TALK TIME is a Los Angeles-based trio blending driving, melodic indie rock with thoughtful lyrics and sharp songwriting. Their sound lives in a lush world of dreamy textures, punchy rhythms, and undeniable hooks.
Formed in 2018, songwriter and vocalist Ed Choi and guitarist Mike Nissen quietly built a following with a run of early releases before bringing drummer and keyboardist Jon Bradley into the fold. The addition prompted the band to step back in 2023 and recalibrate, emerging with a new chapter of sonically rich, deceptively simple pop songs that feel immediate and deeply human, effortlessly walking the line between colorful and introspective, laid-back and anthemic.
Drawing inspiration from artists like The Flaming Lips and The Police, Talk Time pairs emotional depth with shimmering soundscapes. As Culture Collide noted, “…the band pulls off an anthem-like quality reminiscent of Future Islands’ synth-pop while infusing an unmistakable California glow, somewhere between neon and the soft pink on the horizon.”
Working with multi-Grammy-winning producer and engineer Chris Sorem (Jon Brion, Los Lobos, Rufus Wainwright), the band approached their latest EP with an emphasis on capturing an organic feel, building off tracks recorded live at their own band studio and at Sorem’s Nest Recorders in Boyle Heights. The result is a collection of songs that feel like a breath of fresh air: vibrant, immersive, and built on strong songwriting that lingers long after the music fades.
PRESS & NEWS
⚡ WONDERLAND MAGAZINE Feature on Necessary Evil EP “...a hypnotic world filled with lush textures and introspective lyricism…”
⚡ UNDER THE RADAR Magazine Feature on U-Turn feat Caroline Kingsbury “the closer to their upcoming EP, once again leans into the band’s penchant for shimmering pop hooks. Taking cues from ‘80s synth pop, the band combines lush synth melodies, steady rhythmic grooves, expansive soundscapes, and a standout feature from Caroline Kingsbury”
⚡ AMERICAN SONGWRITER Feature on Dead Weight “With his sights set on artistry, Choi’s experience blends with Nissen’s West Coast influence, coalescing in a nostalgia-tinged Californian dreamscape...'Dead Weight' transforms anxieties into alluring catharsis.”
⚡ EARMILK Feature on Dead Weight “Their smooth tone paired with atmospheric arrangements makes their music so intoxicating. This latest piece hooks you in with that same sonic bliss…”
⚡ EP title track Year of Self hits NUMBER ONE on KROQ Locals Only
⚡ Chosen by Conan O’Brien and Team Coco for monthly live standup/music show “Up&Up”
⚡ Chris Douridas spins Talk Time on KCRW
⚡ Jensen Karp produces 3D Music Video Starring Donny Divanian (TBS, Sundance, Comedy Central) Directed by Danny Jelinek (Adult Swim, IFC)
⚡ Hit #3 on Hype Machine Popular chart, spending a week in the top 10
⚡ CULTURE COLLIDE premiere "...the crew manages to pull off that anthem-like quality akin to Future Islands’ synth pop, while infusing that unmistakable California glow — a special light somewhere between neon and the soft pink on the horizon."
⚡ EARMILK feature "...a nostalgic filled, engulfing song that showcases the retro-styled pop sensibilities of the group."
⚡ Nic Harcourt continues to spin debut single Year of Self on 88.5FM
⚡ Tobi Lynn spins Year of Self on ALT98.7
⚡ Kevin Bronson spins Year of Self on BuzzbandsLA show on 88.5FM
⚡ Single release show at Bootleg Theater 06.24.18