Born on the Bayou

Givers are a Lafayette, Louisiana-based band brimming with a wide-eyed wonder that belies the confidence and skill level displayed on In Light, their debut LP. On a recent jaunt to NYC, they visited the PAPER offices to play a live sample of their upcoming album and chat.

Your music is an eclectic fusion of cajun, afro-pop and art rock. How did growing up in Lafayette influence your sound?

Nick Stephan: Every April, Lafayette hosts an event called Festival International that the city thrives around. It's a francophone festival. We've gone since we were kids and were introduced to all sorts of music from French-speaking countries around the world.

Taylor Guarisco: Now we've played at the festival for the past two years. It's an event that's totally unique to Lafayette. Everyone dances, which is something you usually don't see at festivals, unless you're in Brazil.

Tiffany Lamson: No one checks their iPhones. It's just a party.

Did you have experience playing all these different genres before Givers?

TG: We all played in a lot of different bands in Lafayette. We played in punk bands, funk bands, zydeco bands, cajun bands, you name it. But each project seemed to be lacking in one nutrient. When we came together, it was pretty clear that this was the band we were supposed to be in.

NS: It's almost like, we didn't pick this band. It picked us.

You're a relatively young band who's earned the respect of your musical elders. Have any musicians you admire passed along words of wisdom?

TG: I got to talk to Taj Mahal after he saw me play in a zydeco band. Before we parted ways, he shook his finger at me and said, "As long as you stay connected to source, people will always be there checking you out." That kind of blew my mind.