our friends and neighbors Pepper Rabbit have just gotten their music up and are beginning to tour. I saw them play in SXSW and was very impressed. Check them out.

Favorite movie of 2010 so far?

The Wire, season 2.  Being in the van constantly, we spend a lot more time watching DVDs on computers than in movie theater’s.

What moment are you most proud of from this past year?

Getting accepted to play Coachella. Growing up in Southern California, Coachella is the most amazing festival in the world, and it was really a childhood dream come true to be asked to play.

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To find out more about Local Natives, check their MySpace page or blog.