Long A are looking for help in more ways than one on their new single and visualizer Asking For A Friend — showcasing today on Tinnitist.
Featuring electro-pop songstress and in-demand guitarist Cecelia Peruti (aka Gothic Tropic), the indie power duo’s latest release is an irresistible sonic treat, with a crunchy shell of guitar-driven college-rock that’s wrapped around a gooey center of bittersweet dream-pop longing, and dusted with a hooky synth earworm. The third preview of the Los Angeles band’s upcoming debut album It’s About To Start, Asking For A Friend twists a familiar phrase into a vibrant sonic exploration. The band delve into poignant yearning, with each lyric ingeniously crafted as a question holding a double meaning: Asking on behalf of someone else versus asking for someone to be a friend.
This track marks an exciting sonic evolution for Long A, as they confidently loosen the reins on their heavy, guitar-driven sound that is their signature. Built around an irresistible synth hook, Asking For A Friend carves out its own unique space, somewhere between the bright, atmospheric vibes of Dayglow, the propulsive power-pop of Bob Mould’s Sugar and the introspective allure of The Cure. Adding another layer of intrigue, Gothic Tropic’s vocal contributions are nothing short of transformative, effortlessly elevating the song with lush harmonies and a captivating verse. Asking For A Friend has already proven its magnetic appeal, having been a fan favorite during Long A’s tours with their prior act, Big Mother Gig.
And speaking of friends: Due July 11, It’s About To Start features a plethora of collaborators and guests, both up front and behind the scenes. Asking For A Friend follows their April single Dissolve with Boston indie-rock vet Tanya Donelly (Belly, Breeders, Throwing Muses), while May’s It’s Hard To Be A Person was mixed by Chris Walla (Death Cab For Cutie, Ra Ra Riot). The album also boasts assists from Australian indie singer Ben Lee and Tom Bright, a young U.K.-based singer-songwriter. The band were aided in recording and mixing by long-time friend Dan Long (Local Natives, Spiral Stairs), and the LP was mastered by Al Isler and Daniel Rowland.
The genesis of Long A occurred while Richard Jankovich and Albert Kurniawan were touring with their previous band Big Mother Gig. Their 2021 LP Gusto had garnered critical acclaim, and the quartet were booked for a U.S. tour supporting Black Joe Lewis. However, just weeks before the tour, two members exited, prompting Jankovich and Kurniawan to adapt into a duo, using a laptop to fill out their sound. The resulting tour was a resounding success that laid the groundwork for Long A.
Though Long A are a newish entity, these two musicians have accumulated millions of streams in prior projects. Jankovich has collaborated with Robyn Hitchcock, Britta Phillips, Dicky Barrett, Steve Kilbey, Of Montreal and Glen Phillips, to name just a few. Kurniawan’s career began in his native Indonesia, followed by a stint in the Omaha scene of the mid-’00s, collaborating with members of The Faint, Get Up Kids, Bright Eyes and Zebrahead, in addition to his own project, Go Motion.
Watch the visualizer for Asking For A Friend above, hear more from Long A below, and make friends on their Instagram, Facebook and TikTok.
