Exotic Fruitica was formed in Austin Texas, in 2022 by vocalist Jon French and drummer Aaron Gilligan, two longtime friends. French and Gilligan waited nearly thirteen years to write together again, since their first indie project in 2009. Gilligan, a citizen of New Zealand, applied for the green card lottery twelve times before finally winning his ticket to the US of A. In August of 2021, during the height of the covid 19 pandemic, Gilligan permanently relocated to Texas and the band has since expanded with the addition of Charlie Cruz and Carson Caldwell on guitars and Reid Haynie on Bass. Photography by Lauren Lakis