Interview: Borderline - From Auckland to the Lower East Side

Shot by - Alyssa Makarova Edited by - Shay Rivera 

There's something very special about seeing a band grow in real time, and Borderline seems to be climbing the ladder of success at 100 miles an hour. The boys are taking their music to the next level and I cannot get enough of it. Formed in Auckland, New Zealand, Jackson Boswell (Drums), Max Harries (Bass and Saxophone), Ben Glanfield (Lead Vocals, Keys and Guitar) and Matt McFadden (Lead Guitar) have been releasing music together for almost 5 years, but their sound continues to evolve. Originally described as indie-pop/ rock, Borderline refuses to be limited by genre, experimenting with longer and heavier instrumental solos, but still keeping the synth textures and nostalgic tones that attracted fans in the first place.

They started their set with a personal favorite, “Terrify.” The single dropped on Halloween of last year and it hasn’t left my on-repeat since. It begins with a catchy bassline, followed up by synths that lure you into the rest of the track. Half way through their set Front Man Ben introduces their latest single, “Watch it Burn”. Despite only having been released a month ago it’s evident that it has already become a fan favorite, with the crowd singing and dancing along. The band closed out their set with their breakout song, “When it’s Raining”. This song is what I like to call absolute Gold. The keys encapsulate that 80s vibe that stands out so much in their discography, and the long outro really ties everything together with all 4 members intensely immersed in their performance.

Shot by - Alyssa Makarova Edited by - Shay Rivera 

I was able to catch Ben and Matt after the show and asked them about the track and why they think it has had such a good response.

Ben: “When it's Raining” came sorta on a whim, we were in the studio recording one of our other songs “Heartbeat”. It must've been 10 o'clock at night and me and Jackson jumped in the live room and played the song start to finish— just like that. I think songs that come naturally tend to latch onto people a little more.”

Matt: “There’s no really thinking it, or trying really, it just comes from a real emotional state, which capturing that in a song— it’s such a special thing and we love that it’s been resonating this much.”

This tour was their second round of shows in the U.S. and as they wrapped up this leg, I couldn’t help but wonder what other cities they had on their bucket list.

Matt: “I would love to play South American crowds. They seem so passionate and so full of energy, it would be a dream to play there”

Ben: “Yeah I would say South American and Asia too.”

This show was definitely one of my favorites of the year so far, they had Mercury Lounge buzzing last Friday night with their incredible stage presence and undeniable dedication to their craft. You can tell they’re giving all their energy into their performances and it’s very refreshing to see a band doing something so different. Borderline's creative journey is definitely one I will be sticking around for, and you can too by checking out their new single, “That Girl” when it releases on May 1st.

Written by Susana Gomez