Bringin' it Backwards

We had the pleasure of interviewing Asking Alexandria over Zoom video! Since 2008, Asking Alexandria, formed and based in the U.K., have paved a path of their own, distilling danger and excess into an equally dangerous hybrid of stadium rock ambition, metallic energy, and electronic ecstasy. Against all odds, they achieved unprecedented success earmarked by two gold-certified singles (namely, "Final Episode (Let's Change The Channel)" and "Not The American Average"), over a billion cumulative streams and views, and three consecutive top 10 debuts on the Billboard Top 200—Reckless & Relentless [2011], From Death to Destiny [2013], and The Black [2016]. In addition to headlining packed gigs on five continents, they destroyed stages alongside Guns N' Roses, Green Day, Avenged Sevenfold, Alice In Chains and Slipknot, to name a few. Meanwhile, 2017's self-titled Asking Alexandria spawned two of the group's biggest singles to date: "Alone In A Room" (40 million Spotify streams) and "Into the Fire" (30 million Spotify streams). The quintet—Ben Bruce [guitar, backing vocals], Danny Worsnop [lead vocals], James Cassells [drums], Cameron Liddell [guitar], and Sam Bettley [bass]— saw their first-ever #1 at U.S. radio with the single "Alone Again," taken from their latest critically acclaimed album See What's On The Inside and a second Top 10 single "Never Gonna Learn" (#6). The band were also featured on the soundtrack for Better Noise Film's 2022 horror-thriller The Retaliators with the track "Faded Out (feat. Within Temptation)," and on the collaborative theme song "The Retaliators Theme (21 Bullets)" alongside Motley Crue, Ice Nine Kills and From Ashes to New. Worsnop also appeared as a guest on Hyro The Hero's "Who's That Playing On The Radio" in addition to Mick Mars. Asking Alexandria recently released their new track "Dark Void" via Better Noise Music. The band will be touring Europe throughout June and will appear at three U.S. rock festivals in July Rock Fest, Inkcarceration Festival, and Louder Than Life. ASKING ALEXANDRIA are currently offering a once-in-a-lifetime experience to shadow the band on tour for a day, including a guitar tech session with BRUCE where the winner will also get to take home the signed guitar, as part of Better Noise Music's "Fan Love Sweepstakes" fundraiser supporting Sweet Relief Musicians Fund's "Music's Mental Health Fund." The grand prize winner and a guest will receive airfare and a two-night hotel stay to attend the concert, plus they'll receive a pair of VIP tickets to a future ASKING ALEXANDRIA show of their choice (subject to venue availability). See eligibility requirements and enter to win at fandiem.com/fanlove before June 30 at 11:59 P.M. Pacific Time We want to hear from you! Please email Hello@BringinitBackwards.com. www.BringinitBackwards.com #podcast #interview #bringinbackpod #AskingAlexandria #DarkVoid #NewMusic #Zoom Listen & Subscribe to BiB https://www.bringinitbackwards.com/follow/ Follow our podcast on Instagram and Twitter! https://www.facebook.com/groups/bringinbackpod Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/bringin-it-backwards--4972373/support. https://bringinitbackwards.com/

We had the pleasure of interviewing Moon Taxi over Zoom video! Nashville-based indie/alt band Moon Taxi have released their highly-anticipated 6th studio album Set Yourself Free, available to stream now on all DSPs worldwide. Later this summer, the band will begin their Set Yourself Free tour - a 3 month US run with support from The Stews including stops in Atlanta, Nashville, Boston, Cleveland, and many others. Once again ready to push the boundaries of their genre, Nashville-based indie alt-rock band Moon Taxi is back with their sixth full-length album, Set Yourself Free. With tracks ranging from rock to synth to pop to bluegrass, the new lineup showcases what 15 years as a band gets you: a polished, classic sound without fear of exploration. The five-member group- vocalist/guitarist Trevor Terndrup, lead guitarist Spencer Thomson, bassist Tommy Putnam, keyboardist Wes Bailey, and drummer Tyler Ritter - stepped back into their roots to create an album primarily written and recorded by themselves and set for release on their own label, 12th South Records. "It was really rewarding for each of us. The last record had quite a few co-writes- this record did not. We challenged ourselves to write most of the material on our own and that's really something to hang your hat on these days when you typically