Biography
Alan Palomo merges atmospheric depth and melodic appeal both through Neon Indian and in solo endeavors, reshaping vintage sonic elements into fresh creations. Recognized as a cornerstone of chillwave, Neon Indian wove Todd Rundgren and Italo-disco influences into an atmospheric yet melodic blend of disco, electro, dream, and synth pop, allowing the 2009 release Psychic Chasms to match the anticipation built by the act’s initial tracks. With Vega Intl. Night School in 2015, Palomo steered the project toward a refined, groove-oriented style marked by an intricate fusion of funk, new wave, and reggae. Throughout the late 2010s and early 2020s, his production and film-score contributions revealed additional dimensions to his artistry, culminating in the September 2023 arrival of World of Hassle—his debut under his own name—which playfully engaged the tradition of lavish soft-rock solo outings via his signature mix of homage and invention.
Born in Monterrey, Mexico, Palomo relocated to San Antonio, Texas at the age of five. While still in high school he launched the band Ghosthunter alongside the solo dance project VEGA. After moving to Denton to attend the University of North Texas, he established Neon Indian as a multimedia endeavor alongside longtime high-school friend and video artist Alicia Scardetta. Although the No Way Down EP surfaced in 2008, wider attention arrived the next year once indie blogs championed “Should’ve Taken Acid with You,” drawn from Palomo and Scardetta’s bond, and “6669 (I Don’t Know If You Know).” Later that year “Deadbeat Summer” and “Terminally Chill” appeared. Palomo handled writing and production for the October 2009 debut Psychic Chasms, soon regarded as a foundational chillwave recording; the set reached number 11 on the U.S. Dance/Electronic Albums chart. A 2010 deluxe edition titled Mind CTRL: Psychic Chasms Possessed added remixes from Toro y Moi, Dntel, Bibio, and additional artists.
Neon Indian issued a four-song collaborative EP with the Flaming Lips in early 2011. That September the follow-up Era Extraña, recorded in Helsinki and mixed by Flaming Lips/MGMT producer Dave Fridmann, was released. Featuring contributions from live guitarist Joshua McWhirter and several other musicians, the album adopted a noticeably smoother aesthetic than the lo-fi debut and was shaped expressly for stage presentation; it climbed to number 74 on the U.S. 200 Albums Chart, entered the top five of the U.S. Dance/Electronic Albums chart, and registered on Japanese rankings. The 2013 remix EP Errata Anex reworked Era Extraña material with input from Actress, Patten, noise pioneer Boyd Rice, and others. Also in 2013, Neon Indian supplied the exclusive track “Change of Coast” to the Grand Theft Auto V soundtrack.
Following the theft of Palomo’s laptop, which held multiple years of demos for a prospective third Neon Indian album, he pursued alternate outlets. These encompassed a role in Terrence Malick’s film Lawless and the composition and scoring of the short Outer Osmo Ghost Mode, commissioned by Los Angeles’ Museum of Contemporary Art. When Neon Indian activity resumed in 2014, the material’s close alignment with VEGA prompted Palomo to title the resulting album VEGA INTL. Night School. Recorded across multiple countries and mixed with former Spank Rock producer XXXchange, the October 2015 release reached number 100 on the U.S. 200 Albums Chart.
From 2017 onward Palomo concentrated on cinematic and soundtrack projects. That March he appeared in Malick’s Song to Song alongside Rooney Mara. In June the sci-fi feature Everything Beautiful Is Far Away, scored by Palomo, premiered. He also contributed a Neon Indian track to that year’s Adult Swim anthology LUXE and produced Boulevards’ October single “Nu Burn Ave (Intercruise).” Subsequent work included the score for the 2018 film Relaxer, while his own short 86’d debuted that May and introduced the single “Heaven’s Basement.” During this period Palomo began developing the next Neon Indian album, drawing from Peruvian cumbia and psychedelic sources.
