Interview | With Confidence
The Pop Punk Artists on Warped Tour, Their Latest Album, and More!
"Different, exciting, new."
This is how pop punk band With Confidence describes their latest record, Love and Loathing, which was just released last week. They have spent their summer busy on the final Vans Warped Tour and working to promote this project all while proving that the pop punk scene is very much still alive. They spoke with Popdust about all of these projects and shared the artists that they have had the most fun performing alongside over the past few months.
How did you start making music together?
Honestly, it started with a drunken New Year's pact between friends. Josh and I were talking about jamming in his garage and we finally committed to something and were playing covers the next week!
Your music is pop punk, a genre that was super popular in the early 2000s. What do you think about what is happening in the genre today?
Honestly, I think it's great. It's really an amazing thing seeing a genre span decades, evolving and changing throughout them. There are a lot of really exciting bands bringing something new to the table.
You are originally from Australia. How do you think the music scene in the states compares to there?
I think the Australian scene is more tight-knit. We really only have 5 major cities to play whereas the states is vast. I think it makes for more interesting touring as the shows on the west coast differ so much from the ones on the east coast.
The last Vans Warped Tour is happening this summer and you guys have been performing there. Did Warped Tour have any influence on you guys growing up?
Josh brings this point up a lot, but we kind of watched Warped Tour from a distance in Australia. Because it was obviously so expensive to get over there for a show, we would just look at the lineup each year. In a way it dictated which new bands we would check out.
Who have been some of your favorite groups to perform with on the tour, and any other highlights you can share?
Oh man, it was an incredible summer. So much talent. We got a long with the Trash Boat boys a lot and I really respect the music they're putting out. A lot of heart in their songs, especially live. Shout-out to Tatiana DeMaria for her incredible songwriting, YUNGBLUD for his live energy, and State Champs for their consistent live show and flip cup skills.
You have a new album, Love and Loathing. What was the writing and recording process for the record like?
Different, exciting, new. We recorded this one with Mike Green in LA. Mike has a very efficient way of working and we experimented with a bunch of stuff. Think it translated into a more concise and summery album.
Your last album was in 2016. What did you learn from its recording that influenced this record?
I think we learnt how to write an album. Writing your first album is really scary and I think we just tried to write a bunch of good songs. Coming back this second time with more experience, there's more of an understanding of how to write an album, rather than just songs.
Have any of you got favorite tracks off the record?
For me personally I love a track called Tails. Something different for us musically and for me lyrically. One of those songs that I was surprised by after it went through the process. I know the boys really love Icarus.
What is coming up after the album release for you guys?
Touring!! Incredibly excited to announce a bunch of dates soon and play these songs around the world.
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Rachel A.G. Gilman is a writer, a former radio producer, and probably the girl wearing the Kinks shirt. Visit her website for more.
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