hire an outside writer or producer," said Bailey on the band's creative process. "We really tried to look inward and do a lot of that on our own." Remote collaboration on Set Yourself Free started for the group during the pandemic, but 15 years of working together made that transition a smooth one. "During the pandemic, we got used to FaceTime songwriting. For better or worse, it's been a great way for everyone to collaborate remotely. The lyrics for the title track, "Set Yourself Free," were even written on a 5-way call. And the song shows that collaborative color throughout. "The idea of falling back on someone you trust is so important nowadays. But truly it's how we've tried to operate as a band for all these years," said Terndrup. The album was finished through work in a few Nashville studios with the help of producer and collaborator, Brennan Aerts. Despite a more fragmented process, the band regards Set Yourself Free as more reminiscent of their early work, citing it as fresh and exciting. Ritter believes they have a fan favorite on their hands - something that will re-energize the old fan base as well as draw in new listeners. Without a set sound in mind, the group was free to mold the record into what feels like an authentic Moon Taxi album. With five previous albums under their belt, Moon Taxi had, and took, the opportunity to think outside the box and make some reaches, both musically and lyrically. "I think a lot of that freedom comes with having done it for a long time and on album number six, you're no longer trying to find your sound like you are in earlier albums. You can kind of do what you want and then objectively look at it towards the end," said Putnam. "You just trust yourself and your ear." Set Yourself Free showcases the skill of a fully developed and practiced group of musicians. Free from the barriers of genre and self-definition, Moon Taxi presents a fresh and bold take on their sound. We want to hear from you! Please email Hello@BringinitBackwards.com. www.BringinitBackwards.com #podcast #interview #bringinbackpod #MoonTaxi #SetYourselfFree #TwoHigh #NewMusic #Zoom Listen & Subscribe to BiB https://www.bringinitbackwards.com/follow/ Follow our podcast on Instagram and Twitter! https://www.facebook.com/groups/bringinbackpod Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/bringin-it-backwards--4972373/support. https://bringinitbackwards.com/

We had the pleasure of interviewing Handsome Ghost over Zoom video! Massachusetts duo Handsome Ghost announced their third full-length self-titled album out August 25th via Nettwerk. The announcement arrives with their new single "Like You Lost Your Mind" along with a music video directed by Nick Noyes. Handsome Ghost's forthcoming album Handsome Ghost further cements the band in the alternative/indie space and is a beautiful body of work true to their authentic sound. At the same token, it's their most personally revealing album to date. The collection of songs touch upon the past, the good old days, the perennial ups and downs of not only being a musician but the trials and tribulations of adulthood. The record was born out of the pandemic, but its themes are universal and explore temporary happiness, fate, feeling out of sync, and mores crazy to do so."​​ Handsome Ghost released a trio of 2022 singles including "Figure 8," "Heaven Isn't Long For You," and "Neptune." "Figure 8" is a darker effort from the band about a fictional day with Elliot Smith and pays homage to the artist's final full-length album of the same name. The dark lyrics and 90s-style electric guitar underpin the moody feeling of the track. "Heaven Isn't Long For You," which was accompanied by Nolan Englund's directed music video, sets the tone with a delicate twang, layers of mandolin tracks, and acoustic and electric guitars that are perfectly tailored for a campfire sing along. On the narrative home front, "Heaven Isn't Long For You" bleeds into a diaristic tone, lyrics woven with the idea of an idyllic habitat that seems so close yet couldn't be further away. Handsome Ghost reemerged in late last summer with the release of "Neptune." Powered by clean guitars, hushed vocals, and a plush ambience, the recent offering is sonically pieced together seamlessly and effectively. While intricately crafted arrangements and peaceful textures contribute to the song's alluring grasp, its lyricist Tim Noyes' delicate portrait of an enigmatic woman that keeps you sticking around. We want to hear from you! Please email Hello@BringinitBackwards.com. www.BringinitBackwards.com #podcast #interview #bringinbackpod #HandsomeGhost #NewMusic #Zoom Listen & Subscribe to BiB https://www.bringinitbackwards.com/follow/ Follow our podcast on Instagram and Twitter! https://www.facebook.com/groups/bringinbackpod Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/bringin-it-backwards--4972373/support. https://bringinitbackwards.com/

