Read more: The 20 most underrated pop-punk albums from the last two decades

On lead singles “Lies” and “Jealousy,” Pale Waves are firing on all cylinders while holding nothing back, with in-your-face lyrics giving fans a taste of what’s to come. Even with the sheer intensity of their new material, the group still take time to offer introspective, personal and uplifting ballads, most notably on “Reasons To Live,” a song that represents the power of love in trying circumstances. Perhaps the most emotional moment of the record comes with “The Hard Way,” an evocative track inspired by the tragic suicide of Baron-Gracie’s classmate who was the victim of bullying. The song at its core is rooted in the importance of helping those who are being mistreated and being kind to others to prevent such tragedies from occurring again. Honesty has always been a strength for Pale Waves, and with every song they have released so far in preparation for Unwanted, it’s clear that this will always be paramount to their distinct sound.

Unwanted is arriving just a little over a year since the release of 2021’s Who Am I? This is a considerably quick turnaround between records, and there seems to be a renewed energy within the band this time around. Where does this new energy come from? 

HEATHER BARON-GRACIE: I feel like a lot of the energy was channeled because of the pandemic. We felt really deprived from playing live music, and I feel like that really sealed the direction of which this record went upon. We wanted to make music that was fun to play live, hence why we went heavier and more alternative. We were just desperate to get onstage again, and we knew that once we released our new album that we wanted to just have fun with it. 

Speaking of those heavier, more rock-driven elements, what kind of music inspired this sonic change? 

Consistently throughout my life, I always listened to more alternative and heavier music. I like to listen to music where real instruments are being played. I want to hear a guitar, I want to hear real drums, and I’m not the kind of person that listens to a lot of synth-pop or something. The first album [My Mind Makes Noises] was very ’80s influenced, and the second one [Who Am I?] was very ’90s and early 2000s influenced. This album is very much a throwback to alternative and pop punk. It’s the album that we always wanted to create, but we never felt like we were ready for it until now. 

That must have been really liberating. Would you say that this is the most excited you have ever been to release an album? 

Oh, my God yes. I feel like this is the strongest record that we have ever put out. I’m so thrilled to put it out and am so excited for everyone to hear it. 

What made you decide to choose “Lies” and “Jealousy” to be the lead singles for this album rollout? 

I feel like “Lies” was a nice introduction because it wasn’t too much of a change but also influenced the direction that we are going in. It’s like the first stepping stone and is a buildup to “Jealousy,” which is overall a heavier aesthetic, but we also didn’t want to throw our fans into the deep end, so “Lies” was the shallow end of the pool to ease fans in.

Out of the three singles you have released so far, “Reasons To Live” is a standout track. This song in particular feels like it comes from such a personal place that touches on dark topics but still has an optimistic tone. Do you look at this song as a symbol that hope is always possible after a trying situation? 

I think so. Overall, I try to be as optimistic as I can because if you don’t, the world is going to eat you up in a way. “Reasons To Live” is the perfect balance where the verses are darker and hold negative connotations and the chorus is this uplifting and hopeful message that runs throughout. It’s the best of both worlds, and it’s just about being at that low point and finding that someone or something that pulls you out of it. 

You’re currently on tour with 5 Seconds Of Summer. Do you feel like you are reaching a new fanbase that is just now discovering your music for the first time? 

100%. The majority of people that we meet after shows are like, “Wow, I was just introduced to you guys, and now I’m a massive fan and have followed you on every platform,” so it’s a really incredible opportunity for us, and we’re loving every minute of it. 

What have been the highlights of the tour so far? Have you been playing any of the new singles? 

We’ve been playing “Jealousy,” “Lies” and “Reasons To Live” from the new album. I think “Jealousy” has been the song that has gone down the best so far live. People seem to love it. I guess there are a lot of jealous types in the audience. [Laughs.]

Switching gears back to the recording process for Unwanted, it seems like working with producer Zakk Cervini this time around was a match made in heaven. What was the recording process like? 

Zakk was the perfect match for us. The first time that I met him, I knew that he needed to produce our next record. He’s just a breath of fresh air, is so positive, talented and just the most genuinely nice guy ever. For the first time ever, I actually enjoyed recording. All of my other previous times, I was so stressed out or having a freak out every minute, but with Zakk, it was just so natural. We all knew what kind of record we wanted to make with Pale Waves and were on the same wavelength. There were no clashes, and it was just so easy. Zakk really helped us create a solid piece of work that we are so happy about and wouldn’t have been the same without him. 

It has always been beautiful to see how outspoken Pale Waves are in the fight against injustice and being role models for your fanbase while offering a place of solace through the music. In 2022, where this is crucial more than ever, what do you think is the most important thing you can do with your platform, and what message do you want to give your fans to inspire them, whether through hope or action? 

I think the most important thing we can do is continue to use our voice and speak about the things that we feel passionate about and the things that are going wrong in this world. We want to grab as many people’s attention as possible and fight for the things that are wrong in this world. We try our best to create a safe space for our fans and community where people can feel accepted, valued and not judged.

Read more: Coheed And Cambria and the Used livestream gives front-row seat for tour

The 13-track album was produced by Claudio Sanchez and Zakk Cervini. Two singles, “Shoulders” and “Rise, Naianasha (Cut the Cord)” are available to stream now.

The album is the second installment of a five-part “Vaxis” story arc about a couple on the run from tyrannical forces. The band have also created a box set for the album, which includes “the exclusive 96-page illustrated hardcover novel A Window of the Waking Mind,” which was developed by Sanchez and written by his wife, Chondra Echert, with strikingly realistic color artwork by Chase Stone. The 9” x 12” box set also houses an exclusive Quintillan Speaker Containment Unit Lamp (approx. 8” diameter), a three-panel fold-out poster of expanded album cover art and the A Window of the Waking Mind Black Card, which will allow all cardholders early access to tickets and early entry to Coheed and Cambria headline dates.

“All box sets will also come with a CD copy and download of Vaxis II: A Window of the Waking Mind, along with an official Certificate of Authenticity.” Fans who preorder the box set before Jan. 23 will receive autographed copies and their names included within the pages of the accompanying illustrated hardcover novel. For more information, go here. 

Vaxis II: Window of the Waking Mind album art and tracklist:

1. “The Embers of Fire”
2. “Beautiful Losers”
3. “Comatose”
4. “Shoulders”
5. “A Disappearing Act”
6. “Love Murder One”
7. “Blood”
8. “The Liars Club”
9. “Bad Man”
10. “Our Love”
11. “Ladders of Supremacy”
12. “Rise, Naianasha (Cut the Cord)”
13. “Window of the Waking Mind”

Coheed and Cambria will take the new LP on the road for the Great Destroyer tour. The U.S. headlining tour kicks off Feb. 16 in California and features special guests Sheer Mag. Check out a full list of dates, and buy tickets on their website here.

