What is your name?
Fox and Bones
What is your genre of music?
Somewhere at the intersection between retro 70s/80s folk rock and modern indie pop
Give us a little bio about you.
The only thing better than dating someone in your band is dating no one in your band. At least it sure sounds that way according to the recent output from Portland based Post-Yacht Rock outfit Fox and Bones, whose best work is coming directly following their split as a romantic duo. Or perhaps it was the addition of internationally acclaimed songwriter Greg Holden, who joined the project as a producer for their 2024 album “Long Time Honey” and upcoming fifth studio record “Are We Still Having Fun”, scheduled for release September of 2026.
Regardless of what has codified the group, the musical result is undeniable. “Are We Still Having Fun” is an expansive step forward for the band, both lyrically and sonically, as the duo tackles technology, the modern political climate, anxiety, party culture and mental health under a musical tapestry that ranges from their familiar retro folk rock to modern Bleachers-esque indie-pop. It is a plunge into the deep end after years of swimming on the surface. When combined with Holden’s surgical production and lyrical composition, “Are We Still Having Fun” is primed to be Fox and Bones best record yet.
And after ten years and 200,000 miles, it better be. Fox and Bones has toured tirelessly in their career, sharing stages with the likes of Rayland Baxter, The Dead South, ZZ Ward, Fantastic Cat, ALO and Glitterfox among others and have been awarded first place at the 2023 Tucson Folk Festival songwriting contest and second place in the International Acoustic Music Awards along with earning the Best Folk/Americana Album of 2024 by the PNW Music Awards. In their spare moments they’ve founded and run Portland’s Folk Festival, an annual celebration of folk and roots music hosted by the iconic Crystal Ballroom in their hometown of Portland, Oregon.
What made you go into music?
I (Sarah) have a background in music going back to my earliest memories, including one particular memory where I sang “Somewhere Out There” from Fivel Goes West for my preschool class for show and tell. I’ve been singing my whole life, and playing guitar since age 7, but I really decided to pursue a career in music after quitting my corporate job in 2013 and going on a backpacking trip through South America to “find myself”. That was the moment I realized music was a career I wanted to pursue, not just a hobby.
Who are your influences?
For our new record, we were influenced a lot by both the bands of the 80s like Bruce Springsteen, Tom Petty and Fleetwood Mac, as well as more current indie pop bands like Bleachers and The 1975 – what resulted is a really fun mix of retro and modern stylings that feel like the best of both worlds.
Are you signed?
We are currently independent, but would love to work with a label that aligns with our values and goals!
You released a new album ‘Are We Still Having Fun?’ , tell us more about the album and the meaning behind it.
“Are We Still Having Fun” is our 5th studio record, and our second collaborative project with award winning songwriter and producer Greg Holden. The album title is a question we ask both of ourselves and our listeners – after 10 years on the road, it’s a temperature check on how we are both feeling about our career in music, but on a macro level, it’s an overall temperature check on how people are taking care of themselves in a world that feels darker by the day. This album is about finding the love, joy and connection that makes human beings thrive, even in the midst of chaos and darkness.
Describe each track in two words and the album as a whole in one small sentence.
- Are We Still Having Fun – childhood nostalgia
- Modern Oblivion – dystopian 80s
- Ain’t Giving Up Tonight – party anthem
- White Flag – pop surrender
- A Different Kind of Love – heartwarming friendship
- I Want To Go Home – burnout banger
- Echoes of the Past – 70s folk anthem
- Brighter – cinematic hopecore
- The Borderline – road musings
- Held to the Fire – beatles’-esque protest song
Album as a whole – Catharsis and inner child healing for the modern world.
What was the writing and recording process like?
We recorded this album in a really unique way. Rather than showing up to the studio with songs ready to go, we’d show up each day with a clean slate and ask ourselves, what do we want to write about today, what’s on our hearts? Then the three of us would write melody, lyrics and a demo track together throughout the course of a day or two. It’s been a really fun way to write and record music and we absolutely love working with Greg because he pushes us out of our comfort zones and brings out the best in both of us.
Who did you work with on the song?
The song and full album were both produced and co-written by Greg Holden, best known for co-writing the song “Home” which was released by Phillip Phillips, but he’s also had an astonishing career as a performer and songwriter himself – highly recommend checking out his work!
With the album coming in September, can we expect any music videos for any of the tracks and if so what can we expect?
Both music videos we recorded expand on and illustrate the overall theme of the album, and touch on kind of a return to childlike joy for each of us. The first video for “Are We Still Having Fun?” is Scott’s story, featuring him as a “lost dog” who is searching for his purpose, and the second “I Want To Go Home”, is Sarah’s story about a doll who wishes to be a real girl but then regrets it once she sees what it’s like being a woman in the world.
Will we see any live shows or a tour coming up or in planning, if so what can you tell us about it?
We are currently on tour for the next 5 weeks across the northern US, and we are also planning a west coast album release tour in the fall.
Where will we be able to buy tickets from?
http://www.foxandbones.com/shows
What else can we expect in 2026?
A couple of really fun music videos for “Are We Still Having Fun” and “I Want To Go Home”!
Where do you see yourself now in 5 Years?
Still playing music and traveling around the country, hopefully to bigger audiences! We’d like to be able to tour as a full band more often as well.
What quote or saying do you always stick by?
We have this saying “Never that poor” which to us means that the best is always ahead of us and we will never be as poor as we were when we started – which admittedly hasn’t always been true, but it’s become a larger philosophy around continuing to grow as artists rather than reaching a peak and then falling off.
When you are at a gig, what are 5 things you cannot forget?
Vocal warm ups, guitar picks, water, silly stories to tell the audience, and to make sure our bass player is fed or else he gets cranky.
Do you have social media accounts so your fans can follow you?
We can be found at @foxandbones on all social media platforms!
