For a band called Good Neighbours, it feels fitting that community has always come first.
Catching up with Oli Fox and Scott Verrill ahead of their long-awaited South African debut, there’s no sense of rock-star detachment. Instead, there’s excitement, curiosity and the unmistakable feeling that the duo still can’t quite believe where their music has taken them.
“Coming to play music in Africa feels insane,” Scott says gleefully. “Even just as people coming to check out the place and see it is a huge bucket-list moment for us.”
Later this month, Good Neighbours will bring their euphoric indie-pop to Cape Town and Johannesburg, performing at Grand Arena before making their Parklive Jozi debut. For South African fans who have spent the past two years filling the duo’s social media comments with invitations to visit, it’s a moment that’s been a long time coming.
Ironically, the band has no idea what awaits them.
“We honestly have no idea what to expect,” Oli admits. “We always get messages saying, ‘Come to South Africa,’ so we know there are people there. But it’s still crazy to think people can hear our songs that far away and want to come and see us.”
That openness to uncertainty has quietly become one of Good Neighbours’ defining characteristics.
Their breakout single “Home” arrived in early 2024 almost by accident. Initially teased on TikTok with little expectation, the song exploded into the year’s biggest debut single globally, eventually surpassing 500 million streams and introducing the pair to audiences across every continent.
@wearegoodneighbours Cant believe we genuinely got the first ever take on camera. And now you guys made it viral 😭❤️🏡 #fypシ #soundtrack #goodneighbours #newmusic #home ♬ HOME idea – Good Neighbours
Looking back, Scott still describes the experience as surreal.
“It feels like another life now,” he says. “We were literally making music for ourselves as a little breather. Then within a week we were getting messages from all around the world saying, ‘Release this or else.’ We kind of just did – and we’ve been rolling with it ever since.”
Rather than rushing to replicate the formula, Good Neighbours leaned into the momentum by documenting the whirlwind around them. Their debut album, Blue Sky Mentality, was largely written between airports, hotels and tour buses while supporting artists including Benson Boone and Foster The People.
“It was about capturing the energy while it was still there,” Scott explains. “A lot of it was DIY and scrappy, but we wanted to bottle that feeling of excitement.”
That excitement has become synonymous with the band’s sound – soaring choruses, shimmering guitars and melodies designed to lift listeners. Yet beneath the brightness sits something more reflective.
Growing up listening to artists like The Beach Boys and Motown legends, Oli became fascinated by songs that paired vulnerable lyrics with uplifting arrangements.
“I love the idea that someone can enjoy the song but also have a cathartic experience,” he says. “It almost tricks you into being vulnerable.”
Perhaps that’s why “Home” has resonated so deeply.
Among the thousands of messages they’ve received since its release, the ones that stay with them aren’t necessarily about streaming milestones or sold-out shows. They’re the stories from listeners navigating grief, loss and loneliness — people who found comfort in a song written without any expectation that it would leave their studio.
“When people connect with exactly what you’re trying to say, it’s always moving,” Oli reflects. “That’s the whole reason we do this.”
The duo’s own definition of “Good Neighbours” extends well beyond the band name. The project was born from a shared creative space where friends pooled resources while juggling other jobs, creating a small artistic community that eventually became something much bigger.
“It was this little space with five of our mates,” Scott recalls. “We all chipped in and built something together. That’s really what Good Neighbours means to us – having your people.”
That philosophy has carried through every stage of their rapid ascent.
Whether learning vocal discipline from Benson Boone while touring or embracing the physical demands of life on the road, Oli and Scott approach their careers less like celebrities and more like athletes preparing for another performance.
“You have to look after yourself,” Oli says. “Streaming and social media mean things can happen really quickly, but if you want to sustain it, you’ve got to be ready.”
Now, another first awaits. As they prepare to experience Johannesburg and Cape Town, two cities they’ve heard about mostly through fans and fellow musicians like Beatenberg, they’re embracing the same mindset that fuelled “Home” in the first place: step into the unknown and see what happens.
When asked what they hope South African audiences feel after leaving one of their shows, Oli doesn’t hesitate.
“Buzzing,” he says. “We treat every show like it’s our last. We want people to walk away feeling electric.”
It’s a simple ambition, but perhaps that’s always been Good Neighbours’ greatest strength.
Long before the billion streams, the festival stages and the sold-out venues, they were simply two musicians chasing a feeling worth sharing. Judging by the communities they’ve built around the world, that feeling has found plenty of new ‘Homes’.