Alongside the announcement, the group dropped the record’s title track and a visual to go with it.

Read more: Bad Omens made their album to help others “feel in control and powerful”

“Making the record changed us as songwriters and musicians,” the band say in a press release. “In many ways, I feel like it set me free as an artist because every decision made in the writer process was for myself, with no fear for anyone else’s expectations of what our third album should sound like. Be it our fans or our record label.”

Bad Omens, who were Alternative Press’ cover stars for the 100 Artists issue earlier this year, found initial inspiration for THE DEATH OF PEACE OF MIND because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Read more: Rolo Tomassi announce final album of trilogy and share “Drip”—watch

When they were forced to cancel their first headlining tour and quarantine at home in Los Angeles, the band were able to reimagine the writing and recording process. They wrote, produced and engineered the album themselves, with help on the mixing and mastering from Grammy-nominated producer and songwriter Zakk Cervini (blink-182, Halsey, Poppy).

“Sonically, we want to do something you can’t arrive late or early to,” the band say. “You can’t cheat your way to the final act. You have to get on the ride and process it until the end. The songs are meant to be heard from start to finish. We want you to take the whole trip with us.”

Read more: 15 alternative songs you may have missed in your favorite TV shows

You can check out the video for “THE DEATH OF PEACE OF MIND” below, and let us know your thoughts in the comments.

Bad Omens tour dates:

11/10 – Jacksonville, NC @ The Tarheel Concert Lounge
11/12 – Daytona Beach, FL @ Welcome to Rockville
11/15 – New Orleans, LA @ House of Blues New Orleans
11/16 – Birmingham, AL @ Iron City
11/18 – Sauget, Il @ Pop’s Concert Venue
11/19 – Lincoln, NE @ Bourbon Theatre
11/20 – Lawrence, KS @ Granada Theatre
11/21 – Easy Moline, IL @ The Rust Belt
11/24 – Rochester, NY @ Anthology
11/16 – Baltimore, MD @ Rams Head Live
11/27 – Hartford, CT @ The Webster
11/28 – Sayreville, NH @ Starland Ballroom
12/02 – Toronto, ON @ The Danforth Music Hall
12/03 – Montreal, QC @ Theatre Corona
12/04 – Providence, RI @ The Strand
12/05 – Portland, ME @ State Theatre
12/07 – Covington, KY @ Madison Theater

“THE DEATH OF PEACE OF MIND” lyrics:

I made another mistake
Thought I could change, thought I could make it out
Promises break, need to hear you say you’re gonna keep it now

I miss the way you say my name, the way you bend, the way you break
Your makeup running down your face, the way you touch, the way you taste

When the curtains call the time will we both go home alive?
It wasn’t hard to realize love’s the death of peace of mind

You’re in the walls that I made with crosses and frames hanging upside down
For granted, in vain, I took everything I ever cared about 

I miss the way you say my name
The way you bend, the way you break
Your makeup running down your face
The way you fuck, the way you taste

When the curtains call the time will we both go home alive?
It wasn’t hard to realize love’s the death of peace of mind
When the curtains call the time will we both be satisfied?
It wasn’t hard to realize love’s the death of peace of mind

You come and go in waves leaving me in your wake
You come and go in waves swallowing everything

Are you satisfied?
Love’s the death of peace of mind.
Mine.

Alternative music is a “really big blanket term,” Sueco tells me. “…I don’t know how many people would agree with me. I think a lot more artists are going to label themselves moving forward as alternative. What’s going on right now, because of the internet and everything that’s happened in the last 10 years, in my opinion, genres don’t really mean as much anymore. Everyone listens to everything, really.”

Read more: Spiritbox’s Courtney LaPlante discusses breakout album ‘Eternal Blue’

Briggs expresses a similar sense for alternative music’s evolution. She suggests that alternative music is less about strict genre lines than it is defined by an artist’s ability to speak honestly and substantively about deeper emotions.

“We’re learning so much about genres right now,” Briggs tells me. “I think what’s happened in the past few years is we’re learning that alternative music can be about lyrics that resonate in an alternative way. It feels like there’s a focus on the lyrics and the story that’s really going on, but I also feel like it’s about ‘What are the artists that are showing up without a filter on, and how is that translating?’”

Their ideas resonate with me. But I also wonder about how they themselves fit into the equation, given that their signature approaches to music set them apart from so many other artists.

I ask Sueco about how his recent music shapes that story. Especially on his single “Paralyzed,” Sueco smoothly connects his hip-hop and hardcore roots. I ask if it feels like he’s working to make something different from his past work.

Read more: Simple Plan share first music in two years with new single “The Antidote”

“I feel like I’m just going back to what I first created and then obviously incorporating what I’ve learned along the way,” he says. “Just returning home. It is these alternative-rock sounds. But it’s a hybrid, really. There’s only a couple of songs out, but the whole album’s about to come out. [It’s called] It Was Fun While It Lasted. We’re working on it right now. All the songs have this hybrid blend.”

I ask Briggs about how her own perspective on music is shaped by her influences. Sonically, her music showcases a deep passion for a classic age of American soul and rock, shaped by her love for artists such as Aretha Franklin and Otis Redding. Still, I know Briggs harbors an equally profound love for more recent alternative rock as well. (When I ask about her connection to AltPress, she confesses, “I grew up with a sister who was obsessed with Warped Tour and had every cover of AP magazine on her wall, which she would probably be mortified for me to reveal. But because I was obsessed with her, I was, by proxy, forced willingly to be obsessed as well.”)

I can’t help but wonder about how she connects those sounds—two of my own favorite musical traditions, but ones from distinctive moments in time with distinctive soundscapes.

Read more: Lorraine Petel’s Famous Last Words and the future of rock radio

“That’s the interesting thing about My Chemical Romance and Panic! At The Disco and the sort of figures of that time,” she explains. “I think the reason that they transcended into global phenomenon area was a soulfulness to the songs they were singing, whether it was their lyrics or even the melodies that they chose. There’s a specific part that I’m thinking of in ‘[Welcome To] The Black Parade.’

“I feel goosebumps every time I sing it, and it really reminds me of when I would sing Janis Joplin. There’s just this ache, and there is this cry for help through the music. I think that’s what really drew me to Motown music. That’s why as I got older and I started listening to alternative music, it felt like an easy transition because I feel like the cornerstones were all still there.”

Sueco’s output similarly reflects a broad approach to music. In a number of interviews, he’s listed a quartet of musicians as his key influences: Kanye West, Kendrick Lamar, the Weeknd and Green Day. I ask him about how they fit together for him.

