Nada Surf - Biography
By Marcus Kagler
Nada Surf has one of the most beguiling rock & roll success stories in recent memory. The group formed in New York City, New York in 1992 after childhood friends Matthew Caws (vocals/guitars) and Daniel Lorca (bass) became fed up with their previous bands. After years in the alt rock trenches and several line-up changes the group recruited former Fuzztones drummer, Ira Elliott, and recorded their first album without a label. After a gig at the Knitting Factory the band passed on their album to former Cars front man/producer Ric Ocasik who not only agreed to produce a re-recording of the album but also helped the group secure a deal with Elektra records. Nada Surf’s debut full length, High/Low (Elektra) appeared in 1996 and became an instant commercial success due to the guitar crunching teen angst anthem “Popular”. After several North American and European tours the band entered the studio with producer Fred Maher (Luna, Matthew Sweet) to record a follow up in 1998. When the band completed The Proximity Effect (1998-Elektra/MarDev) Elektra rejected the album as they heard no radio friendly singles. After the band refused to re-record the album they were dropped although the album was released in Europe to favorable reviews. Nada Surf eventually bought back the album from Elektra and released it in the U.S. on their MarDev imprint in 2000. Yet after two years out of the U.S. limelight the band found themselves a forgotten one hit wonder.
Nada Surf went on hiatus for another two years only to return in 2002 with a completely different sound. Dropping the hard guitars and sarcastic wit the band resurfaced as an indie-pop group loaded with jangly guitar melodies and hooks galore. Their third full length, Let Go (2002-Barsuk) was a critical success throughout the U.S. and Europe and Nada Surf saw their fan base return thanks to the popular ballad, “Inside of Love” and the catchy indie pop track, “Hi-Speed Soul.” Nada Surf returned in 2005 with their most critically acclaimed and commercially successful album, The Weight Is a Gift (Barsuk). Produced by Death Cab for Cutie’s Chris Walla the album showcased the band at the height of their jangly indie pop prowess with lead single, “Always Love” a massive success in the U.S. and Europe. After several tours the world the group returned to the studio in the spring of 2007 to begin work on their fifth full length with producer John Goodmanson. Titled Lucky, the album is set for a spring 2008 release. When most bands would have thrown in the towel, Nada Surf is one of the few to shed their one hit wonder skin and transform into one of the best indie pop bands of their time.