We had the pleasure of interviewing Reverend & The Makers over Zoom video! The Reverend's story is one of the great survival stories of the music industry as charisma, talent, defiance and sheer willpower. Jon is The Godfather to numerous northern bands coming through and was even labeled a guiding light to Arctic Monkeys frontman Alex Turner during their early years. Jeremy Corbyn has introduced them onto stage and is a firm friend (he was also at their sold out show at Islington Academy). With the recent release of their 7th studio album, Rev have fought back through adversity and are one of the great survivors of the British music scene. The bands recent single 'Heatwave In The Cold North', a hazy, sun-drenched Barry White-inspired soul bop, has become their biggest hit in over a decade - Radio 2 A-list, Record of the Week and a top 40 airplay hit. We want to hear from you! Please email Hello@BringinitBackwards.com. www.BringinitBackwards.com #podcast #interview #bringinbackpod #ReverendandTheMakers #ReverendJonMcClure #JonMcClure #HeatwaveInTheColdNorth #NewMusic #Zoom Listen & Subscribe to BiB https://www.bringinitbackwards.com/follow/ Follow our podcast on Instagram and Twitter! https://www.facebook.com/groups/bringinbackpod Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/bringin-it-backwards--4972373/support. https://bringinitbackwards.com/

We had the pleasure of interviewing Sam Haft over Zoom video! Platinum-certified artist and songwriter Sam Haft woke up and chose violence on his new single "Grow Up" featuring CG5. This is the first track from Sam's forthcoming electronic-pop EP Bad Times, due July 14. The bass-heavy track is accompanied by a grungey video from Emmy-nominated horror director Roxy Shih that follows a frustrated Haft looking for some sort of escape from his personal tensions – and finding that release in bullying some hapless high-schoolers in an over-the-top game of laser tag. As the song progresses, the synth continues to add to the lyrical layers, hinting towards an emotional release, as CG5 desperately cries out in the hook, as though in the midst of an argument, "I need— I need you to calm down for a minute!" About the song, Haft states, "Grow Up is a song about a fight between a couple who lack the courage to speak the unspoken: their relationship is on borrowed time. It's composed over a galloping triplet bassline that doesn't allow the listener to relax. The verse frantically narrates the spiral of tension and trauma." Vocalist CG5's involvement in "Grow Up" added an additional coat of intensity. "Getting to know Sam Haft has been a treat. He is a man with many aspirations in music, and that shows in this song, with its very unique alternative electronic sound," CG5 stated on collaborating with Haft. "He sent me the idea, and I was very excited to try this very different style of singing from what I usually do. I've never been so aggressive in a song, but here we are, and I think it translated well for the final product. I am grateful to give my feature to the lovely Sam Haft on this excellent new song." Haft added, "From the moment I wrote this song, I was certain I wanted to feature CG5. It needed a tenor who could sing with an intensity that I know Charlie brings to every song he touches. He's a pleasure to work with, and may be the only person I know who loves working as much as I do!" Sam Haft is a platinum-certified artist/singer/songwriter best known for his band The Living Tombstone, which NME dubbed as "the Internet's biggest gaming band." The Living Tombstone have over 25 billion global streams to their name and their original song "My Ordinary Life" is now RIAA-certified platinum. On top of his musical involvements, Haft is also a voiceover artist in some cartoons and iconic anime properties, and a writer-director whose shorts have been featured in AV Club amongst others. With the release of "Grow Up" and much more exciting news on the horizon, Sam Haft is turning his Bad Times around! We want to hear from you! Please email Hello@BringinitBackwards.com. www.BringinitBackwards.com #podcast #interview #bringinbackpod #SamHaft #GrowUp #BadTimes #NewMusic #Zoom Listen & Subscribe to BiB https://www.bringinitbackwards.com/follow/ Follow our podcast on Instagram and Twitter! https://www.facebook.com/groups/bringinbackpod Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/bringin-it-backwards--4972373/support. https://bringinitbackwards.com/

