hey, nothing have been churning out music for five years now, but the partnership of band members Tyler Mabry and Harlow Phillips extends back much further. Best friends since childhood, the duo’s personal connection surely serves as the secret sauce that elevates their unique take on familiar sounds—bedroom pop, indie folk, Midwest emo—above the rest of the noise. After releasing their first full-length project on Halloween 2023, they return this week with their major label debut, Hound, a twangy punk collection that solidifies the band’s consistency far beyond a handful of viral hits.
Given that Hound and the songs that hey, nothing had previously built their reputation upon draw from a variety of sonic influences, we asked Mabry and Phillips to guide us through a few of their reference points in the making of the LP. From CMAT’s melodies and production to Lizzy McAlpine’s inspiring songwriting, from Kurt Vile’s prodigious riffing to Alex G’s disarming honesty, the resulting eclectic playlist speaks to the aesthetic depth of hey, nothing—not to mention their great taste. Shout out FLOOD influences playlist alumni Nanami Ozone.
Check out the playlist with context from the band below, and pre-order Hound ahead of its release via Music Soup/Interscope tomorrow here.
Duff Thompson, “Sleight of Hand”
Duff Thompson is a beast when it comes to writing and very simple but effective production. I found this song through a Spotify folk mix.
CMAT, “When a Good Man Cries”
I love CMAT so much; she makes some of the best pop music out right now, in my opinion. I’ve been super inspired by her melody writing and fun production treats. I found her, like most people, on TikTok.
Axel & Lolo, “Get Me in Your Lifetime”
I always say that Axel & Lolo are hey, nothing if they were actually good. Their harmonies are addictive, and Tyler actually put me on to them.
Lizzy McAlpine, “Pushing It Down and Praying”
The songwriting from Lizzy is absolutely brilliant and so inspiring. The production is also fabulous. I love the feeling of this song—so devastatingly beautiful.
Nanami Ozone, “Sonny Bono”
Nanami Ozone is one of my favorite bands, and this song is downright fun. I also love Cher, so that crossover was beautiful to me. I found these guys through their other band, Neu Blume.
The Man the Myth the Meatslab, “effortlessly, i feel everything”
I don’t know how to explain this song. It gives me chills every time—the writing, the production, everything. A friend of mine showed me this song and I was immediately in love.
Frightened Rabbit, “The Modern Leper”
I saw Tommy (our producer) play a cover of another song off this album and it changed my life. I immediately fell in love with the songwriting and how thought-provoking and interesting the production is. It’s something that we referenced a million times while recording Hound.
Wilco, “I Am Trying to Break Your Heart”
I found Wilco sifting through CDs when I was about 13 years old and couldn’t stop listening. The ambience on this song and album are just breathtaking, and the feeling of the songs turn simplicity into super raw emotion. I’m always striving to be as innovative in the studio as they are.
Lorde, “Ribs”
Lorde is a genius. I listen to her whenever I’m on a plane, and it makes me feel like a girl. She establishes such specific emotions in the most confident way, and it makes me want to jump.
Dove Ellis, “When You Tie Your Hair Up”
I’m so impressed with Dove's ability to stretch dynamic range—from the very bottom to the tippity top—so naturally. His melodies are so intuitive, but also insanely complex and beautiful. His lyrics are also super memorable, original, and emotional.
Kurt Vile, “Pretty Pimpin”
I love Kurt Vile’s guitar playing and his voice. He had a whimsy that we strived for on Hound.
Alex G, “Miracles”
This Alex G album [God Save the Animals] feels incredibly honest, especially in the lyrics. It makes me feel really comfortable and confident in my voice, and it informs a lot of the lyrics I wrote.
