Existential Threat I Review + Interview
- Editorial Staff
- 2 days ago
- 6 min read
Vintage Sound Meets Modern Indie: Why Existential Threat is a band to watch
The trio Existential Threat from Pompano Beach, FL, USA, just released their new single “Taking Your Time”, and we had the chance to dive into their roots, their music, and why they proudly call themselves Neptunians ;)
The band was formed in 2022, and their sound moves across multiple genres: Indie, Alternative, Folk, Punk, and Powerpop. Never heard of that mix before? Well, it’s time to change that.
Existential Threat consists of Kid Confusion on bass guitar and vocals, Duke (Of Earl) Duncan on guitars and harmony, and Clyde X. Spyre on drums, percussion, and backing vocals. Humor is a key part of their identity, reflected both in the band’s name and in playful nods across their discography, from their first album “Chaos Idea” to their latest release “Abstract Naturally”.
Existential Threat perfectly combines a vintage aesthetic with modern indie-rock, delivering a tinny, analog-inspired sound paired with an emotional tone of voice. This genre-hybrid band is a must-listen for fans of authentic, handcrafted indie music.
Now, let’s dive into the song itself: our Existential Threat review (+ interview) of "Taking Your Time”:
The track opens with a clean, tuned guitar riff that immediately leads into the vocals. The first seconds feel distinctly Beatles-like: handmade, clean, and slightly punk. What stands out is the analog character, a refreshing contrast to the over-polished, over-produced sound dominating much of today’s music. The vocals float over the guitar lines, supported by uplifting drums, while a perfectly timed tambourine keeps the momentum moving. The chorus is punchy yet melodic, and both verses include short pre-choruses that seamlessly lead back into the chorus. The bridge also functions as the outro, giving the song a unique, self-contained structure.
The production feels natural and handcrafted: the instruments blend perfectly, highlighting how the band members collaboratively shape their sound. The result is authentic, lively, and unpolished - honest, dynamic, and expertly executed.
While the song developed organically, its themes play cleverly with the idea of “taking your time” in different contexts, balancing reflection with a touch of wit. The band rarely relies heavily on digital production, instead recording as much live as possible, keeping their sound raw and immediate.
Notably, the song has already accumulated over 4,000 plays on YouTube within a month. Existential Threat’s second album, “Abstract Naturally”, released in late 2025, has also received excellent reviews. The album deals with timeless topics like love, heartbreak, and emotional realizations, but the band approaches even serious themes with a light, positive touch.
“Taking Your Time” is now featured on the INDIENOXZINE Playlist - follow the playlist to stay updated on new highlights.
Existential Threat also embraces a philosophy of being “mostly peaceful” within the band, enjoying collaboration and the creative process, while navigating the music industry with a sense of humor and resilience. Their approach to songwriting reflects a steady progression rather than drastic changes, and many of their tracks, recorded almost entirely live in the studio, translate easily to energetic live performances. The combination of serious musicianship, analog authenticity, and playful creativity defines their distinctive sound.
Now, let’s take a closer look at how their music, roots, and identity shape what you hear in “Taking Your Time” and the broader work of Existential Threat in the interview:
INDIENOXZINE: Let’s start with the obvious: why Neptune?
Existential Threat: Well, out of all the planets in our Solar System, Nep-Tune is the only one with “Tune” in its name, so you know that they take their music seriously.
INDIENOXZINE: Your bio is funny - the music isn’t. Where do you draw the line?
Existential Threat: While we are definitely serious about our music, we do, from time to time, include some in-jokes in the lyrics. For instance, “Weapon Eyes” and “Cliché” from our first album are filled with them. “Every Step Of My Heart” is literally a collection of misapplied sayings. Our first album is called “Chaos Idea” (say it quickly, particularly if you like Mexican cuisine), and our new album’s title “Abstract Naturally” is a play on words, so we maintain a sense of humor, pretty much, at all times. When you are in an unsigned indie band, you pretty much have to.
IN: “Analog musicians in a digital world”: belief system or survival tactic?
ET: Definitely a belief system. We are big fans of the style of pop music that was around in 1965 and 1966 and we try to capture that spirit without lapsing into stereotypes or caricatures of it. We rely on digital technology as little as possible, which is, of course, difficult, in today’s world.
IN: What was the inspiration behind “Taking Your Time”?
ET: Not really sure. It is one of those songs that just developed organically. We started with the idea of “taking your time” as in, proceeding slowly, and juxtaposed that with being involved with someone that “takes your time” as in, they steal it from you.
IN: Did this song come together differently from your usual process?
ET: We really don’t have a usual process. Songs come together, for us, in a variety of ways. Sometimes, we start out with a melody or riff and work from there. Other times, as in this case, we had an idea for the lyric and built the song around that.
IN: Which lyric or moment in the song do you feel captures the band right now?
ET: Not really sure that any particular lyric or moment in this song “captures” the current state of the band, but we think this track is a pretty good piece of work that represents one facet of our sound.
IN: Is there a story behind the recording or production that fans wouldn’t guess?
ET: We record as much live in the studio as possible; guitar, bass, drums, vocals with very few effects. No autotune or artificial sweeteners. We add very little in the final mix other than EQ and compression.
IN: What do you hope listeners take away from this track?
ET: We hope that anyone that may hear this song, or any of our songs, feel like hearing more and seek out our other tunes.
IN: What does “mostly peaceful” actually look like inside the band?
ET: It looks like a field of waving wheat on a sleepy summer morning. Actually, we enjoy working with each other, and our roles in the group, so being “mostly peaceful” comes fairly easily. Being “mostly peaceful” with the outside world, particularly the current music industry, takes a lot more effort.
IN: If someone could only hear one song to understand you, which would it be and why?
ET: We really don’t understand us, so, we imagine it would be hard for anyone else to do it. But, right now, I might point someone to “If I Were You” or “Hidden In The Sky” (from the new album “Abstract Naturally”) as a good example of where we are and where we might be headed. “Dangle” is probably, of the songs on the album, the most representative of the “Existential Threat” sound. If there is such a thing.
IN: What’s the weirdest thing that’s happened while recording?
ET: Good question. Occasionally some extraneous noise makes its way on to the recording of a good take. More often than not, we wind up keeping it as part of the finished version of the song. On a song we released in 2024, called “(It Was A) Good Buzz” someone rang the doorbell while the song was being recorded. It sounded like it fit, so we kept it. Things like that happen all the time, but we, mostly, consider them happy accidents. At least we do when they work.
IN: Who in the band is secretly a Neptunian? ;)
ET: All the band members are honorary Neptunians, and it’s no secret! We wear it proudly.
IN: Do you have a favorite track to play live and why?
ET: “Ordinary Train” from the new album is fun to sing and play live, but since we record a lot of our songs, mostly, live in the studio, they are all fairly easy to recreate live.
IN: How has your songwriting changed since your first album?
ET: It is just a natural progression. As you go along, you tend to improve in small ways, so, it might not be a matter of changing, as much as it is of advancing.
Big thanks to Existential Threat for giving us a peek behind the scenes. With “Taking Your Time” dropping serious analog vibes and playful energy, this is one indie journey you’ll want to follow!
🎧 Listen to Existential Threat here: Spotify / Apple Music / YouTube
The video to "Taking Your Time" is also featured on our INDIENOXZINE YouTube Playlist. Check it out for more great videos!
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