We had the pleasure of interviewing grentperez over Zoom video! Multi-genre pop crooner grentperez releases his highly anticipated EP, When We Were Younger, via Fast Friends & AWAL. Driven by grentperez's nostalgia for his childhood, When We Were Younger blends the 21-year-old singer-songwriter's signature bossa nova with sonic staples of the 90s, transporting listeners back in time. With sparkles of the swelling strings of golden-era Hollywood, as well as clear influence from the scores of rom-coms, his production mirrors his lyrical longing for the past, but told through the lens of the seasoned storyteller and musician he is today, awakening long-dormant memories while simultaneously providing a soundtrack for new ones. As the E.P. begins, it's like when The Wizard Of Oz goes from black-and-white to color: the intuitive and unexpected sonic detours throughout When We Were Younger are what make grentperez's breezy pop songs feel full of life. Just take the leading single, "When The Day Is Done:" critics continue to compare their listening experience to sunshine and synesthesia, having called it a "kaleidoscopic assortment of sunny funk-fueled sounds," (Ones To Watch), "a sun-soaked celebration of love" and an "intoxicating, irresistible smile-inducing soundtrack," (Atwood Magazine). And his artistry extends beyond his musical gifts: grentperez has an eye for design. The 21-year-old sketched covers for the leading singles, "When The Day Is Done," "Us Without Me," and "Old With You," and used his director's knack for world building in crafting the visualizers for "Old With You" and "Us Without Me." Grentperez's tour of North America kicked off this week at New York City's iconic venue, Mercury Lounge, and future shows see him singing to sold out audiences across Los Angeles and San Francisco. Later this summer, grentperez will join Cavetown, mxmtoon & Ricky Montgomery on the Bittersweet Daze tour, and in the fall, the crooner will set off on his biggest tour to date, spanning 20+ days across North America and Europe. About grentperez: 21-year-old Australian musician grentperez is unapologetically a Gen-Z artist with an old soul. Having first found his audience on YouTube strumming guitar, singing covers and original songs, he's blossomed into an unlikely star: an unassuming and unpretentious artist inspired by the music played at family karaoke parties, as well as vintage bossa nova and modern R&B. The young songwriter is a full-fledged artist, and he's got the following to prove it: With over 250 million listens on streaming platforms, a multi-continental touring resume, and notable support from tastemakers including Triple J, NPR Music, MTV, KCRW, DIY, Wonderland, and The Line of Best Fit, grentperez is on the precipice of something big. We want to hear from you! Please email Hello@BringinitBackwards.com. www.BringinitBackwards.com #podcast #interview #bringinbackpod #grentperez #WhenWeWereYounger #NewMusic #Zoom Listen & Subscribe to BiB https://www.bringinitbackwards.com/follow/ Follow our podcast on Instagram and Twitter! https://www.facebook.com/groups/bringinbackpod Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/bringin-it-backwards--4972373/support. https://bringinitbackwards.com/

We had the pleasure of interviewing Donna Missal over Zoom video! In the summer of 2022, Donna Missal was disoriented to find herself living out of her car and on friends' couches in Los Angeles, questioning whether she could continue – financially and emotionally – to make music. In the past five years, she had collected tens of millions of streams across platforms, cultivated a passionate fan base for her heartfelt songwriting, played festivals from Bonnaroo to Bottle Rock, and toured with high-profile artists including Lewis Capaldi, CHVRCHES, and King Princess. Rolling Stone calls her music "stunning", and Billboard has hailed her "drop kick of a vocal." But still, Missal was struggling. Working through the pain, she found refuge in the creative process, digging deep into her beliefs about safety and satisfaction. Missal had started out as a songwriter and backing artist, collaborating with artists like Tinashe, Sharon Van Etten, Macklemore, and