Indie-disco-cinematic-pop duo Oh Buddy! debuted earlier this year, and have quickly captured an audience with a craving for nostalgic euphoria and contemporary infectiousness. American childhood friends Chase Bader and Conor Kelly have just released a new single entitled ‘Home Is Where You Are’, bringing rich emotional depth alongside the catchy melodies, co-written with Cici Ward and produced by Jesse Brock. With even more new music on the horizon, we chatted to them about their sound, their themes and their future.
Hey guys, the first question I want to ask is about nostalgia. Whilst firmly contemporary, your music often embraces sonic sentimentality for the 80s. Do you think nostalgia plays a significant role in your overall sound, and if so, what’s the allure of looking back musically?
Nostalgia definitely plays a role in our sound, both sonically and emotionally. Much of the music we write is about growing up and deepening the relationships that continue to shape us. The 80s were such a formative time for our parents, and because of that, we grew up surrounded by those sounds. It’s a way of exploring our own history, even if it’s through music that was before our time. What’s exciting about that era is its distinct sonic identity—from the clarity and shine in the vocals to the bigness of the drum sounds. There’s a richness of textures and colours to play with, and it challenges us creatively while letting us tap into a deeper emotional resonance. It’s about honouring that inspiration while still bringing our own unique voice to it.
The main theme of your new single ‘Home Is Where You Are’ taps into how nurturing emotional connections can be more grounding than physical places. Can you share more about this inspiration and how your own relationships influenced its creation?
When we wrote Home Is Where You Are, it was during our first duo trip to LA while we were starting to explore this new band’s direction. We wrote the song with our good friend Cici Ward and that day we really tapped into the emotion of how much travel we do as musicians and how a lot of time is spent thinking about those we leave behind. As we were starting this new journey it felt very raw leaving an old chapter behind, but we quickly realised how grateful we were for the people that came out of that experience and how the journey and the places are great, but what is really special that comes from all of that are the people who you never would have met if the path was different.
As childhood best friends, how has your relationship shaped your work together? Do you think your close friendship gives you a unique creative dynamic?
Because of how much life we’ve lived together as friends, we both have a depth of knowledge about each other paired with a level of respect and vulnerability that makes writing much easier. We definitely feel that our shared connection is special and feels like it is a rarity in our industry so we don’t take it for granted. Having a strong partnership makes a lot of our pursuits easier by leaning on each other’s strengths and filling in any gaps that weaknesses may miss.
What has been the most rewarding part of your journey as Oh Buddy! so far, and how do you see that evolving as you continue to release new music and grow your fanbase?
Working on music as a duo has been incredibly rewarding. We both spent years in bands and had some of the best times of our lives, but lately, we’ve embraced the freedom that comes with just the two of us writing and recording everything together. Being multi-instrumentalists, there’s a deep trust between us, which has really unlocked our ability to create something authentic and artistic. In many ways, this collaboration feels like coming full circle to our childhood, where it all began. It’s been amazing to reconnect with that sense of creativity and see how far we’ve come.
Last question! Looking ahead, what’s next in the plans for Oh Buddy!?
Just last week, we got back from a writer’s trip in Colorado, where we worked on several new songs for our debut album. It’s been incredibly rewarding and exciting to dive into these tracks, especially with the help of our collaborator, Jesse Brock. Jesse is an amazing songwriter and producer based in Nashville, and he’s been instrumental in helping us shape the sound and direction of this record. Right now, we’re fully immersed in album mode, aiming for a summer release. At the same time, we’re focused on growing our audience through social media, which has been an exciting journey of its own.