The most memorable part of studying abroad for Alex Gomez was meeting his future bandmates. Harry Ruprecht and Max Wanduragala immediately formed a friendship with the American, and before they knew it, they were meeting his childhood friend, Matt Walter. From this, The Backfires were formed.

By the release of their first EP, the band was split between the U.S. and the U.K. Since that wasn’t ideal, Gomez and Walter made the move to London. After spending a few years writing, recording and living there, they felt that it was time to try something new.

“It felt like New York was this more inclusive place,” Gomez said. “I think New York is full of history.”

“New York has this scene that is more appealing,” Ruprecht added. “When we first moved here, we really got into the Manhattan scene and started going to as many shows as possible and mingling with other bands. I feel like we’ve definitely taken a lot of inspiration from that scene and fed off that scene.”

Ruprecht and Wanduragala found the glamor of New York appealing. The decision to move turned out to be quite an easy one, and their bandmates, who grew up in Washington D.C., agreed. It was a bit of a culture shock for everyone but in the best way.

“I feel like the legacy and the history of music is much more linear and easier to track,” Walter said. “It is cool to be part of the legacy of a city. Obviously we aren’t from there, but to observe it from afar and then to try to contribute to it is something outside of yourself which is just a beautiful thing.”

Moving to New York brought them new opportunities, and before they knew it, they had a batch of new songs that felt like a love letter to their new home. “Brighter Lights” became the song that best felt like their introduction as a New York-based band.

Inspired by the city’s infamous nightlife, they wanted a song and accompanying music video to encapsulate that. The video is the first time they were able to have more freedom in the creative aspect of it, and chose disco balls and convertibles as their co-stars.

They consider “Brighter Lights” the most mature song in their catalogue to date. The move to New York was all the motivation they needed to really submerge themselves into the music, taking any chance to commit to a writing session or play a show.

“We kind of existed on paper as a band,” Gomez said. “As a band, now, I feel like it’s only existed for two and a half years. It’s been the concept of New York and all living together and being in the same place. I feel like there’s a lot of learning and figuring ourselves out.”

“I don’t think we developed our live sound until we got here,” Ruprecht added. “Until we really got in the trenches and did six nights a week rehearsing and really proper in the band above everything else.”

The more songs they wrote, the more they realized they were working towards a full-length album. Their latest single, “Dressed For A Funeral”, was another one of the first songs they wrote after their move. It originated during those six-night-a-week practices, getting played a handful of times at live shows and becoming something new each time.

Just hours before it was recorded, they finally decided on its final form. With melancholy lyrics and an upbeat tempo, they believe it is one of those songs best digested during a long drive or walk through the city.

Much like the original song, the music video evolved quite a bit before becoming the final product. Inspired by Raymond Carver’s Why Don’t You Dance, the video brings the bittersweetness of the song to life.

The Backfires have not only found a place to call home but a place that has brought out the best in them. Their story of being 20-somethings living in New York will be told in more music to come.