Lee Fields, and landing a publishing contract in her early 20s. After what The Guardian called the "strident queer torch songs" of 2020s Lighter, Missal became a sought-out vocalist, tapped to contribute a cover of Cigarettes After Sex's "Nothing's Gonna Hurt You Baby" for the Oscar-winning film Promising Young Woman. In the confines of the early pandemic, Missal dove into bedroom pop recordings, using her powerful voice in a quieter way to avoid disturbing her neighbors. She showcased this spare and sexy homespun electronica on 2022's in the mirror, in the night EP, which was executive produced by Sega Bodega (FKA Twigs, Caroline Polachek). We want to hear from you! Please email Hello@BringinitBackwards.com. www.BringinitBackwards.com #podcast #interview #bringinbackpod #DonnaMissal #Revel #NewMusic #Zoom Listen & Subscribe to BiB https://www.bringinitbackwards.com/follow/ Follow our podcast on Instagram and Twitter! https://www.facebook.com/groups/bringinbackpod Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/bringin-it-backwards--4972373/support. https://bringinitbackwards.com/

We had the pleasure of interviewing Story Of The Year over Zoom video! Story Of The Year has recently released their long-awaited sixth studio album Tear Me To Pieces, via SharpTone Records. Featuring eleven new tracks – including previous singles "Real Life," "Tear Me To Pieces," "Take The Ride," "War," and "2005" – the new album is distinctly, invitingly, loudly Story Of The Year. Heartache, desperation, motivation, toxic relationships, pain, loss, anger - all of the essential ingredients of the classic Story Of The Year sound propel Tear Me to Pieces in dazzling new ways. "I think this album will be a defining moment in our career," says guitarist Ryan Phillips. "When our fans hear it, they'll be like, 'Oh, shit, these dudes are ready to go!' This is the sound of a band putting everything into it. If a new band came out with this album, I'd be texting everyone in my band about it." Fans can stream Tear Me To Pieces now at https://bfan.link/tear-me-to-pieces-3 "Afterglow is one of the most meaningful songs on the record for me. It's basically a letter to my kids. It's a song about how no matter how dark things might get, they will always be my light. They are the 'perfect afterglow,'" says vocalist Dan Marsala. "The line "I can barely feel the pain when I'm staring at you" was one of the first lines written for the record. It kind of set the tone for how personal I wanted the lyrics to be on this record. I'm still one of the most meaningful and deepest lyrics I've ever written." We want to hear from you! Please email Hello@BringinitBackwards.com. www.BringinitBackwards.com #podcast #interview #bringinbackpod #StoryOfTheYear #SOTY #TearMeToPieces #NewMusic #Zoom Listen & Subscribe to BiB https://www.bringinitbackwards.com/follow/ Follow our podcast on Instagram and Twitter! https://www.facebook.com/groups/bringinbackpod Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/bringin-it-backwards--4972373/support. https://bringinitbackwards.com/

We had the pleasure of interviewing Shaun Farrugia over Zoom video! Rising artist and songwriter Shaun Farrugia recently released his long awaited debut EP 'Heaven Like Mine' via Polydor. 'Heaven Like Mine' is tinged with emotion that's both elevating yet deeply poignant, and continues to showcase the rising star's effortlessly rich and raspy vocals against a backdrop of alt-pop goodness. Lined five tracks deep, the EP is delicately furnished with themes surrounding love, acceptance and modern day anxieties. Featuring previous singles 'Dear God' and 'Count On You', title track 'Heaven Like Mine' is abundant with uplifting folk inspired acoustics, which transitions seamlessly into the ethereal 'Recognise Me' - leading to the beautifully climatic final track 'Vertigo'. Quickly emerging as a frequenter on BBC Radio 1 including multiple plays from Jack Saunders and Maia Beth on BBC Radio 1's Future Pop, bringing Shaun's catalogue to 30 million streams to date. His previous cover of The Weeknd's Billboard Chart topping #1 hit Blinding Lights flew straight to #1 on the Shazam Discovery Charts, after featuring on Love Island, the biggest reaction to any song in the latest season of the show. The 26-year-old Maltese native dropped his life on the island to fly to London in 2019, quit his job, sell everything he owned and showed up on the doorstep of Sigala after being invited to come and meet the producer during an Instagram Live. The