You’re the Worst - Sound In The Signals Interview
 |
| 📸 @diegoandinophotography |
I recently had the opportunity to interview You’re the Worst. We discussed their new song “Shelley Ave”, what to expect from their upcoming album, lyrical inspiration, and more. Check it out below.
First, thanks for the interview.
No way, thank YOU! Sound in the Signals was the first site/blog/reviewer that gave YTW a listen when we started a few years back so it is an absolute PLEASURE to go through this with you again!
You recently released your new single “Shelley Ave”. Can you tell me about writing that song?
I sure can! Big picture, the song is about being forced to leave what you considered home. You can reminisce, you can argue your point to stay, and you can reflect on everything all you want but if you're unwanted somewhere, you kinda just have to suck it up and move on. Musically, Fall of Troy, In Angles, and Protest the Hero are some of my biggest influences so writing this super fun and noodle-y chorus riff was kind of inevitable. Also having our super dynamic other guitarist, Jared, fill the song out with all his twinkle-y leads was beyond anything I could have ever asked from this song.
The song is the first single from your upcoming album ‘Restraint Collapse”. What can you tell me about the album so far?
I've honestly always struggled promoting the music I'm a part of because in a way, you have to promote yourself. Not only have I never been more proud of anything I've ever written, but I am so beyond proud of myself for this final product and I cannot wait for everyone to hear these songs. Everything is so methodically approached, layered, and executed musically. Lyrically, these YTW songs still deliver the same depressing punch as the old songs but they've evolved in a way that feels more poetic, well-articulated, and darker overall. If you took "War All the Time" by Thursday, added some musical aspects from "Manipulator" by Fall of Troy, traded for some of the dark and ugly from The Used's Self Titled, and then pretended to be "I'll Keep You in Mind From Time to Time" by Moose Blood, I feel like you'd end up with Restraint Collapse.
I saw where you said this is a longer album at 16 songs. How did you decide the sequencing of it?
Ha! Yeah, I know how big an ask that is from today's average music listener. I've always loved albums and the ideology of an album as a whole, so there was no way we weren't putting out an album. It did cross my mind to do two or three separate EPs and theme them under the guise of one larger release but idk, it just didn't make sense. To be fair, three of the songs on this album are "albumscaping" which I'm honestly really pumped on. They're definitely silly but like, why wouldn't you want the listener to know a bit more about you? Did I write and record a whole verse and chorus of a rap song called "You're the Worst" as a just for fun track on the album? You bet your sweet ass I did. My vision in sequencing was majority based on how everything felt flowing into one another. Peaks and valleys, braking and throttling throughout. Starting with energy, ending with an acoustic song flowing into the final tracking being the closest to a ballade we'll ever come to making. 3 features throughout the album as well. I just can't emphasize how excited I am for this album!
What are some of the themes you’re tackling lyrically on this new album? How did they come together?
Outside of Shelley, I wrote about a bunch of really personal stuff that was crushing me at the time. Mourning the loss of my dog even though he's presumably still alive, realizing in hindsight the exact moment I knew my marriage was over but didn't want to believe or listen to it, recalling a dream as someone who rarely dreams (or rarely remembers them) and it hurting less while awake, the few months time where I was homeless and navigating that situation, overall mental health through the lens of fighting off suicide every day and then the opposite of continually growing to be the best version of myself for myself and loved one, and my personal favorite, my loving partner who has supported me unwaiveringly through all the above and more.
I don't think I've ever experienced such satisfaction with my writing. Historically, I end up with a lot of rewrites or overall second guessing the content or the literal verbiage itself. 98% of these songs just kinda spewed out of me and I really only had to adjust things based on syncopation or what felt like it flowed naturally. I'll echo the sentiment from earlier, I am just so over the moon excited for these songs and couldn't be happier with them!
Can you tell us more about the meaning behind the album title?
I'm happy to create a little awareness on this! The term "Restraint Collapse" is common among folks on the Autism spectrum and is ultimately when someone has an emotional release or breakdown upon returning to their safe space after a period of time's worth of masking, suppressing feelings, and conforming to the societal norms perceived in their day-to-day life. For example, when an autistic kid returns home from school and throws a tantrum with many heightened emotions or when an autistic adult returns home from work and completely shuts down or goes to the gym and has a complete emotional breakdown. I learned as an adult that I'm on the spectrum and that nearly all of my defiance, unproportionate and dysregulated emotions, and other unusual and seemingly required emotional needs I had and still have were all at home, away from my friends and the public. I felt like this album is my "restraint collapse" in a way. All of those very difficult things were channelled into these songs and it allowed me to name that outlet accordingly.
Do you have a favorite song or musical moment from the album you’re excited for listeners to hear? Why?
I do! The bridge in Perd Hapley is, in my eyes, the most emotional part of the whole record. Some folks may find it a bit cheesy but it's a spoken word part and it just randomly evoked this visceral reaction whilst recording it and when I was done, I just started bawling my eyes out. I've written about a lot of sad things that have at times been tough to record but I've never had an emotional response like that. My voice flutters a few times in the recording and the whole thing is a bit shaky but I left it as is because I was never going to recreate something that raw again.
Can we expect a physical release for the album such as vinyl, CDs, or cassettes?
I would LOVE to but I'm going to gauge the initial response to the release before I do anything. It would probably be a Cassette pre-order if anything just because of how cool they are but I've already gone bankrupt once haha..
Thanks for taking the time to answer the questions. Do you have anything else that you want to add?
Yes, two things!
1.) F*CK. A.I. Every ounce of this record was handmade. Every ounce of this record was intentionally crafted and absolutely packed with human emotion. We DO NOT condone the use of AI and we HEAVILY DO NOT f*ck with anyone utilizing it. PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE do not use A.I. for the things that are in your control.
2.) If you're reading this, I encourage you to get off your phone more than you are now. You don't have to be a nature lover but go outside and breathe and really be present with that breath. We as humans have never been more disconnected from our bodies and ourselves as a whole and I encourage you to really discover the best parts of yourself, the parts that make you human. Please create art in any human way possible. Please look inwards and really discover the parts of you that could use a little or a lot of growth and act on it. Talk with your friends/family/neighbors about things that feel uncomfortable. We cannot grow without a little discomfort.
3.) THREE THINGS ACTUALLY! If you have supported or continue to support and listen to this band, I will never be able to thank you enough. It is the most rewarding and fulfilling thing for me to have that kind of support and I am just so endlessly grateful. Thank you!
Follow You’re the Worst:
Follow Sound In The Signals:
No comments: