Eggcorn is a band full of music therapists who also happen to be transplants to the Napa area. Started as a solo project by singer & songwriter Lara Hoffman, it has morphed into the indie pop sensation that now calls our scene home.

The band recently has performed at the SoFi Battle of the Bands and has been stepping out into the greater Northern California area. We were able to sit down with Lara (and husband/bandmate Kyle!) at one of their recent shows to talk about all things Eggcorn and the Napa scene.

Napa Noise (NN): How did your band begin, and what is your origin in the Napa area?

Lara Hoffman (LH): It started with me writing songs by myself. It was always hoping to be a band. Once I envisioned it as a dance project, but that never really happened. But yes, I just used to perform under my own name, and it was kind of a way of recommitting and recontextualizing the music I was making and making a separation between 'this is just me doing it', and it kind of grew from there. So, once I made the album then I found the band. It was mostly people that - everyone's a music therapist. That's how I found everybody.

NN: So, you did the record on your own?

LH: The first one there was not anyone playing on it except for Kyle and me. There was additional production stuff, drum machines added and things like that. Otherwise, no one else is on that one. So, when we did start doing it live, it was changing the sound a lot. I wasn't getting anyone who was going to play synths. There is no electronic stuff really happening, so it's like a different sound obviously.

NN: Interesting that you would go there; I was also thinking that your recorded music has a very atmospheric vibe. When you write your songs, do you actively think about how they will translate live? Has your approach changed at all now that you do have a live band?

LH: I am able to think more from a bird's eye perspective. In general no, I just like writing songs and then they either seem like they would work in a band environment or they kind of don't.

NN: Your record came out in 2022. Where did you record it?

LH: We recorded it at home.

NN: It sounds great. It's amazing how records made at home can sound so great.

LH: There are high expectations for home recordings!

Kyle Stringer (KS): And actually, when you think about what you used on that, you had like a USB mic for a lot of the lyrics.

LH: I do think I redid most of the vocals. But there were some!

KS: There were some! And they sound all right, you know?

LH: They sound fun. Yeah!

NN: Eggcorn as a project started in Napa. How do you feel about the scene in Napa as a whole?

LH: That is such a large question!

KS: I think it's something that we both talked about at the battle of the bands. Yeah ok, there's dad rock, there's cover bands in town. We knew that. But what was really cool at the battle was to see all those bands, and there's like a scene within that that is really special, that makes really cool and original music. It felt like a coming together of this cool thing. Really original music.

LH: I agree with that, and that is exciting. It does make it more special in the context of Napa. Like Slippery People and Change Pop, things that are a little more off beat and creative. I am sad about the Hollywood Room. I just hope that there will continue to be places that encourage independent, original music. Now is such a good time for that, all the bands that are doing that. As far as venues though, sometimes I want to like ...

KS: You're right. The market in Napa is sometimes like, let's just have cover bands because that's what people want. So, it is hard to keep fostering creativity.

NN: You guys have played out of the Napa market, in Sacramento and San Francisco, etc. How have those shows been, do you feel like you are getting traction in other markets?

LH: I feel like it's going slowly, but playing live shows is the organic way to do it. Which I like. Like if you actually do reach someone one night then they really do end up being your fan. As opposed to making them other ways. I don't know. It feels slower but it feels better to me.

KS: What do you mean other ways?

LH: Like other ways that feel less organic. Things that involve getting a publicist or something like that.

NN: Playing in front of people, making that connection, are those the people that will be genuine fans?

LH: Yeah! That's the good feeling too. Mostly I like performing, there's something special about it. And/or you connect with some other band, you always just makes new connections. It's fun because you don't really know what will happen.

NN: OK, some quick hitters now. What's your favorite song to play live?

LH: Probably RIP right now. Which we're not playing tonight haha.

NN: What's your best Napa specific show memory?

KS: I have a favorite. Do you remember at the Hollywood Room when there were a bunch of people in there who weren't really paying attention? You were kind of getting upset. And you held that note out really long and loud, and it got everyone's attention and they started cheering and they loved it. That was one of my favorites. You were like 'I'll show you!' and they were totally into it. It was funny and cool. We had turned it around.

NN: What is your favorite venue in town to play at or to play shows at?

LH: You know, I really liked the Folklore venue. Having not seen anything there before. There was something about that vibe that I really enjoyed. I love the Hollywood Room too, that was my favorite when it was still active.

NN: What is the best thing you have heard or seen lately?

LH: Right now, I'm listening to an audiobook that I'm really enjoying, it's called "All Fours". It's by Miranda July. It's about a mid-life crisis, but a younger mid-life crisis. I'm relating to it a lot.

NN: How can we as a community help cultivate the music scene in Napa?

LH: Come out to shows. Or if you are in a position where you can help people play, where you work, try to set up shows. Also just knowing that we all work together, as far as venues that are doing this, musicians also want to help venues. A "we will treat you well, you treat us well", I think that will continue to bolster the scene.

NN: Anything to promote?

LH: I'm going to be releasing a couple songs in either late September or October.

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Stream eggcorn’s debut album “Your Own True Love” on all platforms

Follow them on Instagram @justeggcorn

September Spotlight: Eggcorn

October Spotlight: Slippery People

August Spotlight: Weekend Youth

Napa Noise