Nautics Find Their Rhythm in Beautiful Chaos
words and photos by Lauren Chenette
Fresh off the release of their debut album, the New York-based band Nautics are taking their sound on the road, finding new ways to experiment with their music and bringing a little bit of beautiful chaos to every stage along the way.
There's a certain unpredictability to seeing Nautics live. Songs take on new shapes, unexpected moments become part of the show, and the energy rarely stays in one place for too long. After the New York-based band brought that energy to Burlington, Vermont, last night, I had the chance to sit down with them following their set to talk about their debut album, life on the road, and finding their sound. Fresh off the release of their debut album, People Only Like Me When I'm Leaving, Nautics are finding their footing on the road while continuing to experiment with the music that brought them there.
For the band, describing their sound is refreshingly simple: they're a rock band. Or, as they put it, a rock band from the 2020s. There's no need to overcomplicate it. With an energetic live presence, an eclectic approach to songwriting, and a sense of humor that carries just as naturally offstage as it does on, Nautics are carving out their own space in the New York music scene.
Their Burlington performance featured tracks from their debut album, including "Argentina," a newer addition to their live set that the band was particularly excited to share. The show came with a few unexpected moments, including a brief onstage mishap, but the band took it all in stride. When asked to describe their sound, one member landed on a phrase that seemed to capture their approach perfectly: "beautiful chaos."
That sense of spontaneity carries into the way Nautics approach performing live. As they've spent more time on the road, their songs have naturally begun to evolve. Each performance offers an opportunity to experiment with arrangements, instrumentation, and energy. Tracks like "Live at the House" have taken on new forms throughout the tour, while "Taste It" has become a particular crowd favorite.
"It's the cool thing about being on the road," Kenzo Repola explained. "You play it so often, your brain naturally wants to play around with it more." Rather than trying to recreate their recordings perfectly every night, the band enjoys figuring out what works best in a live setting and allowing their songs to develop naturally. It's part of what makes each performance a little different from the last.
That same collaborative spirit was central to the making of their debut album. When discussing their favorite recording experiences, the band pointed to tracks like "Argentina" and "You Only Like Me When I'm Leaving," particularly enjoying the opportunity to record together as a full group. Much of the album's first half came together in a more traditional full-band setting, while the second half allowed for more experimentation. Members worked from individual demos and began incorporating electronic elements into the arrangements.
Bassist Van Cameron compared the recording process to a classroom assignment: "Side one was in class. Side two was homework." The first half came together through playing and creating as a group, while the second required taking ideas home, reworking them, and figuring out how everything could fit together. It's an approach that reflects the band's dynamic as a whole: collaborative, occasionally unpredictable, and always evolving.
Growing up within New York's music scene has also played a major role in shaping Nautics' musical identity. Rather than attaching themselves to one particular genre or sound, the band credits the city's cultural diversity and constant access to live music with keeping their creative perspectives open. With multiple shows happening across the city on any given night, there's always something new to discover.
"It's nice to be part of this melting pot culturally of a lot of different genres of music," they shared. Having been involved in the New York music community since they were young, the scene has become such a natural part of their lives that it's difficult to imagine creating music outside of it.
Still, touring has given the band an opportunity to experience music communities beyond their hometown. Their current run of shows has introduced them to new audiences, cities, and artists, while also giving them the chance to see other bands perform along the way. They particularly praised the experience of sharing bills with other artists and discovering new music outside of the New York scene.
For a band that places so much value on experimentation, being surrounded by different musicians and audiences seems like a natural extension of what they do. Whether they're reworking a song they've played dozens of times or finding inspiration in a new city, Nautics seem just as interested in the process of making music as they are in the finished product.
With their debut album now out in the world and more time on the road ahead, the band is continuing to figure out what their sound can become. They're not particularly interested in fitting into one box or following a set formula. Instead, they're embracing the unexpected, letting their songs grow, and having a little fun along the way.
If there's one thing Nautics seem to have figured out, it's that things don't always have to go according to plan. Sometimes the best moments happen when they don't. And for a band finding its rhythm in the middle of all that unpredictability, a little beautiful chaos might be exactly the point.
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