We sat down with Sam Nelson Harris, Casey Harris, and Adam Levin of the band X Ambassadors to discuss their latest album, ‘Townie’,  which deeply reflects their roots in Ithaca, Upstate New York. Sam and Casey Harris, along with Levin, share the inspirations behind their music, the significance of their hometown’s influence, and the personal journey encapsulated in their latest work. They delve into the challenges and triumphs of their creative process, the evolution of their sound, and the collaborative spirit that permeates their music. Additionally, the band members recount memorable moments from their recent UK and European tour, offer advice for aspiring musicians, and reflect on their aspirations for the future of X Ambassadors.

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I want to start off by saying congratulations  on your new album. To me, it seems to be deep rooted in your hometown experiences and pays homage to Ithaca in Upstate New York. Can you share more about the inspiration behind the album and why it’s important for you to reflect on your roots?

Sam Nelson Harris: Well, I think it’s important for everybody at some point to acknowledge where you are and where you’re from. You can’t run away from it. You have to embrace it wholeheartedly. If you don’t, you’ll waste a lot of time trying to pretend like you’re going to someday shake this chip on your shoulder or the feeling of being a little fish in a big pond. I’m never going to be able to shake those feelings, and I think that’s a good thing. I’m proud to be a little fish sometimes. I’m proud to be a townie. I’m proud to be a kid from upstate New York, a place that historically, not many people know much about.

How would you say your hometown has influenced and shaped your identity as a band?

Casey Harris: You know, it was a small town, but there were a few venues around town that we could play. We really started to learn the basic mechanics of how to play music as a band live there. To this day, our live show is really one of the things we consider our strongest suit, and I think that comes from those early days playing at these venues that would let middle school and high school bands play. It was a chance to get out there and play music for people and learn how to do that, which was huge. Ithaca also has a big music scene, so music was a big part of the community growing up. Our parents were also a big influence; our mom is a singer and a musician, and our dad’s a big music fan with a huge record collection.

Sam Nelson Harris: Also, the music that was popular in upstate New York when we were growing up was very different from what we wanted to make. It was a lot of roots rock and bluegrass, which I had zero interest in at the time. Now, I have more interest in it, but at the time I wanted to make very different music. I think that also had a huge impact on the type of music we ended up making as a reactionary kind of thing.

How do you hope your listeners, especially those going through similar experiences, connect with these themes in your music?

Sam Nelson Harris: I hope that someone listens to this record and feels not only nostalgic but also comforted. I want them to feel proud of where they’re from and how they grew up. I hope it reminds them to embrace all the things about themselves that they may have tried to run away from, like I did. You should learn to appreciate everything about your hometown and stop running from it, at least a little bit.

Townie follows a series of successful albums and collaborations. How do you feel this album represents the growth and evolution of X Ambassadors as a band?

Adam Levin: I think we’ve talked about it a lot—how when we started, we were just four guys with instruments practicing in a rehearsal space. Over time, the production style changed, and we made a lot of really awesome stuff on our last records. This record is more of a back-to-basics approach, still with a lot of production, but it’s much more organic and stripped back. It’s a cool progression from the high production style of our older records.

Your music incorporates various styles like jazz, alternative, and R&B. How do you navigate blending these genres while maintaining a cohesive sound?

Casey Harris: I think that’s been one of the hardest things for us because we like making so many different types of music. VHS was a mixed bag of different styles. This record is more cohesive, with a consistent sound throughout. We’ve matured to the point where we realize it sounds better to settle on a particular style for a record, though the next record could be completely different. We tend to jump around stylistically.

How do your collaborations with artists like Teddy Swims, Jack Ross, and Medium Build enhance the album’s narrative?

Sam Nelson Harris: We are inherently collaborators as a band, and we extend that to the rest of the community we’re a part of. Working with different artists is seamless because we bring them in to support what they do and try to enhance that. It’s been very liberating and exciting because we get to learn new tricks. Creating the Egg series (which is what the Medium Build song, the Teddy Swims song, and the Breland song) was a way for us to work with all these different artists without the pressure of fitting it into a bigger puzzle.

Can you share any memorable moments or experiences from your UK/European tour?

Adam Levin: We hit a lot of new markets on the EU UK tour and didn’t know what to expect. We were pleasantly surprised with the turnout and enthusiasm in cities like Riga and Vilnius. Audiences in Finland were fantastic, and we had great shows that sold out in Paris. We love being in Europe, waking up in different cities and enjoying the amazing cuisine.

Looking ahead, what are your aspirations for the future of X Ambassadors, both musically and in terms of community engagement?

Sam Nelson Harris: This record has been a leap of faith for us. Right now, we are living in the present moment, seeing what it does. The way we made this record, all physically together, was so fun and productive. I’d love to do it again. We’re excited to see what people connect with on this record and have new ideas always bubbling in the background.

Lastly, If you could give a piece of advice to someone starting out in the industry, what would it be?

Casey Harris: Learn how to self-produce on your laptop. It’s one of the most valuable skills. Being able to put down your ideas in a high-quality way without needing to go into a studio is crucial. Your demos have to sound professional these days.

Sam Nelson Harris: If you think it’s somebody else’s job, you’re wrong. It’s always your job. Learn how to use DAWs, record yourself, play an instrument, engage with your fans on social media—it’s all part of your job. Do what feels right and honest for you, but remember, it’s all part of your job.

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