Riding the momentum of their infectious sophomore album, People Pleasers Pleasing People, power pop rockers Strange Neighbors have released their gripping new music video for their single, “Hate Me Less.”
Premiering today on The Big Takeover, the video takes viewers on a visually stunning quest as the protagonist is seen grappling through surreal memories of yet another doomed relationship.
Opening with a contemplative mid-tempo riff, “Hate Me Less” reels the listener in from the jump. Between artistic scenes of arresting emotion and palpable angst, the band is seen rocking out in the forefront on city sidewalks amidst towering buildings, signifying how small we and our problems really are, yet they still control our lives. Shot with a retro feel not unlike that of peak alt-rock and grunge videos of the 90s, “Hate Me Less” captivates with the pace and diversity of clips spliced together with intention as it relates to the lyrics. The latter part wraps with an epic if not primal band performance in front of said jilted lover, with cinematic flair and electric energy. The video was directed by Dana Yurcisin and Biff Swenson, and shot and edited by Yurcisin.
Led by the mesmerizing vocals of Aidan Strange, the band has cracked the code on how to craft earworm after earworm. Rounding out the unique outfit of close friends turned sonic partners in crime are Beau Valentine (drums), Dana Bennewitz, (bass), and Zach Schweikert (guitar).
“I wrote ‘Hate Me Less’ from the depths of a haunted nostalgia that has weaved a thread throughout multiple previous failed relationships,” states Strange. “I was reflecting on a recent breakup in which I recognized I was putting off ending it for far too long, worried about hurting the person, but in the end hurting us both worse. In the end, it became a song about memories, regret, feeling messy, and ultimately, one of hope…but from a healthy distance.”
Glistening with raw, real, and visceral songwriting paired with sticky melodies, Strange Neighbors creates a sound closely associated with a dearly beloved nostalgia of late 90s and early 2000s pop-rock tracks one might hear in coming-of-age teen comedies of that era. (think Can’t Hardly Wait, 10 Things I Hate About You, American Pie, etc.)
Released via Mint 400 Records, their new album, People Pleasers Pleasing People, was recorded and produced by Mike Dwyer at The Bunker Recordings in Catskill, New York. The band had their album release show at The Sultan Room in Brooklyn April 17th.
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Strange Neighbors is a power pop-rock outfit from New York City. Their music combines influences from all corners of pop music, crafting catchy hook-filled songs. The band draws inspiration from a diverse range of artists, and have been described as a Queer mix of My Chemical Romance, The Beatles, and IRS-era R.E.M.
Founded in Brooklyn by lead singer Aidan Strange in 2018, the band’s current lineup is a sleek four-piece with traditional rock instrumentation. The unquestionable magnetism of this beloved indie act lies within the individual strengths each member brings to the table: Strange channels a pop-punk passion by way of a teenage career in musical theatre, while Beau Valentine compliments that theatrical edge from behind the kit, with Dana Bennewitz bringing her jazz background to the band’s intricate underpinnings, and Zach Schweikert tying it all together with his catchy, jangly hooks and use of his 12-string guitar.
Strange Neighbors self-released their first album, How to Human, in 2019, followed by a series of singles collected on the Illuminasti (2020) and Party of None (2023) EPs. They released “Quiet Beat,” a cover of an unreleased Doug Hopkins song, in September 2023, which has ties to the band, as Hopkins is the late uncle of Bennewitz. In November 2024, the band joined the Mint 400 Records roster. On April 18th, 2025, the band released their sophomore full-length LP, People Pleasers Pleasing People.
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