Pete Wentz says 'M A N I A' is for the kids trying to figure themselves out
In an interview with Rolling Stone, Pete Wentz of Fall Out Boy talked about their upcoming album, M A N I A, from what it will sound like sonically to who they're trying to reach.
And apparently he just wants to be as iconic as Fruity Pebbles.
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With M A N I A's release date fast approaching (September 15), Pete Wentz answered some of our burnining questions about the album.
When asked what we can expect from the album, Wentz says that “Young and Menace” was “a big palette cleanse” with its EDM elements, but he explains that “the world can be a big lonely place, especially for kids who are trying to figure themselves out. I think sometimes we can forget that… that's who M A N I A is meant to speak to. That's who I want to reach. I don't think that kids should feel like they need to adjust their empathy or selves to the world—I'd rather give them the belief that they can adjust the world to fit their empathy.”
Wentz says that M A N I A differs sonically from American Beauty/American Psycho and Save Rock and Roll, which he says blur together for him as “one extended album cycle.” Wentz says M A N I A, “is the first of a new era… trying to goldilocks the recipe.”
He continues, “Sonically, we are sewing multiple eras of—both our own band and own influences—together in a way that is completely new to us through both the production and writing process.” And as for the EDM elements that may have either delighted or dismayed old-school FOB fans, Wentz confirms that “'Young and Menace' is the only song on the record so far that sounds vaguely like a kitten chasing a laser around…”
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Wentz also talks about moving forward as a band. “I think we have to just move forward—that's the goal of us (I don't mean the band; I mean humans)—we just need to evolve. No one wants to be who they were two years ago or 10 years ago… it's great to have that snapshot, but it's time to hang up your hat when you think your glory days are behind you. I think the sound of FOB will always come with us because of the nature of how Patrick sings against the music—it is just inherently there.”
He leaves us with this piece of Wentz-wisdom. “The idea is to create art that is bigger than the artist, you know? In the way that you can still find Fruity Pebbles cereal in every grocery store, even though the show The Flintstones is hardly as pervasive as it once was. And I think that's the goal of the record: to outlive the brand and exist on its own.”
We hope M A N I A will be as memorable as Fruity Pebbles.
Are you glad to see Fall Out Boy moving forward again, or do you miss the old days? Sound off in the comments below!
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