Read more: Unsilent Night lineup features Sleeping With Sirens, DE’WAYNE and more

“Honestly, I would probably add My Chem, in terms of influences,” he starts. Sueco goes on to pull out the precise musical aspects he pulls from each artist. Kendrick, his lyrical prowess and depth of meaning. Kanye, his production talent and his ability to craft “sonic landscapes.” The Weeknd, his staggering skill as a vocalist. And Green Day, I ask. What about them?

“Green Day, that was my first artist that I fell in love with ever,” he says. “It was American Idiot. It’s just a masterpiece. It was a concept album. That’s what I loved about that. Just the sound of it.”

My conversations with Briggs and Sueco help me think a bit more clearly about how the musical puzzles fit together. Both artists find ways to create connections between styles—ones that defy stereotypes and assumptions about how genre is supposed to operate. Even so, they also maintain respect for the individuality of artists and the ways that different types of music speak to different concerns.

Still, I wonder about whether the music world at large is on the same page as us. Briggs and I talk for a while about how the industry is starting to change, something she has a particular perspective on as a female artist. 

Read more: Maggie Lindemann captures the pain of unrequited love in “She Knows It”

“A few years ago, I remember it just being me and my friend K.Flay at these festivals as the only women. That was really how we became friends,” she says. “It wasn’t even like we were at the festival at the same time. It was like one weekend, I got to be the female, and one weekend, she got to be the female. I do think there still needs to be more progress [on] that front in the alternative world and alternative radio and all that. But I feel really grateful that I have seen a significant change since I first started and have made new friends that I’ve met through the alternative space that are women. I have seen progress.”

I tell her that, at least from my perspective, I have also seen some progress. However, I also notice that it can sometimes feel uneven.

“I know what you mean,” Briggs replies. “My partner [Landon Jacobs] is in an alternative band called Sir Sly, and we have played the same festivals together. I will be asked about makeup and dating, and he will be asked about how he created the song, what instruments they used, how they came up with the specific lyric. I just thought that was normal. Then we realized we’re talking about the same person. The person that interviewed him had incredible, insightful questions. I noticed it in small ways and sometimes in big ways. Just knowing that isolated feeling at the beginning a couple of years ago, just at these festivals, I do think that has significantly changed.”

Read more: 11 bands that prove the Rolling Stones’ influence on punk was enormous

Gradually, my conversations with Briggs and Sueco come full circle, as we return to the topic of the way their life experiences inform their artistry. I ask them about how their current work reveals their development and reflects their personal goals as musicians.

Briggs tells me that her upcoming record speaks to her own pain. In January 2021, her sister Kate McLaughlin passed away at the age of 30 following a battle with cancer. Reconciling with grief pushed Briggs into new and difficult territory, both personally and as an artist.

“There’s rawness, and then there is all your skin taken off, exposed, and you are in the sun,” she reveals. “A cannibal is lurking nearby, but you don’t know if he’s fully there. You just sense that he is there. I recorded some vocals with this amazing mixer, producer and writer Zakk [Cervini], and we looked at each other in the studio, and my entire face was soaking wet from crying while recording the song. I looked up, and his entire face was wet. I came into the room, and we just hugged, and we cried. I was honest with him, and I said I would really, really rather have my sister here than have this. He understood. Kate was my biggest fan, and he was telling me that she would just be so honored. We just sat in silence.”

Read more: Bring Me The Horizon deliver raw and intimate set at LA’s Whisky a Go Go

Briggs goes on to clarify how this situation challenged her resolve as an artist. In many ways, it altered what it meant to be vulnerable.

“When I have gone into the studio before, even if I was coming in fresh off of the heartbreak, it doesn’t compare,” she continues. “This is really the love of my life. I’ve never loved someone as much as I love her. It’s just a different scale. Even in my past albums, there was a sense of polish when I would write. I knew what the feelings were, and I was writing about them. I was living my life, and I was continuing on my path.

“Whereas with this, I’m really stuck in the trauma of it, and I fear writing about it, and I dread writing about it. Just from a writing perspective, it has felt very, very, very different, and I’ve just been waiting on the right time to release this music. It has been a mix of timing, but it’s also been to do with my mental health and I guess seeing if I will be able to survive the idea of it being released.”

Sueco also notes that his in-progress album is a testament to his own painful experiences. I ask him about what he means when he mentions that goal of “helping people.”

Read more: AltPress and Wicked Craniums team up for first-ever NFT covers

“​​When I was younger, there’s a lot of fucked-up shit going on,” he explains. “One of the ways that I was able to deal with everything, besides creating music, was obviously listening to it and finding solace in it. When I say I want to help people, I want to help people through this, through music, the way that I felt like I was helped. Specifically, with the newer stuff I’ve been putting out, the reaction, it’s been exactly that.

“I can’t tell you how many countless people have been hitting me up, [saying] ‘Paralyzed’ is helping them go through whatever it is they’re going through. It just means a lot that it’s able to resonate, and it means a lot that it’s able to get people through. Everything I’m going to be dropping, everything that I’m doing moving forward, that’s what it’s designed to do.”

I know that Briggs also has a broader personal and social mission for her work, as well. So, I ask her about what goals she has as an artist.

Read more: Slipknot emphasize the importance of family at this year’s Knotfest

“First and foremost, my goal is for people to feel less alone,” she tells me. “When you are in a really broken place, that can be life-saving and life-changing. By performing, by sharing my truth onstage, people would feel less alone and know that they’re not alone.”

Briggs goes on to explain that she is committed to philanthropy as well as using her platform to speak honestly. Central to that understanding is a nuanced perspective about how to model vulnerability as well as strength.

“It’s that middle ground of feeling completely vulnerable in my existence of life and also when I’m onstage trying to be that empowered self. It’s really stemmed from a mix of sharing my experience and noticing that it can be helpful just in a human connection way. There have been certain interviews that I’ve seen of artists that I admire, and it’s one sentence, and it’s like, ‘Wow!’ It makes me feel like I can breathe just knowing that I’m not crazy and that I’m seeing a bit of myself in this person that I admire that I think has it all together.”

You can read the full interview in issue 399, available here.

We’ve got another week of new music discoveries and other exciting stories. There’s a ton to check out, whether you love pop punk, metal, alternative or something else. In addition to fresh tracks, we’ve also got a pile of news, lists, exclusives, playlists and premieres!

Mark Hoppus and Tom DeLonge podcast

As if his work with blink-182 wasn’t enough, Mark Hoppus also hosts the Apple Music podcast After School Radio. For the 50th episode of the show, the pop-punk figurehead was joined by his former bandmate Tom DeLonge. The pair reminisced about the old days of blink-182 and discussed the things they enjoy about one another. Titled “The Mark And Tom Show,” the episode alluded to the band’s similarly titled 2000 live album. When asked about why their friendship endures, DeLonge gave a simple answer. “Because we appreciate dick jokes in a way that no one else does,” he says. “It boils down to only that. There is nothing else. It’s that, in my opinion.”

