You’ve said the record is a “reminder that we’re only here for so long” and to “never waste a moment that can be seized” – is that a mindset you’ve always had? Or did the difficult past couple of years bring it on?
“I've always been an optimistic, happy-go-lucky guy, but in the past year with everything that’s happened, it’s the first time I’ve had mental and physical challenges. I thought, ‘Man, I don’t know if I’m ever gonna have this career again…’ and it puts you in this weird, dark place. Also, I’m getting older – I'm approaching 30 and never really took care of my voice. I started realising, ‘Oh, this thing changes if you don’t take care of it…’ so I had to make necessary lifestyle changes. I’m in the gym now and I’m taking vocal lessons, and I didn’t realise how much better it’d make my mental state and my body feel. I just thought I was gonna be a rock star forever (laughs), and that’s only as realistic as the work you put into it and the luck that comes around it. So it all made me think, ‘What am I even gonna do if this were to stop? Am I just gonna hit rock bottom?’ That was a tough time, for sure.”
How did you deal with those thoughts?
"I started taking trips, spending time with family, and becoming a bit of an entrepreneur, taking my clothing brand, Steez Brand, pretty seriously, while still focusing on the band too, just writing, writing, writing in the off time. Also, I was thinking [about the fact we’re all almost out of our 20s] and we’re a pop-punk band… so what is the deal here (laughs)?!”
You’ve mentioned you guys getting older a couple of times now, is it something you’ve paid a lot of thought to?
“Yeah! We’re about to come up on the 10-year anniversary of The Finer Things [in 2023] and that’s crazy! Like, are we about to go on a 10-year anniversary tour?! That's only something those old-guy bands do (laughs). The first song on the album is called Here To Stay and it talks about how we first started – there’s references to our first time playing Slam Dunk [in 2014] and being excited that this is our career! But it also talks about how we’ve been doing this for so long, but it’s time to remind everyone that we’ve been here and we’re here to stay. With bands like us, for so long we were encouraged to be humble for what we have, but that doesn’t work anymore. Times are changing! Rappers can talk about how sick they are, and say they’re the GOATs… it’s become a battle of who’s cooler and more popular, which creates cool, fun competition, and that’s what we’re trying to do, to say: ‘We’re sick at this!’ And it’s made us more excited about this new chapter.”
What are some other lyrical themes on the record?
“There's a little bit of everything – there's still a lot of angst, there’s break-up songs, especially with the new single Everybody But You. It talks about ending a toxic relationship and removing somebody from your life, being upset and down about it, but then what’s the best way to get over someone? Hanging out with your friends and throwing the biggest party ever! And that’s what the music video is. That’s probably our favourite song – it’s back to our roots, The Finer Things style, but it also brings this whole new modern approach with the production, as it's got hip-hop elements and beats to it too. It reminds me of Gives You Hell by The All-American Rejects, but it’s got so much more pop-punk State Champs power to it.”