Motel 7 – Headphones

Photo / Paris Brosnan

Now commanding 200k listeners per month on Spotify alone, it’s safe to say that Motel 7 are well on their way to hitting the global mainstream.

Consisting of Anton Khabbaz and Dylan Jagger Lee, this LA-based duo have been on my radar for some time, and the release of their new EP ‘Headphones’ only confirms my thoughts on just how talented these chaps are.

“Our EP ‘Headphones’ is a listening experience. Not a single second thought on any lyric or production choice – everything was first instinct. We literally wrote whatever we felt and what to get off our chests at that exact moment the song was made.  We wrote every song in a different emotional state… and state of mind. I (Anton) feel like we didn’t limit ourselves to a specific ‘sound’ for this EP.

A lot of these songs were written in the thick of the pandemic. They were written ‘virtually.’ Dylan and I would bounce ideas back and forth via text to get these songs to the finish line. It was a challenging yet eye opening experience to write music like that.

We called this EP ‘Headphones’ because we want the music to take you away from the world a little. When you wear headphones you almost want to close your eyes.. But sometimes you also want to dance.. And sometimes you even want to go to the beach for a run… We wanted the music to take you wherever you want it to. Whenever you have headphones on, it’s just you and the music.. Nothing else…there’s something so beautiful about that concept.”

New EP ‘Headphones’ is out now.

Motel 7

Motel 7 – Things I Hate

Motel 7 have yet to release a single which I have not fallen in love with. At this rate, it seems the LA-based duo will become a household name in a very short space of time. ‘Things I Hate’ is an introspective dive into the LA nightlife scene, with a distinct blend of rock and hip-hop that is really quite beautiful to experience.

“The concept of the song is kind of an ode to LA nightlife. An ode that in a way shits on LA’s occasional bad reputation with going out, partying, drug use, and any bad temptations that occur while doing so. We all have been there at some point I’m sure. Many people would easily repeat it all over again the next day, or next weekend. You see that a lot in LA, NY, Miami, or wherever nightlife culture is a big thing. It can be hard to avoid it.”

Motel 7

Motel 7 – Messing With Fire

Track of the week. In my humble opinion, it’s only a short matter of time before Californian duo Motel 7 reach global recognition for their superb approach to alt-pop.

Consisting of Anton Khabbaz and Dylan Jagger Lee, this outfit have the ability to seamlessly craft songs that create impact in the most thoughtful and balanced way imaginable.

“A friend of mine told me that this song reminded him of a Nirvana record, and I was like ‘hell yes.’ I feel like thats what we want to hear. Sometimes I’d rather have someone tell us our songs sound like some of the OGs such as Nirvana, rather than someone on Top 40 radio right now.” – Motel 7

Motel 7

New Music: Motel 7

‘Are We There Yet’ is a gorgeously shimmering song from Southern California duo Motel 7. With airy vocals, a simple melody and thoughtful production, this track is sure to be one of the summer’s standout indie-pop releases.

Motel 7