Poppy – Flux announcement

Poppy has announced her fourth studio album, Flux. The record is the follow-up to her 2020 release, I Disagree. The announcement came with a video for the album’s title track, an adventurous, psychedelic odyssey from Australian designer and visual artist Pip And Pop. To produce the track, Poppy teamed up with Justin Meldal-Johnsen (Paramore, Deafheaven, M83), who also produced the recent track “Her.” The album news follows the release of EAT, a collaboration between Sumerian Records and WWE. In addition, the artist announced a world tour, launching Sept. 30, via Instagram.

Elvia interview

We recently published Josh Madden’s interview with the multifaceted artist Elvia. Beyond her musical talents, Elvia is also a proud mother, clothing designer and more. The artist has collaborated with her partner Idris Vicuña, aka AltPress cover artist Eyedress, and launched Lip Injections, a fashion line celebrating natural beauty. Of her musical development, the artist recalls a simple path to her unique approach to music. “I actually moved out to Vegas fresh out of high school,” Elvia says. “The music I was listening to then was mostly anything cool that I found on SoundCloud like Lil Peep, Princess Nokia, Spooky Black and so much random Jersey club music. I think with the music I’ve put out, I definitely incorporate a lot of feeling into the songs I’ve written. I want the youth to relate like I related to artists when I was much younger.”

Album Anatomy: The Maine

AltPress gave readers an Album Anatomy of the Maine’s eighth studio album, XOXO: From Love & Anxiety In Real Time. In the interview, the quintet offered us a glimpse behind the scenes of their new release, as well as their goals as a band and their first radio hit in the form of lead single “Sticky.” Lead vocalist John O’Callaghan frames the album as a release shaped by care for others. “[The album] is just a snapshot of where I was at mentally,” O’Callaghan says. “With You Are OK, I definitely was thinking less ‘selfishly.’ I was thinking more [about], ‘How will people receive this?’ Hopefully, it would help them. This record, I went a bit more inward and was just speaking from direct experience as opposed to worrying about how it was going to affect other people. And hopefully, once people listen to the record, they can attach their own meanings with the songs.”

Atiba Jefferson interview

Producers giving back to music

Next week, we’ll be running an article on genre legends who are also making an impact as producers. In the article, author Ryan Piers highlights a range of producers, such as Derek DiScanio, Travis Barker and Nik Bruzzese, as well as artists including Stand Atlantic, WILLOW and Midfield. Representative of the ways some artists have evolved is Good Charlotte’s Billy Martin, who has collabed with a staggering range of artists and pushes himself stylistically on every project he develops. Of Martin’s work on Kid Bookie‘s “On My Rock,” Piers writes: “Kid Bookie raps at hyperspeed over a bed of chunky guitar chords. It crosses genres with ease, reminding us of Martin’s immense talent. In fact, Martin’s list of collabs, and consequently his influence, is growing.”

All Time Low – Veeps performance

All Time Low will be performing live from Sad Summer Fest via the livestreaming platform Veeps. The set will be broadcast Saturday, Aug. 7 at 8:30 p.m. PT and can be watched until Aug. 10 at 11:59 p.m. PT. The show follows All Time Low’s recent single “PMA,” which featured Pale Waves along with production from longtime collaborator Zakk Cervini. Of the track, lead singer Alex Gaskarth says it speaks to the anxiety of our current moment. “‘PMA’ is a journey into isolation and overstimulation,” Gaskarth says. “It’s about the little mundane things we do to keep ourselves distracted when loneliness becomes a constant and leaves us feeling apathetic. It’s existential dread wrapped in nervous laughter kissed by the SoCal sun.”

Dave Grohl performs with his daughter

Dave Grohl recently invited his daughter Violet onstage for a cover of X’s classic punk song “Nausea” during a Lollapalooza set. The ​​Foo Fighters frontman also led the crowd in a rendition of “Happy Birthday” dedicated to his other daughter Ophelia. While it’s a punk classic, “Nausea” also has a layer of personal meaning for the artist. “There’s a band from Los Angeles that we love,” Grohl says. “They’re called X, and it’s a long story, but that drummer DJ Bonebrake, we’re actually related to each other ’cause my grandmother’s name was Bonebrake, and that’s no bullshit. So Violet and I decided we’d record a song together to pay tribute, not only to the band, X, but also to our family.”

Weezer – “Enter Sandman”

Weezer have released a stunning version of the classic Metallica track “Enter Sandman.” While some artists might be tempted to rework the track, the cover closely follows the model of its original. Even so, Weezer’s unique sonic profile is readily on display, making the rendition wholly their own. The new song is set to appear on The Metallica Blacklist album and follows Miley Cyrus’ rendition of “Nothing Else Matters.” The Metallica Blacklist is due for a Sept. 10 release via the band’s own label, Blackened Recordings. The album will feature a range of artists covering songs from Metallica’s 1991 self-titled album, aka The Black Album.

UPSAHL – “Time Of My Life”

In July, UPSAHL, aka Taylor Upsahl, released the single “Time Of My Life.” Today, we premiered a live rendition of the track. In advance of the release, UPSAHL elaborated on her inspiration for the track. “‘Time Of My Life’ is about being in the best and worst place in my life, all at the same time,” UPSAHL says. “I didn’t realize that these two feelings can exist simultaneously until this past year. As the highs got higher, the lows got lower. The day we wrote the song, I just had the question [of], ‘How come all the worst days are in the time of my life?’ floating around in my head. We wrote that into the chorus first, and then I feel like we blacked out and an hour later had a song. [Laughs.]”

The single was produced by longtime collaborator Zakk Cervini and serves as the first collaboration between the two bands.

Read more: Billie Eilish’s much anticipated LP ‘Happier Than Ever’ is here–listen

“PMA” is an exposé of emotional transparency in the wake of COVID-19. A shorthand for  “Post Modern Anxiety,” the track feels like the perfect conclusion after a year-and-a-half of uncertainty.

Our new track PMA is out now! @palewaves thank you for lending your talents to this track and making it so magical. We hope this song can ease your mind for a few moments, we’re all going through it #PostmodernAnxiety

Listen now: https://t.co/bTg9mwHZ1u pic.twitter.com/UqKuskiY71

— All Time Low (@AllTimeLow) July 30, 2021

The combination of optimistic instrumentation and reflective vocals that solidified All Time Low as a pop–punk tour de force in 2006 are on display in the new track. Vulnerable yet remarkably relatable lyrics about isolation such as “I dumb it down with Jeopardy and late-night TV/And I don’t even like it” give a contemporary context to the song while driving riffs provide a timeless edge.

