The duo say they want to soundtrack people's weekends and they certainly soundtracked ours at The Espy's Gershwin Room on Friday.
Neil Frances – as you’ll undoubtedly know from their debut, There Is No Neil Frances – is actually a duo, Jordan Feller and Marc Gilfry. They’re most famous for their warm, dreamy and often psychedelic electronica that first hit mainstream attention with a delightful cover of Music Sounds Better With You all the way back in 2017.
They proved their original nous by penning breakout hit Teardrops in 2018 and have gone on to develop an electric catalogue that’s totally at home in the live environment. The duo do a lot right live – they sing beautifully, shred a little guitar, slam the keys, and tie it all together with a pulsating kick and bass that’s as equally at home in a club setting as it is in traditional concert halls.
The duo hails from Sydney and Southern California – cities that have their fair share culturally in common – and you can hear that combined legacy in their recorded output. They sit so easily within a long line of electronic producers to emerge from the harbour city, a lineage that consistently produces so many talented acts despite the myriad restrictions that scene’s faced over the years. Live though, they had more than enough Melbourne grit to them to keep The Espy rocking all night.
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Feller, a self-taught electronic music DJ, started his music career in Australia, while Gilfry grew up in a musically-inclined household, honing his skills in multiple bands. Together, they have crafted a distinctive sound that resonates with listeners of all kinds.
Since their debut EP, Took A While, Neil Frances has been steadily building a dedicated fan base. Their psychedelic rhythms, infectious grooves, and raw, funky spirit have garnered them opportunities to perform alongside established acts such as Jungle, SG Lewis, and Unknown Mortal Orchestra – all acts that they’re remarkably at home performing with, tapping into the cultural zeitgeist with ease.
