Biography
Emerging as a hazy, sample-heavy electronic pop group drawing from Todd Rundgren through to Italo-disco, Neon Indian established itself as a key player in chillwave during the late 2000s, until founder Alan Palomo steered the endeavor toward a sleeker, more dance-oriented path. With Psychic Chasms in 2009, Neon Indian fulfilled the anticipation built by its initial singles via Palomo's indistinct yet melodic blend of disco, electro, dream pop, and synth pop. Come 2015's Vega Intl. Night School, he adopted elements of funk, new wave, and reggae while retaining Neon Indian's talent for merging atmospheric depth with memorable compositions. As the 2010s wound down, his roles as producer and soundtrack composer — along with his interest in Peruvian music — hinted at further dimensions of Palomo's output.
Born in Monterrey, Mexico, Palomo relocated to San Antonio, Texas at the age of five. In high school he started the band Ghosthunter along with the solo dance project VEGA. Upon moving to Denton for studies at the University of North Texas, he launched Neon Indian as a multimedia effort alongside video artist Alicia Scardetta, whom he had known since high school. Although the No Way Down EP came out in 2008, real attention arrived the next year after the tracks "Should've Taken Acid with You" — drawn from Palomo and Scardetta's bond — and "6669 (I Don't Know If You Know)" appeared online and received acclaim from indie blogs. Later that year came "Deadbeat Summer" and "Terminally Chill." Palomo composed and produced the first Neon Indian full-length, Psychic Chasms, which earned recognition as a landmark chillwave release shortly following its October 2009 launch. The next year saw a deluxe edition including remixes from Toro y Moi, Dntel, Bibio, and additional artists under the title Mind CTRL: Psychic Chasms Possessed.
Early in 2011, Neon Indian put out a four-song joint EP with the Flaming Lips. That September brought the project's second album, Era Extraña, recorded by Palomo in Helsinki and mixed alongside Flaming Lips/MGMT producer Dave Fridmann. Featuring contributions from live guitarist Joshua McWhirter and several other players, the record boasted a far more refined sound compared to the debut's hazy, lo-fi approach and was crafted with live shows in mind. Errata Anex, a remix EP with Era Extraña material reworked by Actress, Patten, noise pioneer Boyd Rice, and others, appeared in 2013. Also that year, Neon Indian supplied the exclusive song "Change of Coast" for the Grand Theft Auto V soundtrack.
Following the theft of Palomo's laptop holding multiple years of demos for a third Neon Indian album, he turned to different endeavors. These encompassed a role in Terrence Malick's Lawless and composing the score for the short film Outer Osmo Ghost Mode, commissioned by Los Angeles' Museum of Contemporary Art. Returning to Neon Indian material in 2014, the direction so echoed his VEGA output that Palomo titled the album VEGA INTL. Night School. Created across various locations worldwide and mixed with former Spank Rock producer XXXchange, it came out in October 2015.
Starting in 2017, Palomo concentrated on cinema and soundtrack projects. That March he featured in Malick's Song to Song alongside Rooney Mara. June saw the release of the sci-fi movie Everything Beautiful Is Far Away, for which he created the score. He also provided a Neon Indian track to that year's Adult Swim compilation LUXE focused on dream pop and future soul, and produced Boulevards' single "Nu Burn Ave (Intercruise)," issued that October. Palomo next scored the 2018 film Relaxer, while his short film 86'd debuted that May and included the track "Heaven's Basement." Around this period Palomo initiated work on the subsequent Neon Indian album, drawing influence from Peruvian cumbia and psychedelic sounds.
Born in Monterrey, Mexico, Palomo relocated to San Antonio, Texas at the age of five. In high school he started the band Ghosthunter along with the solo dance project VEGA. Upon moving to Denton for studies at the University of North Texas, he launched Neon Indian as a multimedia effort alongside video artist Alicia Scardetta, whom he had known since high school. Although the No Way Down EP came out in 2008, real attention arrived the next year after the tracks "Should've Taken Acid with You" — drawn from Palomo and Scardetta's bond — and "6669 (I Don't Know If You Know)" appeared online and received acclaim from indie blogs. Later that year came "Deadbeat Summer" and "Terminally Chill." Palomo composed and produced the first Neon Indian full-length, Psychic Chasms, which earned recognition as a landmark chillwave release shortly following its October 2009 launch. The next year saw a deluxe edition including remixes from Toro y Moi, Dntel, Bibio, and additional artists under the title Mind CTRL: Psychic Chasms Possessed.
Early in 2011, Neon Indian put out a four-song joint EP with the Flaming Lips. That September brought the project's second album, Era Extraña, recorded by Palomo in Helsinki and mixed alongside Flaming Lips/MGMT producer Dave Fridmann. Featuring contributions from live guitarist Joshua McWhirter and several other players, the record boasted a far more refined sound compared to the debut's hazy, lo-fi approach and was crafted with live shows in mind. Errata Anex, a remix EP with Era Extraña material reworked by Actress, Patten, noise pioneer Boyd Rice, and others, appeared in 2013. Also that year, Neon Indian supplied the exclusive song "Change of Coast" for the Grand Theft Auto V soundtrack.
Following the theft of Palomo's laptop holding multiple years of demos for a third Neon Indian album, he turned to different endeavors. These encompassed a role in Terrence Malick's Lawless and composing the score for the short film Outer Osmo Ghost Mode, commissioned by Los Angeles' Museum of Contemporary Art. Returning to Neon Indian material in 2014, the direction so echoed his VEGA output that Palomo titled the album VEGA INTL. Night School. Created across various locations worldwide and mixed with former Spank Rock producer XXXchange, it came out in October 2015.
Starting in 2017, Palomo concentrated on cinema and soundtrack projects. That March he featured in Malick's Song to Song alongside Rooney Mara. June saw the release of the sci-fi movie Everything Beautiful Is Far Away, for which he created the score. He also provided a Neon Indian track to that year's Adult Swim compilation LUXE focused on dream pop and future soul, and produced Boulevards' single "Nu Burn Ave (Intercruise)," issued that October. Palomo next scored the 2018 film Relaxer, while his short film 86'd debuted that May and included the track "Heaven's Basement." Around this period Palomo initiated work on the subsequent Neon Indian album, drawing influence from Peruvian cumbia and psychedelic sounds.
Albums
Singles