The track has more pop-punk elements than is typical of Pale Waves, but that didn’t stop lead singer Heather Baron-Gracie from putting forward an excellent performance. As melancholy rhythms ebb and flow, the singer’s melodic delivery creates an image of melatonin losing its touch and the fear of fireworks.

Read more: Lauran Hibberd delivers witty lyricism and charm on new ‘Goober’ EP

All Time Low lead singer Alex Gaskarth says the track addresses the longing and anxiety related to isolation.

“‘PMA’ is a journey into isolation and overstimulation,” the singer says in a press release. “It’s about the little mundane things we do to keep ourselves distracted when loneliness becomes a constant and leaves us feeling apathetic. It’s existential dread wrapped in nervous laughter kissed by the SoCal sun. Heather and Pale Waves joining us on this one quite literally brings the hopeful shine to the lyrics, the promise of safety in the shared experience, the understanding we’re all living it together.”

“I was really happy that Alex asked me to be on the track as I’ve always been a big fan of All Time Low,” Baron-Gracie adds. “[I] loved the song when he sent it over. I really related to the themes, especially the exhausting worry that you’re never doing or being enough in life.”

Both bands are scheduled to go on tour after a year of isolation. While Pale Waves’ U.K. tour isn’t scheduled until February 2022, All Time Low have scores of shows in summer and fall 2021. A contest is being held for two people to win tickets for the sold-out New Jersey Sad Summer Fest, which the band will headline alongside the Story So Far. A portion of each entry goes to the LGBTQ Freedom Fund, which pays bail for LGBTQIA+ individuals in jails and immigration facilities. You can enter the contest here.

Read more: He creative are illustrating the evolution of the punk scene

 

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The Maine and Grayscale will join All Time Low for the first round of tour dates. nothing,nowhere. and Meet Me @ The Altar will appear for the second half. You can get tickets for All Time Low here, Pale Waves here and find tour dates for both bands below.

What do you think of All Time Low and Pale Waves’ collaboration on “PMA”? Listen to the track and drop your thoughts in the comments!

All Time Low tour dates:

08/06 – Sacramento, CA @ Sad Summer Fest 2021
08/07 – Anaheim, CA @ Sad Summer Fest 2021
08/08 – Phoenix, AZ @ The Van Buren
08/10 – Denver, CO @ Mission Ballroom
08/13 – Kansas City, MO @ KC Live!
08/14 – St. Louis, MO @ Ballpark Village St. Loui
08/15 – Tulsa, OK @ Cain’s Ballroom
08/17 – Dallas, TX @ South Side Ballroom
08/18 – Austin, TX @ Stubbs
08/20 – Orlando, FL @ Sad Summer Fest 2021
08/21 – Atlanta, GA @ Sad Summer Fest 2021
08/22 – Nashville, TX @ Marathon Music Works
08/24 – Norfolk, VA @ The Norva
08/25 – Harrisburg, PA @ XL Live

Read more: Turnstile drop “BLACKOUT” and visual ahead of forthcoming LP–listen

08/27 – New York, NY @ Sad Summer Fest
08/28 – Baltimore, MD @ Sad Summer Fest
08/31 – Columbus, OH @ Sad Summer Fest
09/01 – Cleveland, OH @ Agora Theater & Ballroom
09/03 – Asbury Park, NJ @ Sad Summer Fest
09/04 – Worcester, MA @ Sad Summer Fest
09/05 – Philadelphia, PA @ Sad Summer Fest
09/07 – Pittsburgh, PA @ Sad Summer Fest
09/10 – Milwaukee, WI @ Sad Summer Fest
09/11 – Pontiac, MI @ Sad Summer Fest
09/12 – Cincinnati, OH @ The Andrew J Brady ICON Music Center
09/15 – Albuquerque, NM @ Sunshine Theater

09/16 – Tucson, AZ @ Rialto Theater
09/18 – Las Vegas, NV @ Daytime Stage @ iHeartRadio Music Festival
09/18 – Las Vegas, NV @ Life is Beautiful
09/22 – London, UK @ O2 Academy
09/23 – London, UK @ O2 Academy
09/26 – Manchester, UK @ O2 Apollo
09/27 – Glasgow, UK @ Barrowland Ballroom
09/28 – Glasgow, UK @ Barrowland Ballroom
10/12 – New Orleans, LA @ Orpheum Theater

Read more: Family, friends and fans pay tribute to Slipknot’s Joey Jordison

10/13 – Birmingham, AL @ Avondale Brewing Company
10/15 – Richmond, VA @ The National
10/16 – Raleigh, NC @ The Ritz
10/17 – Charlotte, NC @ The Fillmore Charlotte
10/19 – New Haven, CT @ College Street Music Hall
10/20 – Buffalo, NY @ Town Ballroom
10/22 – Toronto, ON @ HISTORY
10/23 – Grand Rapids, MI @ GLC Live at 20 Monroe
10/24 – Louisville, KY @ Old Forester’s Paristown Hall
10/27 – Sioux Falls, SD @ The District
10/28 – West Des Moines, IA @ Val Air Ballroom
10/30 – Minneapolis, MN @ Fillmore Minneapolis
10/31 – Winnipeg, MB @ Burton Cummings Theater
11/02 – Edmonton, AB @ Union Hall
11/03 – Calgary, AB @ MacEwan Hall Concerts
11/05 – Vancouver, BC @ Vogue Theater
11/06 – Portland, OR @ Roseland Theater
11/07 – Seattle, WA @ The Showbox
11/10 – Oakland, CA @ Fox Theater
11/11 – Los Angeles, CA @ Hollywood Palladium
11/12 – San Diego, CA @ Humphreys Concerts By The Bay

Pale Waves tour dates:

02/11 – Bristol, UK @ O2 Academy Bristol
02/12 – Cardiff, UK @ The Great Hall, Cardiff Uni Students Union
02/13 – Nottingham, UK @ Rock City
02/14 – Birmingham, UK @ O2 Academy Birmingham
02/16 – Bournemouth, UK @ O2 Academy Bournemouth
02/17 – Leeds, UK @ O2 Academy Leeds
02/19 – Belfast, UK @ Limelight
02/20 – Dublin, IE @ The Academy, Middle Abbey Street
02/21 – Glasgow, UK @ O2 Academy Glasgow
02/23 – Sheffield, UK @ O2 Academy Sheffield
02/25 – Leicester, UK @ O2 Academy Leicester
02/26 – Oxford, UK @ O2 Academy Oxford
02/28 – London, UK @ Roundhouse
03/01 – Manchester, UK @ Victoria Warehouse
07/07 – Madrid, ES @ Mad Cool Festival 2022

