Band Of The Week #109 - Beach Bunny
This week’s Band Of The Week is Chicago based Beach Bunny, who have the just released their debut album ‘Honeymoon’. The album is their first full project with label Mom + Pop. The band took a moment to talk to us about relationships, Coachella and how the album came together.
So here we are, the debut is out, how does it feel?
I am so grateful for the opportunity to finally release an album and the boys and I couldn’t be happier that it’s finally out. We’ve been sitting on the record for over nine months and it’s a wonderful feeling getting to show the world the final product. I am very proud of everyone on my team for all the hard work they’ve put in and especially for my band for being my second family and turning my emotions into something audible. It feels very surreal. We’re all so excited for everything that’s to come.
It is the first project you have released with Mom+Pop, how did that come about? Your previous four releases have been self released, so what made you take the jump to a label?
Yes, this is the first project released under a label. We recorded without any intention of signing and were planning to self-release but Mom+Pop came into the picture over summer and were extremely artist friendly with their terms so it felt like the right time to sign, given that the contract was everything we would’ve wanted from a label to begin with. As someone who is very protective of their art, I'm so happy we found a label that deeply cares about the artist and the creative aspects of music. We would never want to compromise the integrity of our art for financial success.
The album was recorded at Electric Audio with producer Joe Reinhart, who has worked with the likes of Modern Baseball, Hop Along and more, how was that experience?
Joe Reinhart is an amazing, kind, humble, extremely talented, wonderful man. He made the recording process so easy despite the long hours and moments of frustration that typically arise in studio sessions. He always respected our decisions and gave helpful feedback and suggestions without stepping on anyone’s toes. We would love to continue working with him and would recommend him to anyone trying to make an album. He’s a real gem.
Any behind the scenes stories from the recording process that you are happy to share with us?
The recording process lined up with the end of the school year for Matt, Tony, and I so we were all trying to keep on track of classes while also trying to record hits. It was a very chaotic time. I also was going through a breakup a few weeks prior to making the record so all the feels were definitely there in the studio. In a way I think having dealt with those emotions while recording probably helped the songs come out the most authentically as far as singing goes and it was therapeutic to me. We also briefly saw the legend himself, Steve Albini, who walked in on Matt playing Wii Bowling and gave him a little head nod which was a pretty iconic moment from the whole session.
What are the key themes of the album? And what sort of message are you trying to put out to your fans?
The key themes of the album are the emotions experienced during the entering and exiting of the honeymoon stage in a relationship. It could also be interpreted as a breakup or getting back together album depending how you listen to it. I tried to cover a wide range of emotions from doubt, frustration, and jealousy, to love, acceptance, and joy. It’s up to the audience how they choose to interpret the lyrics and apply them to their own experiences. I wrote this album for myself and the emotions I was dealing with at one point in my life. Hopefully people can relate to what I was going through and it can help them in some way get through what they’re going through.
Do you have a favorite lyric on the album? If so, what is it and why?
I really love all the lyrics on the song “racetrack” because It sounds like a sad lullaby and I like how the rhythm of the keys and the melody of the voice complement each other. I also like how it uses lots of metaphors and has a very cohesive theme throughout.
Now the album is out there, what next? What are your plans for the next few months?
Next comes tour! We’re playing Coachella this year as well as a few other fests and we’re also traveling overseas to do our first tour over there which is super exciting. We’re Absolutely thrilled about it. After that i’m sure we’ll continue to record new material. We’re all excited for the future.
Beach Bunny 2020 Tour:
16th Feb - Madison, WI - High Noon Saloon (rescheduled) SOLD OUT
22nd Feb - Chicago, IL - Metro ~ SOLD OUT
28th Feb - Austin, TX - Barracuda * SOLD OUT
29th Feb - Houston, TX - The Secret Group *
1st March - Dallas, TX - Club Dada * SOLD OUT
3rd March- Phoenix, AZ - The Rebel Lounge * SOLD OUT
4th March - Los Angeles, CA - The Roxy Theatre * SOLD OUT
5th March - San Diego, CA - Che Cafe * SOLD OUT
6th March - Los Angeles, CA - The Roxy Theatre * SOLD OUT
7th March- San Francisco, CA - Great American Music Hall * SOLD OUT
9th March - Portland, OR - Aladdin Theater * SOLD OUT
10th March- Seattle, WA - The Vera Project * SOLD OUT
12th March - Salt Lake City, UT - Kilby Court * SOLD OUT
13th March - Denver, CO - Lost Lake * SOLD OUT
14th March - Denver, CO - Globe Hall* SOLD OUT
27th March - Washington, DC - Rock & Roll Hotel ^ SOLD OUT
28th March - Philadelphia, PA - First Unitarian Church ^ SOLD OUT
29th March - Boston, MA - Paradise ^ SOLD OUT
31st March - Brooklyn, NY - Music Hall of Williamsburg ^ SOLD OUT
1st April - Brooklyn, NY - Music Hall of Williamsburg ^ SOLD OUT
10th April - Indio, CA - Coachella Music & Arts Festival SOLD OUT
17th April - Indio, CA - Coachella Music & Arts Festival SOLD OUT
1st – 3rd May - Atlanta, GA - Shaky Knees
3th May – Orlando, FL – Soundbar +
5th May – Asheville, NC – The Mothlight +
6th May – Newport, KY – The Southgate House Revival +
4th – 7th June – Barcelona, ES - Primavera
7th June - Glasgow, UK – Stereo ~
8th June - Manchester, UK – YES ~
10th June - London, UK – The Dome ~
11th June - Paris, FR - Le Pop Up Du Label
13th June - Hilvarenbeek, NL - Best Kept Secret
15th June - Berlin, DE - Badehaus Szimpla
~ w/ Field Medic opening
* w/ Field Medic + Indigo De Souza opening
^ w/ Slow Pulp + MICHELLE opening
+ w/ Miloe