In Conversation With #213 - THICK
Brooklyn pop-flecked punk trio THICK have just released their new album ‘Happy Now’ via Epitaph.
Kicking off with a glorious bang, ‘Happy Now’ opens on the frenetic urgency of ‘Happiness’: a dizzying yet incisive track that sets THICK’s self-reflection to a fantastically breakneck rhythm. “That song’s about the different ways we seek validation, and how whether you look for it externally or internally, it’s never an easy process,” says Black. “In the end, it’s about being more aware of where we’re trying to find happiness.” With its brilliant back-and-forth between riotous shouting and impossibly sweet harmonies, ‘Loser’ arrives as a thrilling celebration of hopeless imperfection, cleverly twisting its closing lyric into an unlikely mantra (“I’ll always be a loser”). “Especially in music, it’s so easy to feel like a loser and a fuck-up,” says Page. “We want people to know that it’s okay to mess up and that everyone’s a loser sometimes. It’s really the best way to live, instead of trying to be number-one all the time.” And on ‘Tell Myself,’ ‘Happy Now’ slips into a wistful mood as THICK tenderly impart insight to their younger selves.
True to the egalitarian spirit of the band, THICK take a highly collaborative approach to their songwriting without ever sacrificing the intimacy of their lyrics. In the writing of the heavy-hearted ‘Disappear,’ for instance, Sisti lifted directly from her journal in telling the story of “loving someone who gets lost in their own head, and how painful that can be.” Meanwhile, on ‘Her Chapstick,’ Page opens up about a struggle in her own relationship. “It has to do with the experience of a partner seeking external affection,” she says. “It’s about navigating the feelings of why a partner is sharing themselves with someone else when you are right there.”
All New York State natives, THICK’s three members first crossed paths through shows at Brooklyn’s DIY/all-ages spaces and soon became a mainstay in that very scene. Since signing to Epitaph in 2018—and making their label debut with their self-titled third EP the following year—the band has dramatically expanded their reach and toured all over the country, including a 2021 run with punk legends Flogging Molly and Violent Femmes. But even as their fanbase grows exponentially, THICK thrive on forging an uncommonly close connection with their audience. “Getting to share our songs with new people and build community in places we’ve never been before has been the most fulfilling experience for us,” says Black. “We want to leave everyone smiling from ear to ear and get them moving around and hopefully look up at us and say, ‘Oh, I can do that. I’m gonna start my own band now.’”
They took a moment to talk to us about how the album came together.
Hey there THICK - how are you? So your album is out now - how does it feel to have it out there in the world?
Nikki: IT FEELS AMAZING! This album feels more mature and evolved than the last one and I'm really excited to show the world how we have grown in our writing style.
Shari: This album feels really personal -- the diary is open and hopefully people will relate to the music! A lot of songs from our last album were written when we were 24/25 and partying in NYC. So, it’s been great to write from a new life perspective.
It is called ‘Happy Now’ - what is the meaning behind that?
Nikki: The last album 5 Years Behind had a theme of fighting against expectations and pressure that constrains us to a box that we've created for ourselves. This album shatters that box. Happy Now is more about acceptance and awareness that happiness ebbs and flows--it's never constant.
Kate: We're not striving for toxic optimism with this one, more of a recognition that you can't change your experiences. You don't have to look back on them fondly, but you can accept them and choose to go forward and search for whatever happiness looks like in your current world.
Where was it recorded? Any behind-the-scenes stories from the creative process you are happy to share with us?
Nikki: It was recorded at Studio G in Brooklyn! We've recorded our first LP and demos there so it feels like our home :)
Shari: On the first day of recording I found out that I was tracking drums to tape. It was a surreal experience to be able to track drums that way! This time, we had some songs and parts that weren't completely solidified, it was a great process of taking (our producer) Joel’s input and figuring out what worked and what didn't.
Kate: Yeah, this was the first album we've ever recorded without playing all the material live, so there was room for exploration and consideration about what feels good to us in a song without a lot of external feedback.
What are the key themes and influences on the album?
Nikki: This album was written during the pandemic when life was on hold, so it forced us to reflect on our lives and experiences while we weren't out forming as many new memories. A lot of these songs touch about old relationships that impacted us and shaped the people we are today. It was a very cathartic experience.
Kate: The last album was a lot about the impact of society on us, in this one we definitely took the exploration a little more inward... How do we experience happiness? What does that even really look like? What are the experiences in our lives and relationships that have made us who we are today?
Shari: There’s a lot of angertivity on this album. This is a word I just made up. It’s when you experience positivity and happiness from going through anger and hurt.
If the album could be the soundtrack to any film - which one would it be and why?
Shari: It would be the soundtrack to Legally Blonde -- I love the message of the movie. I never realized until watching it as an adult how much of a badass Elle Woods is. It reminds me of the relationship themes on this album. Exploring the right relationships to be in, accepting who you are and seeing other people do the same, and navigating self-acceptance.
Kate: Definitely a coming-of-age film... but not sure that it would be Legally Blonde hahaha.
Do you have a favorite lyric on the album - if so, which one and why?
Nikki: "I wish I could trust myself the way I trust everybody else." This means a lot to me and is a feeling I kind of ignored for a long time. I have been spending a lot of this summer rebuilding that relationship and trust with myself. Listening to that lyric now feels much different from when I wrote it.
Shari: I love the lyric in “Her Chapstick”: “Is she just a pipe dream?” Attraction can be a facade. The hardest part is deciding what desire comes from reality or fantasy.
Kate: "I would teach her, listen to your own voice" from "Tell Myself" -- there's so much self-censorship and fear of expression due to anticipated backlash. A lot of the time it's unnecessary fear and equally as often, there's no need to invest in other peoples' opinions of you. It's not worth carving away at your self worth to meet other peoples' expectations.
Now the album is out there - what next?
Nikki: TOUR! I wanna go to Japan, Europe, Australia... someone take us! And of course, writing the next album :)
Kate: Also more festivals!
Shari: I second that!
