Band Of The Week #241 - Sad Park
This week’s Band of the Week is alternative emo-punk band Sad Park - who have just released their new album ‘NO MORE SOUND’ via Pure Noise Records.
‘NO MORE SOUND’ is Sad Park’s third full length and first for Pure Noise Records. The band worked with AJJ’s Sean Bonnette, who oversaw production and collaborated with vocalist/guitarist Graham Steele on the lyric writing process, helped bassist/vocalist Sam Morton, drummer Grant Bubar and guitarist Aidan Memory not only create a record that flows, musically and thematically, from beginning to end, but which also sees the four-piece truly discover and become who they are as a band.
“The theme of the album is summarized into four parts: Life, Death, Love, and Time,” says Steele. Recorded across ten days at Balboa Studios in Los Angeles, ‘NO MORE SOUND’ is the sound of a band really coming into their own. It captures their chemistry perfectly, and as much fun as the band had making the record in general, it still manages to convey the band’s distinctively peppy sense of melancholy.
They took a moment to talk to us about how the album came together.
Hey there Sad Park - how are you? So your album is out now - how does it feel to have it out there in the world?
We are doing great! It’s super exciting for the album to finally be out for everyone to hear! I’ve been waiting for this for a while. This album is very special to me and I feel so lucky to be able to share it to play and perform it.
It is called ‘No More Sound’ - what is the meaning behind that?
No more sound is a one of the lyrics on the album “I’m scared to die, no more songs, no more sound”. I was struggling a lot at the time with death and the thought of nothing happening after I die. So during this process I wanted to take in every moment, enjoy every memory. If this is what life was going to offer then I want to soak it up.
Where was it recorded? Any behind the scenes stories from the creative process you are happy to share with us?
It was all recorded at Danny Nogueiras studio, Balboa recording studios in Los Angeles California. The whole album was recorded in 10 days and was produced by AJJ frontman and songwriter Sean Bonnette. Sean and Danny are amazing producers. They just know how to get the best possible take out of you. My favorite. One of my favorite memories from recording was the very last day, after we had finished tracking everything, Sean wanted to get in the booth and sing the entire last song with me. So he did and it is the entire second vocal you hear on the last track.
What are the key themes and influences on the album?
We were very inspired by 90’s alternative music. The themes on the album touch a lot on death and wanting to stay in a moment and enjoy the things around you. We took a lot of rhythm cues from early Walkman and a lot of emotion and openness from bands like Deftones or Pixies.
If the album could be the soundtrack to any film - which one would it be and why?
Can’t hardly wait. It just want our whole album to be the soundtrack to a 1998 house party. Plus we are very inspired by that time and sound. The album is just about living life and enjoying the moment.
Do you have a favorite lyric on the album - if so, which one and why?
I love the lyric “don’t go stay here, dream this dream, with me again” it encapsulates the album perfectly. I wrote that lyric and melody long before the album had ever come to be, it was always something I knew I wanted to get across and get on to the album.
Now the album is out there - what next?
Now that the album is out we are touring with The Frights and AJJ on 2 different US tours. We just are staying busy and living the dream of traveling, seeing the world and playing music. I feel so absolutely lucky that I get to play music for people and spread that experience.