“PMA” lyrics:

Time to face up to the inevitable
I’m terrified I’m losing it from staying at home
I dumb it down with Jeopardy and late-night TV
(And I don’t even like it)
Safe to say
I’m glad I’m not the only one
(And I don’t have time for all this time I’m wasting)
What are you trying to fix me for?
Maybe I’m broken
But I’m not sure
Am I depressed or am I just bored?
Apathy and irony
postmodern anxiety
Tell me you’re OK
“Yeah? What’s that like?”
Rose-tinted glasses
It must be nice
Doing your best
Living your best while you die inside

Read more: 15 artists changing the landscape of alternative music with hyperpop

Apathy and Irony; Postmodern Anxiety
I don’t mind the fireworks that keep me awake
(But they still kinda scare me)
I don’t think the melatonin works at all
My moneyplant’s dying and the dust is collecting
(And my therapist hates me)
It’s Monday morning, sleeping through the wake-up call
What are you trying to fix me for?
Maybe I’m broken
But I’m not sure
Am I depressed or am I just bored
Apathy and irony
And postmodern anxiety
Tell me you’re OK
Yeah? What’s that like
Rose-colored glasses
It must be nice
Living your best while you die inside
Apathy and Irony and Postmodern Anxiety

This week is jam-packed full of so much new music, it’s impossible to fit everything in one article! There’s plenty to listen to, whether you love pop punk, metal, alternative or something else. If that’s not enough for you, we’ve also got our regular haul of lists, exclusives, playlists and premieres. Let’s get to it!

In memoriam: Joey Jordison

Joey Jordison, a founding member of metal legends Slipknot and a widely regarded drummer, has passed away at the age of 46. Family, friends and fans everywhere expressed their sadness as well as their love for the artist. It’s clear from their messages that Jordison was admired as a person as well as a musician. His family recalled his “quick wit, his gentle personality, giant heart and his love for all things family and music.” Meanwhile, dozens of musicians spoke about him as a collaborator, friend and influence. Of course, all noted his significant imprint on music, honoring the visionary musician who helped shift the course of rock music.

All Time Low – “PMA” (feat. Pale Waves)

All Time Low have returned with their latest single “PMA” featuring Pale Waves. The song title stands for “Post Modern Anxiety.” While the highbrow postmodernism reference and the word “anxiety” might evoke something unfamiliar and abrasive, the new track is heartwarming as can be. The song is designed to speak to feelings of isolation and the things we do to fend off feelings of despair and apathy. It also sends out the idea that, as ATL’s Alex Gaskarth puts it, “we’re all living it together.” The musical setting underscores the message. Chock-full of feel-good riffs and a singalong chorus, the track is sure to ease a troubled mind. For the track, the group enlisted longtime collaborator Zakk Cervini to produce the track.

1997 in punk music

AltPress’ resident Punk Professor Tim Stegall is back with another feature. This time around, Stegall breaks down the significance of the year 1997 for punk history. While many in the ‘90s heralded the coming age of electronic music, punk artists remained unphased. As a result, the genre continued to develop in new directions, while other artists finally found much-deserved success. “As usual, the punk world didn’t give a fuck what the media thought,” Stegall writes. “Punk rock was doing quite fine, thank you… Sleater-Kinney were coming up with fresh directions for riot grrrl… And the Mighty Mighty Bosstones were about to have a massive hit record, ‘The Impression That I Get,’ 14 years after forming.”

Amindi interview

Amindi ​​spoke with writer Erica Campbell ahead of her new EP, nice. During the conversation, the pair spoke about Amindi’s genre-bending approach to music, her desire to make music that is authentic to herself and the new project. Amindi also emphasized her desire to make a music that is all-encompassing and forceful. “Music, in general, is so universal, and I love so much of it,” she says, “and because I’m a Libra and have problems deciding what to do, I’m like, ‘Why don’t I just do all of it?’ A main driving force for that is because when I was younger, I was inspired by Santigold. I want to be somebody’s Santigold—that’s my main goal. I just want to be myself and do what I like doing and inspire people to do that as well.”

DoFlame – “All Out”

DoFlame, aka Mateo Naranjo, has released the new single “All Out.” The second single from the rising Brampton hardcore artist, the track follows “Bat House.” Both songs recall the raw energy of early hardcore, inflected with the vitality of the Northwest/SoCal sound. Ahead of the new release, we caught up with Naranjo, who spoke about his new material as well as his broader goals for music. Naranjo recalls the forceful energy of the youth punk scene, citing the energy of his friends and his city in driving his music forward. The new track was also accompanied by a video, designed to capture the young artist’s awe-inspiring ambition.

Turnstile – “BLACKOUT”

Turnstile are back with their new single, “BLACKOUT.” The new song was joined by a visual featuring animation from French designer Alexis Jamet and cinematographer Logan Triplett. The new video follows a string of creative projects. The group released a short film for their recent EP, TURNSTILE LOVE CONNECTION, which also appeared in select movie theaters prior to its release. The new track comes from the group’s upcoming LP, GLOW ON, due Aug. 27. In addition to the new release, the single “ALIEN LOVE CALL” (feat. Blood Orange) and the TURNSTILE LOVE CONNECTION EP will appear on the new record.

Hyperpop artists

In a recent article, Augusta Battoclette takes on the phenomenon of hyperpop. Battoclette brings authority to a genre that is often talked about but seldom understood on a deep level. Associated with artists such as Rico Nasty, 100 gecs, Charli XCX and glaive, hyperpop is complex and diverse. That diversity is the source of the genre’s power, allowing artists to speak to different communities and find their own way. Behind the headlines and the Spotify playlist is a vibrant group of artists who are changing what it means to be alternative for a new era.

HE Creative interview

 

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This week, we brought Josh Madden’s interview with designer sensation HE Creative. The illustrator team of Phil and Charlotte Howell made a name for themselves through their eye-catching illustrations of dozens of music artists and collaborations with Toby Morse of H2O, Kanye West and Jessicka Addams of Jack Off Jill. The pair didn’t necessarily set out for success. “We were doing corporate stuff, and then we had a spell of really shitty clients,” Phil Howell says. “The work was soul-destroying. I had a mental breakdown and went full, ‘Fuck it, I’m going to start posting stuff on Instagram that I want to post.’ We were watching a lot of the CW Riverdale show, so I did a mashup of Betty and the Misfits logo. And it started to blow up.”

