nIMO & The Light are leading us through the treachery of the open sea as well as the unknown. With a name inspired by 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea: A Tour of the Underwater World by French science fiction writer Jules Verne, nIMO & The Light are rising from the depths of Indie Nation and have become virtually impossible not to root for. Formed in 2013, their fans have traveled the distance for them on their voyage to break away from the local scene. With a dedication and passion for their musical stylings, they learned an entirely new language to spread their message of universal connectivity.
Please list all of your band members and their roles in the band.
nIMO Kally - vocals, guitar Brian Karp - bass, Stefano B - drums, Chen Prat - backing vocals, Shahar Mintz - guitars.
For starters, what bands were you guys a part of prior to nIMO & The Light? How long has the band been around?
I’ve been in bands since my teenager years, but the most recent was “Tree Of Mind”- an indie rock band I formed together with Yosi Levin. It was active from 2004-2009 and have released 2 EP’s.
What’s the origin of that name and have you changed the band’s name before?
The origin of the name is inspired by Jules Verne’s main character on “20,000 Leagues Under the Sea”. It was changed from Nimo Kally, where I released my EP “Espresso River” under, to nIMO & The Light in 2014.
Who writes your songs? What are the main themes or topics for most of your songs and do you think these topics will change over time?
I write all the music and lyrics for the band. The main themes are mostly about relationships, some political criticism, and hope. The themes may change over time following my experiences, and inspirations.
What bands are currently inspiring the music that you’re making?
Many influences are currently inspiring my music: from Radiohead, Pixies, Depeche Mode, to recent acts like - Grizzly Bear, LCD Soundsystem, Arctic Monkeys, Arcade Fire.
Was there a particular band/artist or concert that inspired you to start a band?
There were many concerts that ignited my passion to write music, from Radiohead’s first ever tour in 1993, to David Bowie in 1996 ,but I clearly remember watching “Depeche Mode-one night in Paris” dvd somewhere in 2003 and that thing was mind blowing.
What do you do to prepare for a show? Any flexing, exercises, ect …
Obviously rehearsing with my band several times before, promoting as much as I can, and practicing yoga on the day of the show usually relaxes me.
What has been the biggest highlight of the band’s career so far?
The biggest highlight of my career so far has been getting radio play for my song “Skin to Skin” in 2 of Tel Aviv’s most popular radio shows on prime time, as well as being premiered on Vents Magazine.
If you could tour with any bands, past or present, who would they be and why?
That’s a big question. If I could tour with Radiohead that would probably be the most exciting thing to ever happen to me. Mostly because I love the songs, and also I draw a lot of inspiration from anything this band ever did.
Is there anything else you would like to add?
I’m really excited about the way our single “Skin to Skin” has been accepted in some outlets, magazines and social media. I can’t wait for our album “Don’t Feed the Pigeons” to be released in the fall.