Doe and Deer couldn't have come from anywhere but Los Angeles. On first listen, you may not immediately hear the screaming sirens and high-speed humming the city is known for. But where else could a band who pulls so much from so many genres, styles and artists be from? It had to be Los Angeles.

Formed by singer, songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Christopher Chase Godwin and vocalist Hayley Dees, the unique dual-vocal approach the band takes sets them apart. When asked “Who sings lead?” Godwin says “We both do. Our songs were written for two vocals. Take one away and you’ve lost the magic.”

 Vast influences have informed the sound of the eclectic band’s debut full-length. “I don’t want to sound like anyone else,” said Godwin. “What do I love? Big records. Records that matter – records with a message and an attitude. Marvin Gaye’s “What’s Going On,” ”Junkyard” or “Live 81-82” by the Birthday Party, “Sticky Fingers” by the Stones, “Raw Power” by the Stooges.”

 Modern listeners might make comparisons to the songs of Elliott Smith, alt-country and Americana acts like Wilco, Neko Case and Jason Isbell, indie rockers like The Kills and lyrically-savvy oddball storytellers like Tom Waits and Nick Cave. Hard as the band might work to defy genres, these are the touchstones you’ll hear when you drop the needle on Doe and Deer.

  Pressed on what he hopes listeners will hear and what sets the album and the band apart ahead of their upcoming release date, Godwin said “The lyrics. Again, it goes back to the message. I’m not pulling any punches, I’m not sugarcoating anything or covering up unsightly blemishes. I hate songs where you can’t hear the words. I hate songs where you can hear the words but they’re completely fucking meaningless. Mixing Six Feet Blues I thought ‘Jesus, these vocals are so loud!’ But every time I turned them down it just didn’t work. I realized then that I’m happy to sound like The McGuire Sisters backed by the Velvet Underground.”