Angels & Airwaves – “Losing My Mind”

 Angels & Airwaves have released a new video for “Losing My Mind.” In the visual, frontman Tom DeLonge portrays his alter ego Disco, the brother of Boomer from blink-182’s video for “First Date.” Here, Disco is joined by Rampage, a well-known TikTok dancer. “This place, this fucking view?” Disco tells Rampage at the start of the video. “You could have that, too, if you let me help you help me get on TikTok.” The new song follows a string of singles, “Rebel Girl,” “Kiss & Tell,” “Restless Souls” and “Euphoria.” The video also dropped with a director’s cut version, viewable on the band’s website.

Oberhofer – “What Does It Mean To Me?”

Oberhofer, the musical project of Brad Oberhofer, is back with the new single “What Does It Mean To Me?” The new track follows “Just When You Need Yourself Most,” which dropped last February. Of the new song, Oberhofer says it contains a message about acceptance and coming to terms with the weight of the world. “It’s a reminder that not much really matters,” Oberhofer explains. “If something feels like it matters too much, you just have to ask yourself, ‘What does it really mean to me?’ That form of questioning enabled me to set my spirit free.” It’s a fitting message from the artist. Oberhofer went on Instagram Live to perform every night for 115 days during COVID-19, all with the goal of helping people feel less lonely in difficult times.

Many readers may have received their copies already, but if you haven’t heard, our June issue featuring cover star WILLOW is now shipping out. Shot by legendary photographer Atiba Jefferson, last month’s issue is jam-packed with interviews and lots of other content, highlighting a range of artists including Pretty Sick, DE’WAYNE and Shamir Bailey.

Read more: AltPress Weekly: Eyedress, Syd, boyband, the Velvet Underground and more

Of course, things were also buzzing over on the AltPress website. We brought you tons of news, lists, exclusives, playlists and premieres. Let’s get into it! Here are some of the things we’re thinking about this week.

Women who made the ’90s memorable

At AltPress, we love all things ’90s. We’ve regularly covered this iconic decade, from the best albums to the major years of punk history. We’ve also paid close attention to the stellar women who made the era a crucial period in alternative music. This month, we ran Katie Schmidt’s article on some of the most powerful women vocalists of the era. The list zooms in on a period when upstart genres such as grunge, hip-hop and many others were reshaping popular music. Schmidt highlights a wide range of transformative singers, from Ms. Lauryn Hill and  Bikini Kill’s Kathleen Hanna to Erykah Badu and Garbage’s Shirley Manson. Along the way, the article reveals a dynamic moment in music, as well as the key role of women artists in the era.

People behind the scenes of pop punk

Pop punk is experiencing something of a revival these days. Many people might be surprised to see how many veterans and other industry personnel are working behind the scenes to help the genre remain vital. Ryan Piers’ recent article highlights the many people supporting the genre we all know and love. The article calls attention to people including Julia Michaels, Zakk Cervini, Travis Barker, Billy Martin, Avril Lavigne and more. On the surface, the story tells a simple narrative, identifying the key players working to help develop some of your favorite recent music. However, the article reveals a deeper fact about pop punk: The genre is a multi-generational phenomenon, rooted in a broader community of artists and their supporters.

Questlove – Summer Of Soul

Hulu is now streaming the Questlove-helmed documentary Summer Of Soul (…Or, When The Revolution Could Not Be Televised). The new film tells the story of the 1969 Harlem Cultural Festival, a musical event that took place in New York during a pivotal period in music and culture more generally. While the event was filmed, it was largely unseen for over 50 years. Producer Hal Tulchin dubbed the event “Black Woodstock” in reference to the other major festival that took place that year. The event hosted a large cast of some of the most important artists of the era, including Nina Simone, Sly And The Family Stone, Stevie Wonder and Gladys Knight And The Pips. More than a major moment in music history, the event represents one of many milestones in the fight for Black freedom in the United States.

Badflower – “Family”

Badflower have released the new single “Family.” The group also announced their sophomore album, THIS IS HOW THE WORLD ENDS, due out Sept. 24. Ahead of the release, Taylor Linzinmeir chatted with lead singer Josh Katz about the new track and the upcoming record. “I’ve been growing a lot as a person lately and realizing some uncomfortable things about myself,” Katz says. “‘Family’ was my way of talking about it and trying to understand my feelings and behavior. It was one of those songs I didn’t think very hard about. I needed to say the things I said, and I needed to hear myself say it. And by the end, I had a better perspective on some of my most complicated emotions.”

Twin Shadow – Twin Shadow

Twin Shadow (George Lewis Jr.) has released his debut full-length album Twin Shadow. The new record is brimming with life. Emotionally, the release embraces joy without naivete, looking unapologetically at difficult moments and finding a reason to carry on. Stylistically, the album looks at history with warmth and affection, not cold nostalgia—a rare move in these retro-inclined times. Lewis pulls from classic punk, golden age soul, his Dominican heritage and more. The musician cites the energy that followed Nigerian rock legend Fela Kuti in particular. “If you watch Fela Kuti’s band and you don’t pay attention to him for a second, you watch his guitar player and he’s jumping up and down—feeling all this joy,” Lewis says. “And that was the thing I wanted to try and chase after.”

Black-owned alternative businesses

Giving love to Black-owned businesses just got easier ?

US businesses with Instagram Shops can now show a “Black-Owned” label on their profiles so you can better discover them.

More details → https://t.co/KNlOKzcxhg pic.twitter.com/QdMgf0F0nN

— Instagram (@instagram) June 30, 2021

Instagram recently announced the creation of a new “Black-owned” tag that business accounts based in the U.S. can add to their profile. In a new article for our website, Augusta Battoclette calls attention to a number of Black-owned alternative brands on the platform. Battoclette highlights the popular support for Black-owned and -led businesses that surged on Instagram in the past year. Her article also showcases the ways that Black creators are contributing to the alternative world in particular. Dozens of individuals are working to provide a unique perspective on fashion, skateboarding, makeup and more. The list highlights a range of brands, from Proper Gnar and Glam Goth Beauty to Filosophy and Àshabi.

Women’s empowerment roundtable part 2

In June, we released the first part of Paige Owens’ roundtable interview from our Power Issue: Women Rising, featuring Amy Lee, Lzzy Hale, Taylor Momsen and Maria Brink. The group had a broad, open-ended conversation about their careers, the state of music and their vision of a world where “female-fronted” was no longer a stigmatized qualifier attached to the work of artists. Now, we’ve released the second installment of the feature. In the second part, the group turned to the perennial myth that rock is dying. During the conversation, Momsen addressed the notion of rock’s death directly, saying, “You can’t eliminate rock ’n’ roll. It can’t die. Anyone who says that it’s dead, in my opinion, they’re just incorrect because you’re looking at something from a mainstream perspective…. So it has its moments where it shines, but it’s never gone. I always just say rock is resting, and it’s just waiting for the fans.”