gamble paid off, Shaun was quickly snapped up by Polydor. As a regular guy doing extraordinary things Shaun scores high on the likability scale, but he manages to balance his modest nature with an ambition that's hard to ignore — and is right there in his extraordinary songwriting. From Shaun's early songwriting credits for artists as diverse as Mimi Webb ('I'll Break My Heart Again') and The Script ('Hot Summer Nights'), to two collaborations with the likes of renowned DJ Martin Garrix ('Starlight 'Keep Me Afloat'' and 'If We'll Ever Be Remembered'), to co-signs from some of the biggest tunesmiths in the business, and at the start of 2022 hitting a brand new milestone with Sigala's top 40 record 'Melody'. Over the summer of 2022, Shaun made his live performance debut at MTV's Isle of MTV in his home of Malta on July 19th, joining Marshmello, French Montana and Mae Muller on the lineup. With more music set for release over the coming months, this gifted lyricist and superstar-in-the-making is already on his way to become one of the most exciting prospects this year. Definitely one-to-watch. We want to hear from you! Please email Hello@BringinitBackwards.com. www.BringinitBackwards.com #podcast #interview #bringinbackpod #ShaunFarrugia #HeavenLikeMine #NewMusic #Zoom Listen & Subscribe to BiB https://www.bringinitbackwards.com/follow/ Follow our podcast on Instagram and Twitter! https://www.facebook.com/groups/bringinbackpod Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/bringin-it-backwards--4972373/support. https://bringinitbackwards.com/

We had the pleasure of interviewing The Ongoing Concept over Zoom video! We The band — brothers Dawson Scholz [vocals, guitar], Kyle Scholz [vocals, keys, percussion], and Parker Scholz [drums] along with TJ Nichols [vocals, bass], and Andy Crateau [vocals, guitar] — have released their fourth album Again, out via Solid State Records. Not only is this the first taste of new music from the band since 2017 but it also marks the return of the original lineup. "'Unwanted Again' was one of our favorites to write and record," states Dawson. "Being fans of bands like Cory Wong, Dirty Loops, Don Broco, and Vulfpeck, we found ourselves incorporating a lot of groovy elements to this album, and this song really showcases that. It was also fun to bounce vocals back between TJ and I. For longtime fans of our band, we added some subtle references to our song 'Unwanted'; not only in the song, but in the music video as well. Being our second single and coming after a heavy hitter like 'Prisoner Again,' I think this song showcases the variety we put into this album." The Ongoing Concept emerged with the now-seminal Saloon back in 2013. On its heels, fan favorite Handmade bowed in the Top 10 of the Billboard Top Hard Rock Albums Chart and Top Christian Albums Chart in addition to cracking the Top 30 of the Top Independent Albums Chart. In its wake, Kyle, Parker, and TJ departed, leaving Dawson as the sole original member for Places in 2017. As The Ongoing Concept went dormant, the group's catalog continued to react with listeners as the likes of "Cover Girl" clocked over a million Spotify streams and counting. After a period of quiet, communication mended between Dawson and his brothers Kyle and Parker. Between careers, marriages, and kids, they kicked around the idea of playing together once more."We'd been playing music since we were six-years-old," notes Dawson. "We lived and breathed the same band together. It's crazy, because I didn't know my brothers outside of music. Taking a break for a few years, we found who we were as normal people and embraced other interests. It was super healthy for all of us. One day, we were hanging out, and I said, 'You know I've been working on some little skeletons for songs,' and it made sense. The only reason we got back together was because we had our time apart." They self-produced Again and took their time. The Ongoing Concept integrated "lyrics and Easter Eggs" from previous albums into the record's framework, embodying the title quite literally. We want to hear from you! Please email Hello@BringinitBackwards.com. www.BringinitBackwards.com #podcast #interview #bringinbackpod #TheOngoingConcept #NewMusic #Zoom Listen & Subscribe to BiB https://www.bringinitbackwards.com/follow/ Follow our podcast on Instagram and Twitter! https://www.facebook.com/groups/bringinbackpod Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/bringin-it-backwards--4972373/support. https://bringinitbackwards.com/