November 2019 marked Neon Indian’s return via the Spanish-language single “Toyota Man,” the project’s first new material in four years. Another track, “Stay-at-Home DJ,” surfaced in live sets and helped define Palomo’s subsequent direction. Taking cues from I’m Your Man-era Leonard Cohen, Japanese city pop, and 1980s solo albums by prominent rock-frontmen, World of Hassle arrived in September 2023; alongside “Stay-at-Home DJ” it featured the Mac DeMarco collaboration “Nudista Mundial '89.”
Born in Monterrey, Mexico, Palomo relocated to San Antonio, Texas at the age of five. While still in high school he launched the band Ghosthunter alongside the solo dance project VEGA. After moving to Denton to attend the University of North Texas, he established Neon Indian as a multimedia endeavor alongside longtime high-school friend and video artist Alicia Scardetta. Although the No Way Down EP surfaced in 2008, wider attention arrived the next year once indie blogs championed “Should’ve Taken Acid with You,” drawn from Palomo and Scardetta’s bond, and “6669 (I Don’t Know If You Know).” Later that year “Deadbeat Summer” and “Terminally Chill” appeared. Palomo handled writing and production for the October 2009 debut Psychic Chasms, soon regarded as a foundational chillwave recording; the set reached number 11 on the U.S. Dance/Electronic Albums chart. A 2010 deluxe edition titled Mind CTRL: Psychic Chasms Possessed added remixes from Toro y Moi, Dntel, Bibio, and additional artists.
Neon Indian issued a four-song collaborative EP with the Flaming Lips in early 2011. That September the follow-up Era Extraña, recorded in Helsinki and mixed by Flaming Lips/MGMT producer Dave Fridmann, was released. Featuring contributions from live guitarist Joshua McWhirter and several other musicians, the album adopted a noticeably smoother aesthetic than the lo-fi debut and was shaped expressly for stage presentation; it climbed to number 74 on the U.S. 200 Albums Chart, entered the top five of the U.S. Dance/Electronic Albums chart, and registered on Japanese rankings. The 2013 remix EP Errata Anex reworked Era Extraña material with input from Actress, Patten, noise pioneer Boyd Rice, and others. Also in 2013, Neon Indian supplied the exclusive track “Change of Coast” to the Grand Theft Auto V soundtrack.
Following the theft of Palomo’s laptop, which held multiple years of demos for a prospective third Neon Indian album, he pursued alternate outlets. These encompassed a role in Terrence Malick’s film Lawless and the composition and scoring of the short Outer Osmo Ghost Mode, commissioned by Los Angeles’ Museum of Contemporary Art. When Neon Indian activity resumed in 2014, the material’s close alignment with VEGA prompted Palomo to title the resulting album VEGA INTL. Night School. Recorded across multiple countries and mixed with former Spank Rock producer XXXchange, the October 2015 release reached number 100 on the U.S. 200 Albums Chart.
From 2017 onward Palomo concentrated on cinematic and soundtrack projects. That March he appeared in Malick’s Song to Song alongside Rooney Mara. In June the sci-fi feature Everything Beautiful Is Far Away, scored by Palomo, premiered. He also contributed a Neon Indian track to that year’s Adult Swim anthology LUXE and produced Boulevards’ October single “Nu Burn Ave (Intercruise).” Subsequent work included the score for the 2018 film Relaxer, while his own short 86’d debuted that May and introduced the single “Heaven’s Basement.” During this period Palomo began developing the next Neon Indian album, drawing from Peruvian cumbia and psychedelic sources.
November 2019 marked Neon Indian’s return via the Spanish-language single “Toyota Man,” the project’s first new material in four years. Another track, “Stay-at-Home DJ,” surfaced in live sets and helped define Palomo’s subsequent direction. Taking cues from I’m Your Man-era Leonard Cohen, Japanese city pop, and 1980s solo albums by prominent rock-frontmen, World of Hassle arrived in September 2023; alongside “Stay-at-Home DJ” it featured the Mac DeMarco collaboration “Nudista Mundial '89.”
Albums
Singles
