Ten questions with Brooklyn indie rock sweethearts Slow Fiction, who have shared new single “Apollo”

Written by Matt Keenan

Slow Fiction are a Brooklyn-based 5-piece drawing from a lineage of explorative rock music and applying their genuine storytelling to anthemic hooks, which are delivered with verve from lead vocalist Julia Vassallo. 

Today, the band kicks off 2024 by proudly announcing their signing to So Young Records, additionally commemorated with the release of their first single with the label, "Apollo." The track arrives in anticipation of more new music, coming later this year. The instrumentation exhibited on the track is dynamic and expressive, with each member contributing to create a sense of collective urgency. The guitars of Paul Knepple and Joe Skimmons draw the listener in over the propulsive rhythm section of Ryan Duffin and Akiva Henig. Vassallo’s vocals punch through the mix with a confidence that belies how early the band are in their career.

Best Left Magazine’s very own co-founder and head of PR Matt Keenan got to chat with the band about the new single, what it’s like being from such an incredible and historic area for music, what’s to come in 2024 as well as what the bands favorite memories of 2023 were.

Photo Credit: Miles Wilson

Best Left Magazine: Hi there! Thank you so much for taking the time to chat, so excited to get to do this with you guys! Congratulations on the release of your upcoming single, “Apollo,” how are we all feeling about the release?

Slow Fiction: Thanks so much! We’re all super excited to finally have this one out there. This single is a really cool way to kick off 2024.

What do you think has changed from your debut EP to the latest single and what’s coming up in the future?

Slow Fiction: We are figuring out exactly what kind of music we want to be making. We spent a lot more time writing and experimenting this time around, sharing influences and fine tuning sounds in the studio. The more we write and record together the better we get.

We’re super huge fans of the Brooklyn area and a lot of the New York music scene (it’s where all of us are based), what’s your favorite part about being in the city and in such a deeply rooted music scene?

Slow Fiction: Living in an area that is constantly producing music and new bands is both inspiring and motivating for us. Being surrounded by so many great artists definitely helps inspire us to keep trying new things.

You guys have just signed to a new label, So Young Records, who have Been Stellar on their roster, who we absolutely adore! Do you guys have any favorites on the new label?

Slow Fiction: We have been fans of the label for a while, so everything they release is so cool and in our rotation. We played a show with Humour last year and have been listening to the Oscar Browne EP a lot.

Being that this single could be seen as a reintroduction to Slow Fiction, if you were to introduce yourselves with a favorite artist or project for each of you, what would they be?

Joe: Bandwagonesque - Teenage Fanclub

Paul: Unknown Pleasures - Joy Division

Akiva: Magical Mystery Tour - The Beatles

Julia: Good Morning Spider - Sparklehorse

Ryan: The Moon Rang Like a Bell - Hundred Waters

Going back to the city quickly, do you guys have a favorite spot to play when you're local and in the city?

Slow Fiction: We’ve played at the Mercury Lounge the most of any venue and always really enjoy it. We’ve also had great experiences at Elsewhere when we’ve played there.

The significance of the single is so interesting to me, would you guys want to talk a little more about the idea behind the significance of the single?

Slow Fiction: “Apollo” is an important piece of music for us as a band. It highlights what we enjoy about making music the most, which is the ability to blend dynamics and feeling. It kind of signified a new frontier for us.

You guys seem to have an exciting 2024 on the way, is there something you could reveal to us now that each of you are excited for most?

Slow Fiction: We’re all definitely excited to get on the road and start playing the new stuff and of course releasing more music down the line.

With an amazing 2024 on the way, you guys had an amazing 2023, performing alongside English Teacher, Warmduscher, Post Animal, Sunflower Bean, Pure Adult, and Lowertown previously! Is there something from 2023 or leading up to this point that sticks out as a core memory to you guys as a band?

Slow Fiction: That show with English Teacher was a really great way to end the year, we’ve been fans of theirs for a while so to play with them in Brooklyn was awesome. Being in the studio recording last summer was a core memory for us.

On that note, with some really incredible names you guys have supported in the past, if you guys could tour with one band who could it be?

Slow Fiction: Radiohead, probably

You can check out Slow Fiction’s latest single “Apollo” — out now! Be sure to connect with Slow Fiction on socials and keep an eye our for more coming from Slow Fiction this year!