American Teeth – “SICK” (feat. DE’WAYNE and phem)

American Teeth, DE’WAYNE and phem have teamed up for the new track “SICK.” The driving musical accompaniment perfectly captures the song’s lyrics, which embrace all the bad habits we can’t seem to escape. Elijah Noll (aka American Teeth) spoke about the inspiration behind the track as well as the collaboration. “The song is a celebration of accepting my bad habits and owning myself fully,” Noll says. “We’re all a little ‘SICK,’ and that’s OK. This was my first collaboration with phem and DE’WAYNE—I’m a fan of both artists, so it was a lot of fun to work on this one together, along with [producer] Colin [Brittain].” DE’WAYNE, fresh off the release of his debut album, STAINS, also addressed his enthusiasm for the project. “American Teeth and phem already had such a great record,” he says. “And when they hit me for it, I just wanted to take it all the way home for them.”

Yvette Young interview

Known for her work with Covet as well as her accomplishments as a solo artist, Yvette Young is a thoughtful and visionary guitarist. While her guitar playing reflects her skill and dedication to the craft, she also brings an elegant and creative approach to all of her projects. Josh Madden spoke with Young about her journey as a musician, her beautiful painted guitar for WILLOW and her vision for her art. “For me, just the ability to spread the gospel and joy of playing music for the sake of self-expression,” Young says. “Maybe even you can branch out and say exploring your own identity, having, I guess, a productive outlet in this chaotic world. For me, if I can just help anyone with that, with their journey and inspire anyone to want to pick up a guitar, or want to play music or even have the courage to do something that maybe not a lot of people who look like them do, that’s all worth it.”

Erik Rojas interview

We’ve also published a discussion between yours truly and director Erik Rojas. After relocating to L.A. and breaking into the film industry, Rojas established himself as a major creative talent in the world of music videos. He has already collaborated with a number of artists, including Waterparks, Jessie J and Chase Atlantic. During our interview, Rojas recalled the first “mystical” moment when he shot an artist live in concert while still a student. From there, he walked us through his journey, which has led to bigger and more ambitious projects as well as deep creative friendships with a wide range of artists. He told us about his bold usage of color on Chase Atlantic’s “HEAVEN AND BACK,” what it was like to destroy a car with Waterparks and how he created a fun, community atmosphere on the set of Herizen’s “Troublemaker.”

The late Jerry Finn produced Sum 41, blink-182, MxPx and dozens of others in the early 2000s. Tom Lord-Alge mixed scene-defining tracks. Popular musicians often join in, using their influence to breathe life into young talents’ careers. 

Read more: 10 pop-punk artists we’d love to see live in the coming months

The pop-punk popularity spike we witnessed during the COVID-19 pandemic didn’t come without behind-the-scenes help. Here are 10 individuals supporting the genre while, mostly, staying out of the spotlight. 

Zakk Cervini

If a pop-punk album blew up over the past few years, Zakk Cervini probably produced it. He helped guide Poppy’s I Disagree, Waterparks’ Greatest Hits and All Time Low’s Wake Up, Sunshine. Plus, he’s worked with Bishop Briggs, blink-182 and dozens of others. Like Finn in the early 2000s, Cervini is pop punk’s behind-the-scenes MVP. 

Julia Michaels

With most producer, mixer and composer seats on pop-punk albums occupied by men, recording artist Julia Michaels provides a valuable perspective. She helped compose 5 Seconds Of Summer’s third record, Youngblood. She seems to be using her experience composing major pop hits to help alternative acts reach a global audience. Her own music is also really damn good. 

Avril Lavigne

Avril Lavigne utilizes her platform to boost her pop-punk peers’ profiles. She’s working with WILLOW on her new album, Lately I Feel Everything, and their duet “Grow” will potentially cement the young star’s immediate future as a pop-punker. No longer busting out multiplatinum radio hits, Lavigne polishes her shining legacy in other ways. 

Mike Kalajian

Born into a family of audiophiles, mixing and mastering must be in Mike Kalajian’s blood. His excellent work optimizing and balancing Hot Mulligan’s you’ll be fine turned the band into one of pop punk’s hottest acts. He also worked his magic on A Day To Remember’s You’re Welcome, Point North’s Brand New Vision and Silverstein’s A Beautiful Place To Drown. Each of these albums were released in the past 16 months. 

Nik Bruzzese

The Man Overboard singer found a second career producing young pop-punk talent from the The Gradwell House studio in New Jersey. Recent guests include Northvale and Goalkeeper, but the Nik Bruzzese tree is vast. In a pop-punk haven, countless East Coast bands flock to Haddon Heights to work with one of the genre’s best. 

Travis Barker 

When Travis Barker told Joe Rogan that he was working with some young artists in 2019, nobody could have predicted how many collaborations he’d actually put together. The list is almost comically long, including everyone from LILHUDDY and Maggie Lindemann to WILLOW and K.Flay. Still, Barker uses his immense talents and vast influence to mobilize a young pop-punk army. 

Seth Henderson 

Chicago is forever a pop-punk bedrock. Its culture of success grows because of guys like Seth Henderson. He helped State Champs, Real Friends and Knuckle Puck become major scene names. Now he’s helping to mold acts such as Action/Adventure. When you think contemporary Chicago pop punk, think Seth Henderson. 

Johnny Minardi 

Johnny Minardi is one of the masterminds at Elektra Music Group, home to Fueled By Ramen. As the vice president of A&R, he has an extensive amount of experience and undoubtedly helped shape the past, present and future of the genre. Minardi brought on acts such as Meet Me @ The Altar and chloe moriondo, and he signed grandson as well. He’s also worked with megastars Panic! At The Disco and assisted in cultivating that famous roster we all know and love. 

Allison Hagendorf

If you don’t know the name Allison Hagendorf, you’ve more than likely come across her work if you use Spotify. As the Head of Rock at the music streaming service, Hagendorf helps craft editorial playlists relating to the genre. Her picks help emerging artists gain more streams and fans, as well as share those bands and artists who may have escaped your radar from years past. She’s also preserving music history via her podcast Rock This, where she interviews music icons such as Brittany Howard and Joan Jett to Foo Fighters and LILHUDDY. With Hagendorf working at one of the world’s biggest streaming services, it’s fair to say we’re in good hands.

Billy Martin

Good Charlotte’s Billy Martin is known as an established guitar and keyboard player, and now he’s the producer behind tracks from artists such as boyband, Brandon Coleman, Lil Xan and more. Martin’s years of experience in pop punk allow him to help usher in the next wave of alternative music, blending multiple genres. In fact, the artist also worked with Mike Kinsella of American Football and boyband to merge classic and new elements of emo in “big face.”