Exsonvaldes is back.

With a five-year hiatus now in the rearview, the Parisian trio, who met as university students in the 1990s, are still going strong. From their 2002 debut, Someday If I Want To, which consisted of cutting edge Y2K-era indie à la Pete Yorn or Nada Surf, to their anticipated fifth LP Maps, the veteran rockers have never missed a step. The easiest, and most obvious comparison may be their countrymen, Phoenix. After all, the two shared a producer in Alex Firla, who produced the monstrous Phoenix hit “If I Ever Feel Better,” and was responsible for three Exsonvaldes albums. Yet on Maps, which is due November 10, the band kept things mostly in-house, writing, recording, and producing virtually the entire album themselves.

Four singles deep, their latest is “Party People,” a breezy indie rock tune, that if not for its undeniably French delivery would neatly fit with the New Americana vibes – from Mac DeMarco to Mt. Joy – that have dominated American rock in recent years. There’s also a playful indie element to their latest, yet the band insists that “Party People” isn’t a party song. Nonetheless, it’s a perfect listen as the seasons begin to change across the states and Europe.

Words by Andy Gorel
Photos by Christophe Crénel

“‘It’s a song about trying to be noticed, but not fitting anywhere. ‘Party People’ is not really party music, this time it’s about a parasite who crashes your party, drinks all your wine, does anything you want, and says ‘You’ll remember me!’”

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